I don\'t understand why the infinite loop does not work but uncommenting the function call works.
JavaScript-in-a-browser is a part of a larger construction. You need to align to the rules of this construction and don't hurt it. One of the rule is that your JavaScript must run quick and exit then. Exit means that control gets back to the framework, which does all the job, repaint the screen etc.
Try to hide and show something many times:
for (n = 0; n < 200; n++) {
$("#test").hide();
$("#test").show();
}
When this code runs, you won't see any flickering, you will see that the last command will have effect.
Have to say, it's not easy to organize code that way, if you want to make a cycle which paints nice anims on a canvas, you have to do it without while.