[Tutor] recursion surprise

[Steven D'Aprano]

On 09/06/13 11:18, Jim Mooney wrote:
> On 8 June 2013 18:08, Steven D'Aprano <steve at pearwood.info> wrote:
>
>> Is this enough information for you to fix it?
>
> Yes, I was tripping over myself. Once I simplified it, it became clear:
>
> def addone(n):
>      if n > 5:
>          return n
>      return addone(n + 1)
>
> result: 6


By George, I think you've got it!

:-)


Recursion is one of the more difficult computer science concepts for people to grasp. I don't remember the reference, but I think I read somewhere that something like 50% of professional programmers never understand recursion. Admittedly, most of them are VB or PHP code monkeys, where the standards for "professionalism" can be quite low, but still.



-- 
Steven