Re: Comma operator in for() statements

From	Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c
Subject	Re: Comma operator in for() statements
Date	2020-03-27 08:02 -0700
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<86mu8196yl.fsf@linuxsc.com> (permalink)
References	<m9kd7f94epq2eumphiui7gf2ubc6p8ah8e@4ax.com>

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Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> writes:

> I'm aware of the hazards of using the comma operator in the tested
> expression but I ran across this example and I think it should be
> refactored, but how?
>
>     for (count = 0, ent = master; ent;  ent = ent->chain, count++)
>                 ;

I will offer a different view here.  There is nothing wrong with
using the comma operator in for-expressions.  Indeed it is uses
in for-expressions that provides what may be the clearest case
in favor of using the comma operator.

The problem here, if there is a problem, is the "count++" in
the third for-expression.  Logically the 'count++' operation
seems like a better fit for the loop body:

    for (count = 0, ent = master; ent;  ent = ent->chain)  count++;

I'm sure some people would prefer the 'count = 0' to be put as a
separate statement, before the for() loop.  Personally I think it
makes more sense to include it in the first for-expression, because
it is part of establishing the invariant for the loop.  Probably
this boils down to how one conceptualizes C's for() statement.
Some people think of for() in C as a slightly more general form
of a FORTRAN DO-loop.  My view, which I think also reflects the
views of C's original authors, is for() in C offers a generalized
looping structure, with loop initialization, loop prelude, and
loop advancement sections.  That perspective suggests it is
better to put 'count = 0' in the first for-expression than as a
separate statement before the for() statement.  I realize other
people sometimes view it differently, and I think I understand
their reasons for the preference they have.  I just don't think
either view is "right" is some absolute sense, only a reflection
of how one conceptualizes C's for() construct.

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Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-21 19:51 -0700
  Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 03:31 +0000
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-21 23:17 -0700
      Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 12:00 +0000
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-22 08:57 -0700
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 16:20 +0000
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-22 14:02 -0700
              Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 21:26 +0000
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-22 10:25 +0100
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2020-03-22 08:27 -0400
      Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 16:31 +0000
  Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 00:33 -0400
  Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-22 12:23 +0000
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 05:47 -0700
      Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-22 14:17 +0000
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements felix@palmen-it.de (Felix Palmen) - 2020-03-22 15:55 +0100
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-22 15:01 +0000
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements felix@palmen-it.de (Felix Palmen) - 2020-03-22 16:05 +0100
              Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-22 16:46 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements felix@palmen-it.de (Felix Palmen) - 2020-03-22 18:14 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 11:42 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-22 22:03 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 23:51 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-23 14:37 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 08:41 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2020-03-23 16:53 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-23 16:31 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-23 16:48 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 09:53 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-23 18:59 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 11:23 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-23 19:51 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-23 14:28 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 13:09 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 13:20 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2020-03-23 20:26 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 13:55 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 15:43 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 16:27 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 17:13 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 21:11 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-24 00:19 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-24 10:30 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-24 03:07 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-24 11:37 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-24 11:18 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-24 13:23 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-24 14:53 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-25 10:35 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-25 11:12 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ike Naar <ike@sdf.lonestar.org> - 2020-03-26 19:21 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements luser droog <luser.droog@gmail.com> - 2020-03-24 21:22 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-03-27 06:46 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements luser droog <luser.droog@gmail.com> - 2020-03-28 01:01 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-28 11:26 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements luser droog <luser.droog@gmail.com> - 2020-03-28 14:22 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-04-02 08:12 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements luser droog <luser.droog@gmail.com> - 2020-04-02 12:21 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-04-02 19:43 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-03-24 12:56 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-24 23:44 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-23 17:10 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-24 10:17 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-23 18:13 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-23 09:32 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-23 19:06 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2020-03-23 13:23 -0400
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 10:33 -0700
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2020-03-23 18:34 +0100
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-23 18:18 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ike Naar <ike@sdf.lonestar.org> - 2020-03-23 22:29 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-23 23:13 +0000
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2020-03-22 15:17 +0000
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements nobody@example.org (Scott) - 2020-03-22 16:16 +0000
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 07:22 -0700
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2020-03-25 15:10 +0100
              Re: Comma operator in for() statements Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2020-03-25 15:18 +0000
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 16:27 +0000
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 15:07 -0400
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 11:33 -0700
      Re: Comma operator in for() statements Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> - 2020-03-24 20:25 +0300
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-24 23:25 +0000
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-25 01:55 +0000
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-25 11:01 +0000
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> - 2020-03-25 14:59 +0300
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-03-27 07:42 -0700
              Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-27 14:51 +0000
                Re: Comma operator in for() statements Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-04-02 19:20 -0700
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-24 20:01 -0400
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-25 02:05 +0000
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2020-03-25 15:13 +0000
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> - 2020-03-25 15:05 +0300
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-25 10:04 -0400
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-22 14:49 +0100
  Re: Comma operator in for() statements Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2020-03-22 09:24 -0600
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-22 14:51 -0700
      Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 20:13 -0400
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-23 12:16 -0700
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2020-03-23 13:16 -0700
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-23 17:16 -0400
            Re: Comma operator in for() statements scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2020-03-23 22:40 +0000
  Re: Comma operator in for() statements Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2020-03-22 17:31 +0100
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-22 12:28 -0700
      Re: Comma operator in for() statements James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2020-03-22 15:35 -0400
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2020-03-22 13:43 -0700
  Re: Comma operator in for() statements Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2020-03-22 13:50 -0500
    Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 19:25 +0000
      Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-22 21:52 +0100
        Re: Comma operator in for() statements Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2020-03-22 21:15 +0000
          Re: Comma operator in for() statements David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2020-03-23 09:17 +0100
  Re: Comma operator in for() statements Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2020-03-27 08:02 -0700

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