#!/usr/bin/env escript

main(_) ->
    List = [foo, bar, baz, ball, sack],
    iterate(2, List).

iterate(Idx, List) ->
        io:format("~p~n", [lists:nth(Idx, List)]),
        case List == [] of
        false ->
                iterate(Idx+1, List);
        true ->
                io:format("Its over jim"),
                ok
        end.

%% ^ this one "compiles" but doesnt match the true

----

#!/usr/bin/env escript

main(_) ->
    List = [foo, bar, baz, ball, sack],
    iterate(2, List).

iterate(Idx, []) ->
        io:format("Its over jim"),
        ok;
iterate(Idx, List) ->
        io:format("~p~n", [lists:nth(Idx, List)]),
        iterate(Idx+1, List).

%% ^ this one "compiles" but again never hits the empty list function.

same output for both

bar
baz
ball
sack
escript: exception error: no function clause matching lists:nth(1,[]) (lists.erl, line 169)