Can't recursive functions be inlined? [duplicate]

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Can a recursive function be inline?

What are the trade offs of making recursive functions inline.

Answer 1

Recursive functions that can be optimised by tail-end recursion can certainly be inlined. If the last thing a function does is call itself, then it can be converted into a plain loop.

Answer 2

Arbitrary recursive functions can't be inlined for the same reason a snake can't swallow its own tail.