[Swift 6]: Rework for-loops concept

concepts/for-loops/.meta/config.json

@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 {
   "blurb": "For loops can be used to iterate over a sequence of values.",
   "authors": [
-    "wneumann"
+    "wneumann",
+    "meatball133"
   ],
   "contributors": []
 }

concepts/for-loops/about.md

@@ -1,84 +1,120 @@
-# About
+# For loops
 
-[For-in loops][for-in-loops] are used to iterate over a sequence of values, taking each element in turn, binding it to a variable or constant name of the developer's choosing, then executes a block of code that may refer to the element. When every element of the sequence has been iterated over, the loop exits and execution begins with the first line following the body of the loop.
+Looping is a fundamental concept in programming that allows you to execute a block of code multiple times.
+In Swift, there are two types of loops: [`for-in` loops][for-loops] and `while` loops. 
+In this chapter, you'll learn about `for-in` loops.
+
+For loops allows you to iterate over a sequence of values, taking each element in turn, binding it to a variable of your choosing.
+Swift allows you to iterate over a variety of sequences, such as ranges, arrays, and strings (and more types which will be covered later).
+When every element of the sequence has been iterated over, the loop exits.
+
+For loops are declared by using the `for` keyword, followed by a variable name, the `in` keyword, and a sequence of values to iterate over.
+The variable given in the `for-in` loop is inmutable, meaning you can't change its value inside the loop.
+Here's an example of a `for-in` loop that iterates over an array of numbers:
 
 ```swift
 let numbers = [3, 10, 7, 11]
-let word = "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
 
 for number in numbers {
-  print("\(number) / 2 = \(number / 2)")
+  print(number)
 }
 print("Done with numbers")
 
 // prints:
-// 3 / 2 = 1
-// 10 / 2 = 5
-// 7 / 2 = 3
-// 11 / 2 = 5
+// 3
+// 10
+// 7
+// 11
 // Done with numbers
+```
 
+~~~~exercism/note
+The `number` variable is declared in the `for-in` loop and is only available within the loop's scope.
 
-for char in word {
-  if "aeiou".contains(char) {
-    print(char, terminator: "")
-  }
-}
-print(" - those are all the vowels")
-
-// prints:
-// ueaiaiiieiaioiou - those are all the vowels
+```swift
+let numbers = [3, 10, 7, 11]
 
+for number in numbers {
+    number + 1
+}
+number + 1 // Error: Use of unresolved identifier 'number'
 ```
+~~~~
+
+## Iterating over a range
 
-If one needs to mutate the current element of the iteration, it can be declared as a variable in the for-in loop:
+You can also iterate over a range of numbers using a `for-in` loop.
+This allows you to execute a block of code a specific number of times, for example, the range `1...5` will iterate over the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, so the loop will execute 5 times.
+Sometimes you might want to iterate over indexes, in a datastructure like an array, then you can use a `0..<array.count` range.
 
 ```swift
-for var x in [123, 900, 7] {
-  while x > 0 {
-    print(x % 10)
-    x /= 10
-  }
-  print()
+let numbers = [3, 10, 7, 11]
+
+for i in 0..<numbers.count {
+  print(numbers[i])
 }
 
 // prints:
 // 3
-// 2
-// 1
-//
-// 0
-// 0
-// 9
-//
+// 10
 // 7
+// 11
 ```
 
-If one wants to execute a loop a specified number of times, a for-in loop can be used with a range supplied for the sequence to iterate over:
+## Iterating over a string
+
+You can also iterate over a string using a `for-in` loop.
+This allows you to iterate over each character in the string, and note specifically that the type given in the loop is a `Character`.
 
 ```swift
-for i in 1...3 {
-  print("i: \(i)")
+let message = "Hello!"
+
+for character in message {
+  print(character)
 }
 
 // prints:
-// i: 1
-// i: 2
-// i: 3
+// H
+// e
+// l
+// l
+// o
+// !
 ```
 
-If the body of the loop doesn't refer to the current element of the sequence, an underscore (`_`) can be supplied for the name:
+## Unusued variables
+
+If you don't need the value of the variable in the loop, you can use an underscore `_` to ignore it.
 
 ```swift
-for _ in 1...3 {
-	  print("Perhaps.")
+let numbers = [3, 10, 7, 11]
+
+for _ in numbers {
+  print("Hello!")
 }
+```
 
-// prints:
-// Perhaps.
-// Perhaps.
-// Perhaps.
+## stride
 
+Swift also provides a `stride` function that allows you to create a sequence over a range with a specific step.
+Which can be then iterated over using a `for-in` loop.
+`stride` is defined as [`stride(from:to:by:)`][stride-to] or [`stride(from:through:by:)`][stride-through], the first one is exclusive and the second one is inclusive.
+
+```swift
+for i in stride(from: 0, to: 10, by: 2) {
+  print(i)
+}
+
+// prints:
+// 0
+// 2
+// 4
+// 6
+// 8
 ```
 
-[for-in-loops]: https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/LanguageGuide/ControlFlow.html#ID121
+Note that the `to` parameter is exclusive, so the loop will iterate until the number before the `to` parameter, while the `through` parameter is inclusive, so in this case it would also include the `10`.
+
+[stride-to]: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swift/stride(from:to:by:)
+[stride-through]: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swift/stride(from:through:by:)
+[for-loops]: https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/documentation/the-swift-programming-language/controlflow/#For-In-Loops

concepts/for-loops/introduction.md

@@ -1,19 +1,108 @@
-# Introduction
+# For loops
 
-For-in loops are used to iterate over a sequence of values, taking each element in turn, binding it to a variable or constant name of the developer's choosing, then executes a block of code that may refer to the element. When every element of the sequence has been iterated over, the loop exits and execution begins with the first line following the body of the loop.
+Looping is a fundamental concept in programming that allows you to execute a block of code multiple times.
+In Swift, there are two types of loops: [`for-in` loops][for-loops] and `while` loops. 
+In this chapter, you'll learn about `for-in` loops.
+
+For loops allows you to iterate over a sequence of values, taking each element in turn, binding it to a variable of your choosing.
+Swift allows you to iterate over a variety of sequences, such as ranges, arrays, and strings (and more types which will be covered later).
+When every element of the sequence has been iterated over, the loop exits.
+
+For loops are declared by using the `for` keyword, followed by a variable name, the `in` keyword, and a sequence of values to iterate over.
+The variable given in the `for-in` loop is inmutable, meaning you can't change its value inside the loop.
+Here's an example of a `for-in` loop that iterates over an array of numbers:
 
 ```swift
 let numbers = [3, 10, 7, 11]
 
 for number in numbers {
-  print("\(number) / 2 = \(number / 2)")
+  print(number)
 }
 print("Done with numbers")
 
 // prints:
-// 3 / 2 = 1
-// 10 / 2 = 5
-// 7 / 2 = 3
-// 11 / 2 = 5
+// 3
+// 10
+// 7
+// 11
 // Done with numbers
 ```
+
+~~~~exercism/note
+The `number` variable is declared in the `for-in` loop and is only available within the loop's scope.
+
+```swift
+let numbers = [3, 10, 7, 11]
+
+for number in numbers {
+    number + 1
+}
+number + 1 // Error: Use of unresolved identifier 'number'
+```
+~~~~
+
+## Iterating over a range
+
+You can also iterate over a range of numbers using a `for-in` loop.
+This allows you to execute a block of code a specific number of times, for example, the range `1...5` will iterate over the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, so the loop will execute 5 times.
+Sometimes you might want to iterate over indexes, in a datastructure like an array, then you can use a `0..<array.count` range.
+
+```swift
+let numbers = [3, 10, 7, 11]
+
+for i in 0..<numbers.count {
+  print(numbers[i])
+}
+
+// prints:
+// 3
+// 10
+// 7
+// 11
+```
+
+## Iterating over a string
+
+You can also iterate over a string using a `for-in` loop.
+This allows you to iterate over each character in the string, and note specifically that the type given in the loop is a `Character`.
+
+```swift
+let message = "Hello!"
+
+for character in message {
+  print(character)
+}
+
+// prints:
+// H
+// e
+// l
+// l
+// o
+// !
+```
+
+## stride
+
+Swift also provides a `stride` function that allows you to create a sequence over a range with a specific step.
+Which can be then iterated over using a `for-in` loop.
+`stride` is defined as [`stride(from:to:by:)`][stride-to] or [`stride(from:through:by:)`][stride-through], the first one is exclusive and the second one is inclusive.
+
+```swift
+for i in stride(from: 0, to: 10, by: 2) {
+  print(i)
+}
+
+// prints:
+// 0
+// 2
+// 4
+// 6
+// 8
+```
+
+Note that the `to` parameter is exclusive, so the loop will iterate until the number before the `to` parameter, while the `through` parameter is inclusive, so in this case it would also include the `10`.
+
+[stride-to]: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swift/stride(from:to:by:)
+[stride-through]: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swift/stride(from:through:by:)
+[for-loops]: https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/documentation/the-swift-programming-language/controlflow/#For-In-Loops

concepts/for-loops/links.json

@@ -1 +1,11 @@
-[]
+[
+    {
+      "url": "https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/documentation/the-swift-programming-language/controlflow/#For-In-Loops",
+      "description": "Swift Book: For-In Loops"
+    },
+    {
+      "url": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swift/stride(from:through:by:)",
+      "description": "Swift docs: stride"
+    }
+  ]
+

config.json

@@ -119,6 +119,18 @@
         ],
         "status": "active"
       },
+      {
+        "slug": "bird-watcher",
+        "name": "Bird Watcher",
+        "uuid": "a5efd630-8e6f-49f7-bed5-1576138d2f8a",
+        "concepts": [
+          "for-loops"
+        ],
+        "prerequisites": [
+          "ranges"
+        ],
+        "status": "active"
+      },
       {
         "slug": "santas-helper",
         "name": "Santa's Swifty Helper",
@@ -150,7 +162,6 @@
         "uuid": "a11dc279-0c0a-4dca-89c6-f0abbac265c8",
         "concepts": [
           "loops",
-          "for-loops",
           "while-loops",
           "repeat-while",
           "control-transfer"

exercises/concept/bird-watcher/.docs/hints.md

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# Hints
+
+## 1. Determine the total number of birds that you counted so far
+
+- Refer to the exercise introduction for an example how to use a for loop to iterate over a slice.
+- Use a helper variable to store the total count and increase that variable as you go through the slice.
+- Think about the correct initial value for that helper variable.
+
+## 2. Calculate the number of visiting birds in a specific week
+
+- This task is similar to the first one, you can copy your code as a starting point.
+- Think about which indexes in the slice you would need to take into account for week number 1 and 2, respectively.
+- Now find a general way to calculate the first and the last index that should be considered.
+- With that you can set up the for loop to only iterate over the relevant section of the slice.
+
+## 3. Fix a counting mistake
+
+- Again you need to set up a for loop to iterate over the whole bird count slice.
+- This time you only need to visit every second entry in the slice.
+- Change the step so the counter variable is increased accordingly after each iteration.
+- In the body of the for loop you can use the increment operator to change the value of an element in a slice in-place.