From: David Vallner <david@...>
Date: 2006-11-12T05:10:59+09:00
Subject: Re: print message if user does nothing for x seconds?

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Ben Thomas wrote:
> Hi all,
>=20
> Only just started using ruby so this may be really simple to do, but
> here goes:
>=20
> I'm trying to write a program that asks a user to enter their sex using=

> "gets" but if the user doesn't type anything for about 5 seconds I want=

> to print a message, like "Please enter something..." then go back to th=
e
> gets prompt. I've tried using the "sleep x" method but it doesn't seem
> to work because once gets has been initiated it gets stuck there until
> something is entered.
>=20
> Oh I don't have to use gets, but this is the only method of input I'm
> aware of at the moment
>=20
> Hope this makes sense,
> Ben
>=20
>=20

Read the data in a thread, or use nonblocking io (currently crude at
best, with only eventmachine to help as a project that shown up on my
radar - and that seems to be oriented towards networking)

Also, what you describe there is a very rude thing to do to your user,
basically you're accusing them of having no attention span and the
program is attention-seeking to compensate.

David Vallner


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