31
submitted 11 months ago by milon@lemm.ee to c/programming@programming.dev

I used the debugger to examine this code but not understanding a couple areas.

  1. Why does the for loop repeat after it exits to print a new line? If it exits the loop, shouldn't it be done with it?
  2. Why is n incremented and not i as stated with i++?

int main(void)
{
    int height = get_int("Height: ");

    draw(height);
}

void draw(int n)
{
    if (n <= 0)
    {
        return;
    }

    draw(n - 1);

    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
    {
        printf("#");
    }
    printf("\n");
}
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] milon@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago

Thanks. I did see that. I have a general understanding of how recursion works I think where the function calls itself again and again but I don't get why the code (for loop) below the draw(n - 1) is recursive.

[-] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago

The code below the draw(n - 1) isn't recursive... the call to draw(n - 1) is the recursion.

Sometimes, it can be helpful to invert recursion. Think about what draw(0) would be and write it down... then compute draw(1) using the value you previously computed for draw(0).

this post was submitted on 16 Dec 2023
31 points (97.0% liked)

Programming

17314 readers
29 users here now

Welcome to the main community in programming.dev! Feel free to post anything relating to programming here!

Cross posting is strongly encouraged in the instance. If you feel your post or another person's post makes sense in another community cross post into it.

Hope you enjoy the instance!

Rules

Rules

  • Follow the programming.dev instance rules
  • Keep content related to programming in some way
  • If you're posting long videos try to add in some form of tldr for those who don't want to watch videos

Wormhole

Follow the wormhole through a path of communities !webdev@programming.dev



founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS