Quote Originally Posted by gtvmarty View Post
My main question: Is there a 'preferred order' to layout programming code/loops/nesting within nests etc.
Yep...Your Order. You're the programmer. The order is up to you.

For example, i might have a 16x2 LCD, a few buttons (or keypad), a few leds, switches or rotary encoder and/or a few external lines to the outside world.
In my mind, the user comes first, everything else is secondary. You get stuck in a loop checking buttons and the LCD won't update and the user probably doesn't get any feedback that your button press has been recognized. Find something to make some feedback, blink the backlight on the LCD, blink an LED, add a small speaker and make it beep.

I know someone will say "use an interupt" but i haven't got that deep into using interupts yet...
It's the only way to go... Play with them. They're easier than you think...