How would I write a Python program that would always be looking for user input. I think I would want to have a variable equal to the input and then something different would hap
If you want to constantly look for an user input you'll need multithreading.
Example:
import threading
import queue
def console(q):
while 1:
cmd = input('> ')
q.put(cmd)
if cmd == 'quit':
break
def action_foo():
print('--> action foo')
def action_bar():
print('--> action bar')
def invalid_input():
print('---> Unknown command')
def main():
cmd_actions = {'foo': action_foo, 'bar': action_bar}
cmd_queue = queue.Queue()
dj = threading.Thread(target=console, args=(cmd_queue,))
dj.start()
while 1:
cmd = cmd_queue.get()
if cmd == 'quit':
break
action = cmd_actions.get(cmd, invalid_input)
action()
main()
As you'll see this, will get your messages a little mixed up, something like:
> foo
> --> action foo
bar
> --> action bar
cat
> --> Unknown command
quit
That's beacuse there are two threads writing to stdoutput at the same time. To sync them there's going to be need of lock:
import threading
import queue
def console(q, lock):
while 1:
input() # Afther pressing Enter you'll be in "input mode"
with lock:
cmd = input('> ')
q.put(cmd)
if cmd == 'quit':
break
def action_foo(lock):
with lock:
print('--> action foo')
# other actions
def action_bar(lock):
with lock:
print('--> action bar')
def invalid_input(lock):
with lock:
print('--> Unknown command')
def main():
cmd_actions = {'foo': action_foo, 'bar': action_bar}
cmd_queue = queue.Queue()
stdout_lock = threading.Lock()
dj = threading.Thread(target=console, args=(cmd_queue, stdout_lock))
dj.start()
while 1:
cmd = cmd_queue.get()
if cmd == 'quit':
break
action = cmd_actions.get(cmd, invalid_input)
action(stdout_lock)
main()
Ok, now it's better:
# press Enter
> foo
--> action foo
# press Enter
> bar
--> action bar
# press Enter
> cat
--> Unknown command
# press Enter
> quit
Notice that you'll need to press Enter
before typing a command to enter in "input mode".
from http://www.swaroopch.com/notes/Python_en:Control_Flow
#!/usr/bin/python
# Filename: while.py
number = 23
running = True
while running:
guess = int(input('Enter an integer : '))
if guess == number:
print('Congratulations, you guessed it.')
running = False # this causes the while loop to stop
elif guess < number:
print('No, it is a little higher than that.')
else:
print('No, it is a little lower than that.')
else:
print('The while loop is over.')
# Do anything else you want to do here
print('Done')