RFC: C++ "Hit any key to continue..." solution

So, I've been searching for a cross platform way (works on UNIX and Windows) to implement "Hit any key to continue..." functionality.

Specificaly, a better solution than any that are given here:
http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/...&id=1043284385

I have come up with (I think) a cross platform, C++ solution that takes care of a terminal environment that does input line buffering

Code:

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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "\nPress any key to continue..." << endl;
    streambuf *pbuf;
    pbuf=cin.rdbuf()->setbuf(NULL, 1);
    pbuf->sgetc();

    return 0;
}

---

What do people think of that? Will it work on windows?

Doesn't compile on my machine.

error C2248: 'setbuf' : cannot access protected member declared in class 'std::basic_streambuf<char,struct std::char_traits<char> >'

It doesn't compile under GCC 3.3.4 on Debian Linux either:

Code:

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matt@debianbox c $ g++ -pedantic -Wall flakier.cpp
/usr/include/c++/3.3/streambuf: In function `int main()':
/usr/include/c++/3.3/streambuf:713: error: `std::basic_streambuf<_CharT,
  _Traits>* std::basic_streambuf<_CharT, _Traits>::setbuf(_CharT*, int) [with
  _CharT = char, _Traits = std::char_traits<char>]' is protected
flakier.cpp:7: error: within this context
matt@debianbox c $

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Hmm, back to the drawing board!

I've got an old gcc-2.95.2.1 and at home VS.NET2002

I think I saw something on technet about streambuf::setbuf being replaced by pubsetbuf()

Thanks for the reports :)

~Jason

eh, what's wrong with cin.get()?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by major_small

eh, what's wrong with cin.get()?

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What about cin.ignore()?

with cin.get() you are restricted to only hitting, "Enter" as opposed to system("pause") which will allow you to hit any key to continue. (although it is non-portable/OS dependant)

btw I am waiting for a portable alternative to cin.get() that will allow the user to "hit any key to continue".. mainly so I can use it in my programs :)

You could just use preprocessors to compile one method if it is being compiled under Windows and another method if it is under Linux.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Brain

with cin.get() you are restricted to only hitting, "Enter" as opposed to system("pause") which will allow you to hit any key to continue. (although it is non-portable/OS dependant)

btw I am waiting for a portable alternative to cin.get() that will allow the user to "hit any key to continue".. mainly so I can use it in my programs :)

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oh i see now... well, you could always use getch()... supposedly it's not portable, but I've seen it included with every compiler/linker I've ever used... and it's not OS-dependant...

Well, it's not included in GCC 3.3.4 on my Debian Linux box.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XSquared

Well, it's not included in GCC 3.3.4 on my Debian Linux box.

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well... I didn't say I tried it on every compiler out there, did I?

i've only really tried it on an old borland compiler, Dev-C++ (migw port of gcc), MSVC (who knows), and G++ (version ?)

One thing to remember is that a standard solution doesn't have to preform a solution the same way on every machine, just provide a standard interface AND a standard result. How you go from the interface to the result can change depending on the environment.

As Frobozz said you can use preproccessor directives to decide which solution to use.

For a *nix solution I posted one at: http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showthread.php?t=51531. Once I find the updated code on my computer and verify that it works I'll post a more c++ based solution.