Lecture for February 13

Loops

Why Loops?

While some check is true, repeat the work.

While the cookies aren't baked, keep baking

Loop Building Process

1. Identify one test that must be true when the loop is finished
2. Use the opposite form of the test
3. Within loop, make progress towards completion of the goal.

While syntax

while (expression) {
  // Loop body executes if expression is true
}
// Statements execute after expression is false

Getting Input (Songs in a Playlist Psuedocode)

// Ask user about first song
while (user says play next song) {
    // play next song
    // ask user about next song
}

Nested Loops

You can have loops inside loops

int outer = 1;
while (outer < 4) {
  int inner = 1;
  while (inner < 4) {
    System.out.println(outer + ":" + inner);
    inner++;
  }
  outer++;
}

This code does the following

1:1
1:2
1:3
2:1
2:2
2:3
3:1
3:2
3:3

Break Down the Problem

Never write the entire program at once! This makes it incredibly hard to debug. Instead break it into small parts.

Write one part -> debug until it works

Write second part -> debug until it works

This way you know which part of your code failed, instead of having everything fail.