Recursion in an `async fn` requires boxing. For example, this will not compile:
```edition2018,compile_fail,E0733
async fn foo(n: usize) {
if n > 0 {
foo(n - 1).await;
}
}
```
To achieve async recursion, the `async fn` needs to be desugared
such that the `Future` is explicit in the return type:
```edition2018,compile_fail,E0720
use std::future::Future;
fn foo_desugared(n: usize) -> impl Future<Output = ()> {
async move {
if n > 0 {
foo_desugared(n - 1).await;
}
}
}
```
Finally, the future is wrapped in a pinned box:
```edition2018
use std::future::Future;
use std::pin::Pin;
fn foo_recursive(n: usize) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = ()>>> {
Box::pin(async move {
if n > 0 {
foo_recursive(n - 1).await;
}
})
}
```
The `Box<...>` ensures that the result is of known size,
and the pin is required to keep it in the same place in memory.