Readline.readline

Shows the prompt and reads the inputted line with line editing. The inputted line is added to the history if add_hist is true.

Returns nil when the inputted line is empty and user inputs EOF (Presses ^D on UNIX).

Raises IOError exception if one of below conditions are satisfied.

1. stdin was closed.

2. stdout was closed.

This method supports thread. Switches the thread context when waits inputting line.

Supports line edit when inputs line. Provides VI and Emacs editing mode. Default is Emacs editing mode.

NOTE: Terminates ruby interpreter and does not return the terminal status after user pressed ‘^C’ when wait inputting line. Give 3 examples that avoid it.

• Catches the Interrupt exception by pressed ^C after returns terminal status:

  require "readline"
  
  stty_save = `stty -g`.chomp
  begin
    while buf = Readline.readline
        p buf
        end
      rescue Interrupt
        system("stty", stty_save)
        exit
      end
    end
  end

• Catches the INT signal by pressed ^C after returns terminal status:

  Example

  Run in Playground

  require "readline"
  
  stty_save = `stty -g`.chomp
  trap("INT") { system "stty", stty_save; exit }
  
  while buf = Readline.readline
    p buf
  end
  

• Ignores pressing ^C:

  Example

  Run in Playground

  require "readline"
  
  trap("INT", "SIG_IGN")
  
  while buf = Readline.readline
    p buf
  end
  

Can make as follows with Readline::HISTORY constant. It does not record to the history if the inputted line is empty or the same it as last one.

require "readline"

while buf = Readline.readline("> ", true)
  # p Readline::HISTORY.to_a
  Readline::HISTORY.pop if /^\s*$/ =~ buf

  begin
    if Readline::HISTORY[Readline::HISTORY.length-2] == buf
      Readline::HISTORY.pop
    end
  rescue IndexError
  end

  # p Readline::HISTORY.to_a
  print "-> ", buf, "\n"
end