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Looping and FOR/NEXT

Repeating Actions with Loops

Loops are one of the most powerful concepts in programming. They allow you to run the same block of code over and over again without rewriting it. This is essential for everything from counting to processing lists of data. Let's explore how loops work in Sheerpower.

1. The Basic Loop: `DO/LOOP`

The simplest loop in Sheerpower is the DO/LOOP. It repeats the code between the DO and LOOP keywords forever.

If you run an infinite loop, you can stop it by pressing ALT+B or closing the console window.

! This is an infinite loop. It will never stop! ! You would have to manually stop the program. ! Typically by typing ALT+B or closing the window. do print "Help, I'm stuck in a loop!" loop

An infinite loop isn't very useful on its own. We need a way to control it.

2. Controlling the Loop: `UNTIL` and `EXIT DO`

Let's create a simple guessing game. The program needs to keep asking for the magic word until the user guesses it correctly. The UNTIL statement is perfect for this.

Flowchart: A `DO/LOOP` with a Condition

Start
↓
Code to Repeat
↓
Condition Met?
↝ (Loop Back)
magic_word$ = "Sheerpower" guess$ = "" do line input "Guess the magic word: ": guess$ loop until lcase$(guess$) = lcase$(magic_word$) print "You guessed it!"

Sheerpower's Unique Feature: Flexible Conditions

Unlike many other languages, Sheerpower allows you to place multiple `WHILE` (run while true) and `UNTIL` (run until true) conditions anywhere inside a `DO/LOOP`. This lets you create complex, multi-exit loops without messy `IF` statements.

3. Validation Block: DO/END DO

Sometimes you need to try something, check if it worked, and either continue or try again with helpful feedback. Traditional loops handle this awkwardly because the validation logic gets separated from the user interaction.

The Problem with Traditional Approaches:

! Messy approach - duplicates the validation condition do line input "Enter a number between 1 and 10: ": num if num < 1 or num > 10 then print "Invalid input. Please try again." end if loop until num >= 1 and num <= 10 print "Looks good"

The DO/END DO Solution:

This construct runs once by default, but gives you clean control over whether to repeat with feedback:

do input "Enter a number between 1 and 10: ": num if num < 1 or num > 10 then print "Invalid input. Please try again." repeat do ! Try again end if print "Thank you" end do

Why This Can Be Easier to Maintain:

  • No duplicated conditions - validation logic appears only once
  • Clear success path - the "Thank you!" message is right where it belongs
  • Embedded feedback - error messages happen immediately after detecting the problem
  • Single responsibility - the block handles one complete interaction cycle

This pattern is perfect for any "try until successful" scenario: file operations, user input, network connections, or data validation.

4. The Counting Loop: `FOR/NEXT`

When you know exactly how many times you need to repeat an action, the FOR/NEXT loop is the perfect tool. It's designed specifically for counting.

1. The Initializer

i = 1

Sets the starting value of the loop counter. This may be any numeric expression.

The starting value is required.

2. The Target Value

to 10

Defines the target value the counter moves toward.

The loop runs while the counter has not yet passed this value in the direction of the step.

The target value can be any numeric expression.

If omitted, the loop has no automatic end condition.

3. The Step

step 1

Specifies how the counter changes after each iteration. The step may be positive or negative and may be any numeric expression.

If omitted, the step defaults to 1.

Example: A Rocket Launch Countdown

print "Starting countdown..." for i = 10 to 1 step -1 print i; "..." delay 1 ! Pause for 1 second next i print "Blast off!"

5. Advanced Loop Control: `ITERATE FOR`

Sometimes you need to handle special cases *inside* a loop. ITERATE FOR skips the rest of the current loop run and moves immediately to the next item.

Example: Processing a To-Do List

dim chores$(3) chores$(1) = "Take out trash" chores$(2) = "DONE" chores$(3) = "Feed the cat" for i = 1 to size(chores$) ! Skip chores that are already marked as "DONE" if chores$(i) = "DONE" then iterate for print "Completing chore: "; chores$(i) next i
Summary: You have learned the essential looping tools in Sheerpower.
  • Use DO/LOOP when you don't know how many repetitions you need.
  • Use DO/END DO for a single-pass block that you can exit or repeat, great for validation.
  • Use FOR/NEXT when you need to loop a specific number of times.

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