Recursion

Incisor

Here is the link to my last post:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=16589545#post16589545

May the rulers elect better people next time

Really2

Sorry is this about the other day, it is a link to this post.

Cat695

Dude you've put a link up to THIS post!!

Idiophreak

LMFAO, nice one, Incisor

Generali

I think recursion is a sort of infinite loop whereby (for example) something refers back to itself. A simple example could be to follow the following tasks:

1. Sing the word 'doe' in middle C.
2. Return to step 1.

To follow the instructions accurately, one would sing the word doe in middle C an infinite number of times.

Another simple example of recursion is this thread which refers back to itself. I suspect this is an example of a computer programmer's sense of humour. I find it gently amusing and certainly clever. I suspect I'm in a minority however.

Idiophreak

Generali wrote: »

I think recursion is a sort of infinite loop whereby (for example) something refers back to itself. A simple example could be to follow the following tasks:

1. Sing the word 'doe' in middle C.
2. Return to step 1.

To follow the instructions accurately, one would sing the word doe in middle C an infinite number of times.

Another simple example of recursion is this thread which refers back to itself. I suspect this is an example of a computer programmer's sense of humour. I find it gently amusing and certainly clever. I suspect I'm in a minority however.

That's almost an oxymoron, isn't it

Anyway, just for those who my be interested, recursion isn't necessarily infinite - quite often you wish a function to recurse until a set criteria evaluates as true, especially when dealing with trees or generations. It's fair to say, however, that recursion's normally used when code needs to be repeated an *unknown* number of times - and it's that which, in my mind anyway, differentiates the use of recursion from regular iteration.

Generali

Idiophreak wrote: »

That's almost an oxymoron, isn't it

Anyway, just for those who my be interested, recursion isn't necessarily infinite - quite often you wish a function to recurse until a set criteria evaluates as true, especially when dealing with trees or generations. It's fair to say, however, that recursion's normally used when code needs to be repeated an *unknown* number of times - and it's that which, in my mind anyway, differentiates the use of recursion from regular iteration.

Difference duly noted. I will now be forced to try to get this word into conversation at some point this week.

I guess my example should have been:

....2. Repeat step 1 until you get bored

Idiophreak

Other good examples, by the by, are recursive (or self-referential) acronyms - such as GNU, WINE, PNG and the like...

I mention this, because it's a good angle to get "recursive" into a conversation...

"We need a name for our new product!"
"OK, let's call it PONP - for Ponp: Our New Product"
"What kinda stupid name is that!?"
"Well...now that you ask.." --> And you're in!