$loop

Repeats a block of code a fixed number of times. The loop block must be closed with $endLoop.

Syntax

$loop[iterations]

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Required
iterations	Number of times to repeat the loop block	Yes

Description

The legacy $loop function executes the block of code between $loop[iterations] and $endLoop exactly N times, where N is the specified number of iterations.

This is one of the oldest loop constructs in BDFD. For iterating over a list of values, consider using the newer $for / $endFor loop instead, which provides loop metadata variables like $loopIndex and $loopCount.

Opening & Closing

• Open: $loop[iterations]
• Close: $endLoop

Every $loop must be closed with $endLoop. Missing $endLoop causes a parse error.

Examples

Simple Repetition

$loop[3]
Hello! This is iteration #...
$endLoop

Output:

Hello! This is iteration #...
Hello! This is iteration #...
Hello! This is iteration #...

Sending Multiple Messages

$loop[5]
$sendMessage[Spam protection reminder!]
$endLoop

With Conditional Logic

$loop[10]
$if[$random[0;1]==0]
  Heads!
$else
  Tails!
$endif
$endLoop

Using with Variables

$var[counter;0]
$loop[5]
$var[counter;$sum[$counter;1]]
Count: $counter
$endLoop

Output:

Count: 1
Count: 2
Count: 3
Count: 4
Count: 5

Notes

• $loop is a legacy construct. For new code, prefer $for / $endFor which provides $loopIndex, $loopCount, and iterator variables.
• $loop does not provide an automatic loop index — you must manage counters manually with variables.
• Nested loops are supported but can impact performance significantly.
• Keep iteration counts reasonable (under 100 for responsive commands). Large iteration counts may cause timeouts.
• Use $stop inside the loop to break out early if needed.