Programming Loops was originally done find which programming language was the fastest, and how fast each programming language was at running loops.
The project was accomplished by running programs written in various programming languages and variations of running of those programs (An example of that is VB.net Console and VB.net Windows Application). Each time a loop ran, it added one to a variable number, and it stopped when it reached a predetermined number. The programs were instructed to run to 50,000 (thats 0 to 50,000), as well as to keep their own records of the start time, end time and the difference in milliseconds. That data was compiled in a huge list (9 pages!) and recorded the averages in an excel sheet and graphed.
The project's original result answered the question. It was found that Visual Basic.net (Console) was the fastest language tested.
After the original project was completed, more was also added. A set of programs that counted from 0 to Fifty Million (yes, 50,000,000) without the screen output display created. Those programs were able to run so fast that, if they counted any lower, they would execute before they could even amass a countable time themselves. A massive downside to this excessive number is that allot of the simpler languages, (Python, Javascript, BASIC) can't properly run it. It seems that 50,000,000 is just to large to run in one loop, so in those languages, they were broken down.
Among the new programs that were added, new languages are currently being tested too! Those include, Pascal/Delphi, Java, Fortran, Lisp, Lingo and Action Script.