loops in maxima

Maxima's equivalent to C's {...;...} is (..., ...).  If you want local
variables, then block([var1,...],...).

So the C loop

          { i=1; while (i<3) {print(i); i=i+1;}

is

         ( i: 1, while i<3 do (print(i), i:i+1))

or

        block([i], ...)