while

AppleScript for loop FAQ: How do I use an AppleScript for loop? (Also, how do you use an AppleScript while loop?)

This is actually a bit of a trick question, as there is no AppleScript for loop or while loop syntax. Instead you use the AppleScript repeat command, as shown in the following examples.

AppleScript for loop examples

Where you might expect an AppleScript for loop to iterate over a list, you use the AppleScript "repeat with" syntax:

Perl until loop FAQ: Can you share some examples of the Perl until loop syntax?

The Perl until loop is similar to the Perl while loop, but essentially does the opposite thing. Where the Perl while operator will run this loop forever:

while ('true')
{
  # do stuff here
}

the Perl until loop will never run this loop:

AppleScript while loop FAQ: Can you share some examples of the AppleScript while loop syntax (the AppleScript repeat while syntax)?

Instead of using a keyword like "while" to create loops, AppleScript uses the "repeat" keyword to create loops. There are several versions of this syntax, as follows.

AppleScript repeat syntax: Repeat X times

Here's how to repeat an AppleScript command X number of times:

Linux shell script FAQ: Can you share a Linux shell script while loop example? While you're at it, can you show how to use the sleep command in the shell script while loop?

Sure. As a little background, I've written a program I call an Email Agent that periodically scans my email inbox, and does a lot of things to the inbox, including deleting the over 6,000 spams that I receive in a typical day. A recent problem with the Agent is that it runs too fast, apparently overwhelming the sendmail process on the machine that it runs on.