Alderson loop

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An Alderson Loop is a programming term. It describes a basically infinite loop, one that includes a hidden exit which is inaccessible in the code except to the creator of the loop. Typically, this sort of loop is discovered by accident, often while messing around with interfacing or menu code.

[edit] Notable Alderson Loops

This term supposedly received its name from a programmer who had coded a modal message box in MSAccess with no Ok or Cancel buttons, thereby disabling the entire program whenever the box came up. The message box had the proper code for dismissal and even was set up so that when the non-existent Ok button was pressed the proper code would be called.^[1]

Another Alderson Loop was in early versions of MinGW. ^[2]

[edit] See Also

• Goto
• Recursion
• Infinite Loop

[edit] References

1. ^ Alderson Loop The Jargon File, Version 4.4.7. Accessed 5/21/2006. (Public Domain)
2. ^ http://www.mingw.org/MinGWiki/index.php/FullTextSearch?s=%22IMDB%3ARoman+Holiday%22

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