Python, why does this function go into an infinite loop

Question

def new_if (pred,then_clause,else_clause):

    if pred:
        then_clause
    else:
        else_clause

def p(x):
    new_if(x>5,print(x),p(2*x))

p(1)

I think the function should stop once x reaches 8 and 8 is printed out.

Thanks a lot for helping

Answer 1

Your code doesn't do what you think it does.

Every time you call p it executes the code inside that method, which in your case calls new_if with some arguments. However you are evaluating those arguments immediately, which means before entering new_if your code is executing print(x) and p(2*x). This causes p to get called again, repeating the process.