C key pressed in Linux console

Question

I have started to study C. I'm using Linux console and I would like to do a program which outputs random characters until ESC is pressed. How can I make such a keyboard handler?

Answer 1

getch() from Curses library perhaps? Also, you will need to use notimeout() to tell getch() not to wait for next keypress.

Answer 2

#include <stdio.h>

#include <stdlib.h>

#include <unistd.h>

#include <signal.h>

char * me = "Parent";

void sigkill(int signum)
{
    //printf("=== %s EXIT SIGNAL %d ===\n", me, signum);
    exit(0);
}

main()
{
    int pid = fork();
    signal(SIGINT, sigkill);
    signal(SIGQUIT, sigkill);
    signal(SIGTERM, sigkill);
    if(pid == 0) //IF CHILD
    {  
        int ch;
        me = "Child";
        while(1)
        {  
            ch = (rand() % 26) + 'A';   // limit range to ascii A-Z
            printf("%c",ch);
            fflush(stdout); // flush output buffer
            sleep(2);   // don't overwhelm
            if (1 == getppid())
            {  
                printf("=== CHILD EXIT SINCE PARENT DIED ===\n");
                exit(0);
            }
        }
        printf("==CHILD EXIT NORMAL==\n");
    }
    else //PARENT PROCESS
    {  
        int ch;
        if((ch = getchar())==27)
            kill(pid, SIGINT);
        //printf("==PARENT EXIT NORMAL (ch=%d)==\n", ch);
    }
    return(0);
}

In this program u will only need to press enter after esc char,because getchar()is a blocking function. Also u may remove or decrease sleep time for child process as ur need.

Answer 3

change the tty settings for one key press:

int getch(void) {
      int c=0;

      struct termios org_opts, new_opts;
      int res=0;
          //-----  store old settings -----------
      res=tcgetattr(STDIN_FILENO, &org_opts);
      assert(res==0);
          //---- set new terminal parms --------
      memcpy(&new_opts, &org_opts, sizeof(new_opts));
      new_opts.c_lflag &= ~(ICANON | ECHO | ECHOE | ECHOK | ECHONL | ECHOPRT | ECHOKE | ICRNL);
      tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &new_opts);
      c=getchar();
          //------  restore old settings ---------
      res=tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &org_opts);
      assert(res==0);
      return(c);
}