Difference between revisions of "Loop"

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[[Category:Nodal Concepts]][[Category:Glossary]]
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In the [[nodal model]], a [[loop]] is a [[Wikipedia:Linked list#Circularly-linked list|circularly linked list]] formed from nodal [[association]]s. Since none of the [[node]]s in a loop is a starting or finishing point, a loop can be [[node references|referenced]] by ''any'' of its node-items. This means that a reference to a loop can also encapsulate the concept of an item of ''current focus'', a concept used heavily by [[nodal reduction]].
A Loop is formed when all ''[[next]]s'' form a complete loop in one direction and all ''[[prevs]]'' link up in exactly the opposite direction. A Loop does not distinguish any [[List-Item]] as being the start or finish.
 
  
Loops are structurally identical to [[Queue]]s, but are treated differently by the contexts that use them.
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If a loop is not circularly-linked, then the last item must link to [[root]] and it is called a [[thread]] instead. Threads only rotate once and are then automatically unhooked because every [[quanta]] sent to root is a new quanta.
  
This has important implications when it comes to structures composed of [[Node]]s which can be Loops. Since none of the [[Node]]s is the start or finish, a Loop can be referenced by ''any'' of its items.
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In [[nodal reduction]], a [[node]]'s value (obtained by calling nodeGet/SetValue with the key parameter set to zero) is called the current [[focus]] and it is a [[node]] in the [[loop]]. This node of current-focus is the one which will receive the next [[quantum]] of execution from its parent node, and is part of a loop of nodes which all receive quanta as the loop is rotated by the nodal reduction process.
  
In practice, during nodal reduction, the loop is referenced by the item that is ''in focus''.
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If a loop has static structure, then it can appear in many contexts simultaneously, it's [[association|parent association]] will be dynamically maintained by the [[nodal reduction]] algorithm.
  
;See Also
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{{code|[[Image:loop.png]]}}
*[[Wikipedia:Linked_list#Circularly-linked_list|Circularly Linked List]]
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[[Category:Nodal Concepts]]

Latest revision as of 22:41, 26 August 2012

In the nodal model, a loop is a circularly linked list formed from nodal associations. Since none of the nodes in a loop is a starting or finishing point, a loop can be referenced by any of its node-items. This means that a reference to a loop can also encapsulate the concept of an item of current focus, a concept used heavily by nodal reduction.

If a loop is not circularly-linked, then the last item must link to root and it is called a thread instead. Threads only rotate once and are then automatically unhooked because every quanta sent to root is a new quanta.

In nodal reduction, a node's value (obtained by calling nodeGet/SetValue with the key parameter set to zero) is called the current focus and it is a node in the loop. This node of current-focus is the one which will receive the next quantum of execution from its parent node, and is part of a loop of nodes which all receive quanta as the loop is rotated by the nodal reduction process.

If a loop has static structure, then it can appear in many contexts simultaneously, it's parent association will be dynamically maintained by the nodal reduction algorithm.


Loop.png