Can't click GUI Buttons if a loop is running - Traffic Light System

[ShifatT]

What I am doing:
I am trying to make a Traffic Light System for class.

Problem :
When a loop is running, I cannot click any buttons until the loop ends.
Eg: If I start Auto-Mode, I cannot click any buttons until the for-loop ends.

What I did:
Remove the loop - Which defeated the purpose of some of the features of the program

Code: Attatched

Turing Version :
4.1.2, 4.0.5 at School.[/u]

[Tony]

programs are linear and do one thing at a time. If the program is busy spending time inside of for-loop, it will not get to the code that handles the buttons (or anything else) for a while.

The solution -- don't block on long running loops.

[ShifatT]

Tony @ Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:35 pm wrote:

programs are linear and do one thing at a time. If the program is busy spending time inside of for-loop, it will not get to the code that handles the buttons (or anything else) for a while.

The solution -- don't block on long running loops.

So I just leave it as it is?

[Tony]

If you understand what's going on and that is acceptable to you.

Basically in a scenario such as

code:

loop   do_a end loop loop   do_b end loop

B has to wait for A to completely finish. An alternative is to design your code to be along the lines of

code:

loop   do_a   do_b end loop

This way A and B alternate taking steps, and both get to make some progress, without waiting for the other for too long.