Regarding literals and loop indices modes / programming friction

[Mohammad-Reza Nabipoor]

On Sun, Jan 25, 2026 at 03:52:50PM +0100, jpl wrote:
> Quick followup post.
> 
> I tried to set the count variable to long int.  I was hoping one could do this:
> 
>    for long int count to 3 do
>       zz +:= count
>    od;
> 
> But, would not compile:
> 
> long_learning.a68:45:8: error: keyword expected in loop clause, near
> ‘for’ in this line
>    45 |    for long int count to 3 do
>       |        ^
> 



The mode of "control-integer" is `int' and you cannot change it.



> So, attempting this instead (not really optimal to have that variable
> live outside of the loop):
> 
>    long int count;
>    for count to 3 do
>       zz +:= count
>    od;
> 
> Would not compile, error msg:
> 
> long_learning.a68:46:10: error: dyadic operator ref long real ‘+:=’
> int has not been declared
>    46 |       zz +:= count
>       |          ^
> 


Here `for' introduces a new range (scope) and there it defines `int count := 1'
and basically shadows your `long int count;' variable declaration.




> So, it appears that the "Leng" is needed even when count is a long
> int.  This works:
> 
>    long int count;
>    for count to 3 do
>       zz +:= Leng count
>    od;
> 


Yes.