Emulate a do-while loop in Python?

Question

I need to emulate a do-while loop in a Python program. Unfortunately, the following straightforward code does not work:

list_of_ints = [ 1, 2, 3 ]
iterator =         


        

Answer 1

Here's a very simple way to emulate a do-while loop:

condition = True
while condition:
    # loop body here
    condition = test_loop_condition()
# end of loop

The key features of a do-while loop are that the loop body always executes at least once, and that the condition is evaluated at the bottom of the loop body. The control structure show here accomplishes both of these with no need for exceptions or break statements. It does introduce one extra Boolean variable.

Answer 2

Quick hack:

def dowhile(func = None, condition = None):
    if not func or not condition:
        return
    else:
        func()
        while condition():
            func()

Use like so:

>>> x = 10
>>> def f():
...     global x
...     x = x - 1
>>> def c():
        global x
        return x > 0
>>> dowhile(f, c)
>>> print x
0

Answer 3

for a do - while loop containing try statements

loop = True
while loop:
    generic_stuff()
    try:
        questionable_stuff()
#       to break from successful completion
#       loop = False  
    except:
        optional_stuff()
#       to break from unsuccessful completion - 
#       the case referenced in the OP's question
        loop = False
   finally:
        more_generic_stuff()

alternatively, when there's no need for the 'finally' clause

while True:
    generic_stuff()
    try:
        questionable_stuff()
#       to break from successful completion
#       break  
    except:
        optional_stuff()
#       to break from unsuccessful completion - 
#       the case referenced in the OP's question
        break

Answer 4

The built-in iter function does specifically that:

for x in iter(YOUR_FN, TERM_VAL):
    ...

E.g. (tested in Py2 and 3):

class Easy:
  X = 0
  @classmethod
  def com(cls):
    cls.X += 1
    return cls.X

for x in iter(Easy.com, 10):
  print(">>>", x)

If you want to give a condition to terminate instead of a value, you always can set an equality, and require that equality to be True.