Run time while loop condition

Question

def selection_sort(a):
    for i in range(0, len(a) - 1):
        minIndex = i
        for j in range(i + 1, len(a)):
            if a[j] < a[minIndex]:
                minIndex = j
            if minIndex != i:
                a[i], a[minIndex] = a[minIndex], a[i]

def selection_sort_runs():
    run_time_list = []
    n = 1
    while [having trouble thinking of loop condition here]
        start_time = time.time()
        rand = [random.randint(0, 100) for x in range(1, 10001*n)]
        selection_sort(rand)
        end_time = time.time()
        run_time = end_time - start_time
        run_time_list.append(run_time)
        if run_time < 60:
            n += 1

I want to continue the loop until run_time is greater than 60, but I can't think of a condition that will allow me to do so and increment n by one because run_time is a product that is contained inside of the loop, any ideas?

Answer 1

Two of the possible options you have would be to use a break statement

    while True:
        start_time = time.time()
        rand = [random.randint(0, 100) for x in range(1, 10001*n)]
        selection_sort(rand)
        end_time = time.time()
        run_time = end_time - start_time
        run_time_list.append(run_time)
        if run_time < 60:
            n += 1
        else:
            break

Or you could refactor the code so the run_time variable is initialized outside the loop.

run_time = -1        
while run_time < 60:
        start_time = time.time()
        rand = [random.randint(0, 100) for x in range(1, 10001*n)]
        selection_sort(rand)
        end_time = time.time()
        run_time = end_time - start_time
        run_time_list.append(run_time)
        if run_time < 60:
            n += 1