Erlang 8.11.2.3 (refactor round 2)

ring.erl

-module(ring2).
-export([start/3]).

start(Msg,Count,Max) ->
    Head = clasp(Max),
    connect(Head, Count),
    send(Head, Msg).

shackle(LPid, Count) when Count > 1 ->
    RPid = spawn(fun() -> loop(0,-1) end),
    LPid ! {connect, RPid},
    shackle(RPid, Count - 1);
shackle(LPid, Count) when Count =:= 1 ->
    RPid = spawn(fun() -> loop(0,-1) end),
    LPid ! {connect, RPid},
    RPid.
                         
connect(Head, Count) ->
    shackle(Head, Count) ! {connect, Head}.

clasp(Max) ->
    spawn(fun() -> loop(0,Max) end).

send(StartPid, Msg) ->
    StartPid ! {send, Msg}.

loop(RPid, Max) ->
    receive
        {connect, Right} ->
            io:format("shackle connected~n"),
            loop(Right, Max);
        {send, Msg} when Max > 0 ->
            io:format("Message passed clasp: ~p~n", [Msg]),
            RPid ! {send, Msg},
            loop(RPid, Max - 1);
        {send, Msg} when Max =:= -1 ->
            io:format("Message sent: ~p~n", [Msg]),
            RPid ! {send, Msg},
            loop(RPid, Max);
        {send, Msg} when Max =:= 0 ->
            io:format("Ring round done.~p~n", [Msg])
    end.

ring_final.erl

-module(ring2).
-export([start/3]).

start(Msg,Count,Max) ->
    Head = spawn(fun() -> loop(0,Max) end),
    close(Head, Count),
    send(Head, Msg).

shackle(LPid, Count) when Count > 1 ->
    shackle(create(LPid), Count - 1);
shackle(LPid, Count) when Count =:= 1 ->
    create(LPid).

create(LPid) ->
    RPid = spawn(fun() -> loop(0,-1) end),
    LPid ! {connect, RPid},
    RPid.
                         
close(Head, Count) ->
    shackle(Head, Count) ! {connect, Head}. 

send(StartPid, Msg) ->
    StartPid ! {send, Msg}.

loop(RPid, Max) ->
    receive
        {connect, Right} ->
            io:format("shackle connected~n"),
            loop(Right, Max);
        {send, Msg} when Max > 0 ->
            io:format("Message passed clasp: ~p~n", [Msg]),
            RPid ! {send, Msg},
            loop(RPid, Max - 1);
        {send, Msg} when Max =:= -1 ->
            io:format("Message sent: ~p~n", [Msg]),
            RPid ! {send, Msg},
            loop(RPid, Max);
        {send, Msg} when Max =:= 0 ->
            io:format("Ring round done.~p~n", [Msg])
    end.