How to send EOF to Python sys.stdin from commandline? CTRL-D doesn't work

Question

I am writing to my Python process from the commandline on unix. I want to send EOF (or somehow flush the stdin buffer, so Python can read my input.)

If I hit CTRL-C, I get a KeyboardError.

If I hit CTRL-D, the program just stops.

How do I flush the stdin buffer?

Answer 1

Control-D should NOT make your program "just stop" -- it should close standard input, and if your program deals with that properly, it may perfectly well continue if it needs to!

For example, given the following st.py:

import sys

def main():
  inwas = []
  for line in sys.stdin:
    inwas.append(line)
  print "%d lines" % len(inwas),
  print "initials:", ''.join(x[0] for x in inwas)

if __name__ == '__main__':
  main()

we could see something like

$ python st.py
nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita
mi ritrovai per una selva oscura
che la diritta via era smarrita
3 lines initials: nmc
$ 

if the control-D is hit right after the enter on the third line -- the program realizes that standard input is done, and performs the needed post-processing, all neat and proper.

If your program prematurely exits on control-D, it must be badly coded -- what about editing you question to add the smallest "misbehaving" program you can conceive of, so we can show you exactly HOW you're going wrong?

Answer 2

If you use 'for l in sys.stdin', it is buffered.

You can use:

  while 1:
     l = sys.stdin.readline()