C: Simple for loop is not working

[mbrmbrg]

C: Simple "for" loop is not working

Homework Statement

I'm taking an online course (yay lynda!) in C/C++, and I am trying to replicate a course example that prints "Hello, World!" five times, using a simple "for" loop.

Homework Equations

for(int i = 1; i <= 5; ++i){...}

The Attempt at a Solution

// working.c by Bill Weinman <http://bw.org/>
#include <stdio.h>

int main( int argc, char ** argv ) {
for(int i = 1; i <= 5; ++i) {
int x = printf("Hello, World!\n") * 5;
printf("printf returned %d\n", x);
printf("%d", i);
return 0;
}
}
My program runs, but only with 1 iteration of the loop. For reading ease, I've attached a screenshot taken in Eclipse.

4. Other Potentially Relevant Information

I previously have had trouble with a dummy program that required user input. It had been a long day, so I kind of closed my eyes and pretended it was going to be fine, but I never solved that problem, either.

5. Further Work

Uninstall and reinstall everything?? I'd really rather not, but it's all I've got right now.

6. Thank you!

 

[Borek]

#include <stdio.h>

int main( int argc, char ** argv ) {
	for(int i = 1; i <= 5; ++i) {
		int x = printf("Hello, World!\n") * 5;
		printf("printf returned %d\n", x);
		printf("%d", i);
		return 0;
	}
}

Use [noparse]

[/noparse] tags to show your code.

Think about position of the return statement. What it does?

 

[mbrmbrg]

Use [noparse]

[/noparse] tags to show your code.

Thanks, that's much cleaner!

Think about position of the return statement. What it does?

The return 0 statement sets the value of the main function (?) to zero. Does setting the whole main function=0 somehow mess with the value of my counter?

 

[Borek]

The return 0 statement sets the value of the main function (?) to zero. Does setting the whole main function=0 somehow mess with the value of my counter?

What does the "return" alone do?

As its name implies.

 

[Mark44]

The return 0 statement sets the value of the main function (?) to zero. Does setting the whole main function=0 somehow mess with the value of my counter?

A return statement in main returns control to whoever called main, which is usually the operating system.

 

[mbrmbrg]

Return brings you back to what comes next. (I know that's convoluted, but it's the only way I can think of to express that return generally moves you along, but as its name implies, return can also bring you back to the beginning.)

But why would the program encounter the return line at all before the loop has run all of its iterations?

 

[Borek]

But why would the program encounter the return line at all before the loop has run all of its iterations?

Compare:

for (i = 0;i != 5;i++)
{
   printf("%s","Hello World\n");
   return;
}

and

for (i = 0;i != 5;i++)
{
   printf("%s","Hello World\n");
}
return;

Do you see the difference?

 

[mbrmbrg]

Oh. My. Gosh. I put the line that ends my program INSIDE my for loop! No wonder it ends after 1 iteration!

Thank you!

(My apologies for exclamation point abuse; I get overly excited by understanding stuff.)

 

[Borek]

We all did such things at some point, welcome to the club

 

[mbrmbrg]