How to add a Timeout to Console.ReadLine()?

Question

I have a console app in which I want to give the user x seconds to respond to the prompt. If no input is made after a certain period of time, program logic should

Answer 1

string readline = "?";
ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(
    delegate
    {
        readline = Console.ReadLine();
    }
);
do
{
    Thread.Sleep(100);
} while (readline == "?");

Note that if you go down the "Console.ReadKey" route, you lose some of the cool features of ReadLine, namely:

• Support for delete, backspace, arrow keys, etc.
• The ability to press the "up" key and repeat the last command (this comes in very handy if you implement a background debugging console that gets a lot of use).

To add a timeout, alter the while loop to suit.