Cyclic Import Behaviour

[cursive solstice]

If you have two files like this:

// "first.typ"
#let first() = {
  import "second.typ": second
  second()
}

#let third() = {
  "3"
}

and

// "second.typ"
#let second() = {
 import "first.typ": third
 third()
}

It works but if the import of third in "second.typ" is outside of the second function call it causes a cyclic error? WHY?

[timid ravine]

What is the entrypoint here? Do you import one of these files and which function do you call? I tried reproducing this, but cannot get the exact error setup you describe.

[cursive solstice]

ah sorry I don't think I put the import "second.typ" in the right place, it should be outside the function

I think my question is how can you have a cyclic import within a function? I understand why for a cyclic import outside the functions

[timid ravine]

a cyclic import error happens when direct evaluation of a module triggers direct evaluation of itself. if somewhere within the evaluation of the module, a function is called which triggers through some thread of execution again evaluation of the original module, there is no way to finish evaluating the module.