IO: sketch that tests different methods for reading keyboard input one byte at a time.

gistfile1.rb

# filename: io_byte.rb
# sketch that tests different methods for reading keyboard input one byte at a time.

# find out what approach to use to read the file
puts
puts "Reading data from the keyboard using byte-based approach."
puts "Select the method to read the keyboard input:"
puts "	1) using getc method"
puts "	2) using getbyte method"
puts "	3) using readchar method"
puts "	4) using readbyte method"
puts "	** to quit from playing around type any number"
input = STDIN.gets.to_i
puts

# if input was 1 then use getc method
if input == 1
	puts "** GETC method:"
	char = ""
	print char while ((char = STDIN.getc) =~ /[a-z\W]+/)

# if input was 2 then use getbyte method
elsif input == 2
	puts "** GETBYTE method:"
	char = 0
	print char, " " while ((char = STDIN.getbyte.to_i) > 57 || char < 49)

# if input was 3 then use readchar method
elsif input == 3
	puts "** READCHAR method:"
	char = ""
	print char while ((char = STDIN.readchar) =~ /[a-z\W]+/)

# if input was 4 then use readbyte method
elsif input == 4
	puts "** READBYTE method:"
	char = 0
	print char, " " while ((char = STDIN.readbyte) > 57 || char < 49)

# if input did not match then display error message
else 
	puts "** ERROR: your input didn't make sense"
end

puts