CODING CHALLENGE (...or maybe not!)

Question

In the language of your choice, try making a function which:
- takes a string of code (called sCode) as a parameter,
- returns 0 if sCode is fine,
- returns 1 if sCode would ever encounter any infinite loop such as a while(true).

Or else, if you think it is, try prooving why a such function is impossible in the comments below.

Good luck!

Answer 1

My try to explain:

If such function f/1 exists then you could build a function g/1 around it like

g(code){
while(f(code)==0);
}

now you give the code g to itself. What happens ?

option 1)
if g halts, f(code) is 0 but then g does not halt --> contradiction

option 2)
if g does not halt f(code) is 1 but then g halts --> contradiction

--> no such function exists

hope this is ok =P , i really enjoied this challenge!

Answer 2

Chrizzhigh, you are completely right!! Good job solving it :D
Thanks! :')

Answer 3

Isn't this a different form of the basic "Halting problem" ? ^^

Answer 4

Yes it is! So go ahead!!

Answer 5

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/automata_theory/turing_machine_halting_problem.htm