Thread: Newbie question about getchar() behavior.

Hello,

I am a mid-thirties networking professional (Cisco, Juniper et al.) and I have recently caught the bug to learn how to program above and beyond some very noddy bash scripts I've created in the past. Therefore please excuse my post if it's something simple, but I'm trying to undertand what I'm seeing.

I'm working through the CProgramming.com C Tutorial "Intro to C" section. In my attempt to use the concepts from the tutorial beyond the examples provided, I am trying to understand why I need two instances of the getchar() function within my exitprogram() function. Without two instances, the exitprogram() function returns back to main() and the user doesn't see the result from the inputfunction() calculation.

If I comment out the inputfunction() call within alive() then I need to press enter twice before the program exits.

I hope my explanation is clear and I have provided the program code below to refer to. Apologies for the insane level of commenting, however I figure if I get into a good practice now, whilst I may rationalise what I comment a little as I get more experience, from what I've read it's a good habit to get into.

Thanks.

Code:

/*
This program was written to show a basic set of C commands and syntax.
*/

/*  Let's begin by bringing in the standard libraries we'll be using*/
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int alive();                                                       /* Declare our function alive() */
int exitprogram();                                                 /* Declare our function exitprogram() */
int inputfunction();                                               /* Declare our function inputfunction() */

int main()                                                         /* Function main() */
{                                                                  /* This is the start of our main() function */
   alive();                                                        /* Let's call our function alive() */
   exitprogram();                                                  /* Let's call our function exitprogram() */
   return 0;                                                       /* Let's exit cleanly */
}                                                                  /* This is the start of our main() function */

int alive()                                                        /* Function alive() */
{                                                                  /* This is the start of our alive() function*/
   system("clear");                                                /* Clear the screen using a system command "clear" */
   printf( "I am alive!  Beware.\n\n\n" );                         /* This is our main print statement */
   inputfunction();                                                /* Let's call our function inputfunction() */
   return 0;                                                       /* Let's exit cleanly */
}                                                                  /* This is the end of our alive() function */

int exitprogram()                                                  /* Function exitprogram() */
{                                                                  /* This is the start of our exitprogram() function */
   printf( "Press enter to exit.\n" );                             /* Let's ask the user to do something */
   getchar();                                                      /* We'll wait for their input */
   getchar();                                                      /* We'll wait for their input */
   system("clear");                                                /* Clear the screen using a system command "clear" */
   printf( "Program exited successfully!\n\n\n" );                 /* Give our user a nice friendly message */
   return 0;                                                       /* Let's exit cleanly */
}                                                                  /* This is the end of our exitprogram() function */

int inputfunction()                                                /* Function inputfunction() */
{                                                                  /* This is the start of our inputfunction() function */
   int variable_a, variable_b, variable_x;                         /* Declare our variables variable_a, variable_b and variable_x */
   variable_a = 0;                                                 /* Let's zero our variable variable_a */
   variable_b = 0;                                                 /* Let's zero our variable variable_b */
   variable_x = 0;                                                 /* Let's zero our variable variable_x */
   printf( "Please enter your first number: " );                   /* Ask the user to enter a number */
   scanf( "%d", &variable_a );                                     /* Store the user input into variable variable_a */
   printf( "Please enter your second number: " );                  /* Ask the user to enter a number */
   scanf( "%d", &variable_b );                                     /* Store the user input into variable variable_b */
   variable_x = variable_a + variable_b;                           /* Our variable variable_x the sum of variables variable_a and variable_b */
   printf( "The sum of your numbers is %d!\n\n\n", variable_x );   /* Print our variable variable_x */
   return 0;                                                       /* Let's exit cleanly */
}                                                                  /* This is the end of our inputfunction() function */

You can define you own, then go ahead and use that instead.

Code:

#define flush_stdin while( getchar() != '\n' );

The preprocessor will then replace 'flush_stdin', in your code with the definition at compile time.

Thanks again to both of you for the useful information and suggestions.

Subsonics: I wasn't able to get your snippet of code working. I suppose I am too "new" at this to really know what to do with it. I'll play around more on the weekend.

For now I'm content that I understand the possible buffer issues with fscanf() and why using fflush(stdin) is a no-no. I'm going through the if() statements tutorial now but I'm sure I'll be back with more q's as I delve deeper.

Thanks again to you both.

put this line at the top of your code

#define flush_stdin while( getchar() != '\n' );

and whenever you need to use fflush(stdin), just replace it with flush_stdin. it will do the exact same thing that you want it to, but the 2nd way is correct. wont go into the details but its better to get into good habits now than have to break them later

Also another good habit to get into early:

FAQ > What's the difference between... > main() / void main() / int main() / int main(void) / int main(int argc, char *argv[])

Basically, you should include "void" as an argument to any function that is not being passed a value, like

Code:

int main(void) 
{          
   alive();                                                        
   exitprogram();                                                  
   return 0;                                                 
}                                                                

int alive(void)                      
{                                                             
   system("clear");                                               
   printf( "I am alive!  Beware.\n\n\n" );              
   inputfunction();                                               
   return 0;                                                    
}                                                              

int exitprogram(void)                                         
{                                                             
   printf( "Press enter to exit.\n" );                         
   getchar();                                                
   getchar();                                      
   system("clear");                                       
   printf( "Program exited successfully!\n\n\n" );      
   return 0;                                      
}

etc......

@ LordPc
Thanks for the tip but I couldn't get the thing to compile even with your tips. I am a noob!

@laserlight
Thanks your alternative ended up working once I figured out that I needed to get rid of the #define directive I had tried earlier.

@matrix333
Much obliged. I am sure that over time I will come to master the nuances of C!

@All
Awesome forum btw. I was a little nervous posting but you've all been a great help! No doubt I'll be back with more "complex" stuff as I go along.

Originally Posted by matrixx333

Also another good habit to get into early:

FAQ > What's the difference between... > main() / void main() / int main() / int main(void) / int main(int argc, char *argv[])

Basically, you should include "void" as an argument to any function that is not being passed a value, like

Code:

int main(void) 
{          
   alive();                                                        
   exitprogram();                                                  
   return 0;                                                 
}                                                                

int alive(void)                      
{                                                             
   system("clear");                                               
   printf( "I am alive!  Beware.\n\n\n" );              
   inputfunction();                                               
   return 0;                                                    
}                                                              

int exitprogram(void)                                         
{                                                             
   printf( "Press enter to exit.\n" );                         
   getchar();                                                
   getchar();                                      
   system("clear");                                       
   printf( "Program exited successfully!\n\n\n" );      
   return 0;                                      
}

etc......

Just to add to this post:
Instead of returning 0 in these functions, you are better off declaring the return type as 'void'
ex:

Code:

void someProcedure (void){
     do_something();
     do_something_else();
}

Originally Posted by laserlight

My guess is that you tried to "call" the macro as if it were a function, i.e.,

Code:

flush_stdin();

Whereas you really were supposed to write:

Code:

flush_stdin

which looks rather strange, admittedly, but is correct and makes sense once you understand that it is macro replacement. Frankly, just using a function as in my example is fine.

You nailed it! Doh!

Originally Posted by matrixx333

Also another good habit to get into early:
Basically, you should include "void" as an argument to any function that is not being passed a value, like

Code:

int main(void) 
{          
   alive();                                                        
   exitprogram();                                                  
   return 0;                                                 
}                                                                

int alive(void)                      
{                                                             
   system("clear");                                               
   printf( "I am alive!  Beware.\n\n\n" );              
   inputfunction();                                               
   return 0;                                                    
}                                                              

int exitprogram(void)                                         
{                                                             
   printf( "Press enter to exit.\n" );                         
   getchar();                                                
   getchar();                                      
   system("clear");                                       
   printf( "Program exited successfully!\n\n\n" );      
   return 0;                                      
}

etc......

I don't see why people put "void" in the parenthesis. It's extremely redundant.