Codeing Competition Input Function

snippit.py3

def mass_input(prompt=None, lines=None, end=None):
    """Returns a list of lines of input."""
    
    # Must only have lines *or* end.
    assert lines is None or end is None
    
    # *Must* have lines or end.
    assert lines is not None or end is not None

    # Output array
    inputs = []

    # This is useful in debugging, allows you to prompt before the section of input.
    if prompt is not None:
        print(prompt, end='')

    # This is for break-after n lines.
    if lines is not None:
        # the line-count must be a int. (Not float or str)
        assert type(lines) is int
        # Loop of n items
        for __ in range(lines):
            # Input Loop
            inputs.append(input())

    # This is for break-after spicific line.
    elif end is not None:
        # Line must be a string. (Since all lines must be strings.
        assert type(end) is str
        # Bootstrap the while loop. (So [-1] is valid)
        inputs.append(input())
        # [-1] is the last item, while it is not the line we break at, continue.
        while inputs[-1] != end:
            # Input Loop
            inputs.append(input())
        # Remove last item (since it shouldn't be parsed.)
        # Last item must be the same as end, if not something in Python itself has broken(, and may god have mercy on your soul).
        assert inputs.pop(-1) == end

    # Return the input array.
    return inputs

This was written for HP CodeWars, and has been used by the SCOPE team for several years. (At least two, probably more)