⚡️ Better Input for C# with buffer

Ever wished Console.ReadLine() could give you real-time input? Want full control over what the user types as they type it?

Introducing buffer — a lightweight NuGet package that gives you real-time input handling and total buffer control in C#. Perfect for building interactive CLI tools, REPLs, or anything where ReadLine() just doesn’t cut it.

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✨ Features

• ✅ Real-time updates while users type
• 📜 Real-time Syntax highlighting.
• 🧠 Manual control over the input buffer
• 🧵 Thread-safe & supports multithreading
• 🔠 Access buffer as char[] or string
• 💻 Compatible with a wide range of .NET Frameworks
• 🎉 Emoji support for fun prompts
• 🔒 Secure input handling
• 🛠️ Easy to use and integrate
• 📦 Lightweight and fast
• 🔧 Customizable buffer size

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🚀 Quick Start

🧩 Installation

Add it via CLI:

dotnet add package buffer

Or visit the NuGet page →

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🔧 How It Works

1. Initialize the input buffer
   • With a buffer size
   • Without a buffer size
2. Start listening for input
3. Read the buffer manually as char[] or string
4. Clear the buffer when you’re done

🧪 Example

using Prad.Buffer;

...
PradBuffer InputBuffer = new PradBuffer();

// Start capturing input (does NOT return value)
InputBuffer.GetInput();

// Read it manually
string value = InputBuffer.GetBufferAsString();

// Clear when done
InputBuffer.ClearBuffer();

🧩 Manual Buffer Size Example

using Prad.Buffer;

...
PradBuffer InputBuffer = new PradBuffer(10);

// Start capturing input (does NOT return value)
InputBuffer.GetInput(); // Only 10 characters can be stored. (0 to 9)

// Read it manually
string value = InputBuffer.GetBufferAsString();

// Clear when done
InputBuffer.ClearBuffer();

Here is a demo of Limited Buffer Size of 10 characters

🧩 Syntax Highlighting in Real-time

PradBuffer Buffer = new PradBuffer();

Console.WriteLine("Enter something to get started, ");

string s = "";

// Supports Console Colors
Buffer.SyntaxHighlights.Add("prad", ConsoleColor.Red);

// Supports Integers, color will be selected with respective to ConsoleColor enum.
Buffer.SyntaxHighlights.Add("static", 9);

// Directly supports ANSI Escape codes. **Beware any mistakes CAN and WILL break the input.**
Buffer.SyntaxHighlights.Add("public", "\x1b[32m"); // Green ANSI Escape code.

// ! Throws exception if any other data type is being used.
// Buffer.SyntaxHighlights.Add("=", 56.3d);

Buffer.EnableSyntaxHighlighting = true;

while(true){
    Buffer.GetInput("> ");

    s = Buffer.GetBufferAsString();

    Buffer.ClearBuffer();

    if(s == "exit") break;

    Console.WriteLine($"Value Entered : \"{s}\"");
}

Demo of Syntax Highlighting

🚀 Using its maximum potential

Here is a code example which uses Multithreading to get the input buffer in real-time.

using Prad.Buffer;

class sample_program {
    static PradBuffer buffer = new PradBuffer();

    static void Main(string[] args) {
        Thread thread = new Thread(invoker);
        thread.Start();

        buffer.GetInput("command > ");

        string value = buffer.GetBufferAsString();

        buffer.ClearBuffer();

        Console.WriteLine(value);
    }

    static void invoker(){
        if(buffer.Length > 0)
            Console.WriteLine(buffer.GetBufferAsString());

        Thread.Sleep(1000);
        invoker();
    }
}

🛠️ Unlock the full power of buffer by using multi-threading to get realtime data even before the user has completed typing.

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🛠 Overloaded Input Methods

Option 1 – No prompt

InputBuffer.GetInput();

<waits here for input>

Option 2 – With custom prompt

InputBuffer.GetInput("command > ");

command > <waits here for input>

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions are always welcome!

Steps

# 1. Fork the repo
# 2. Create a branch
git checkout -b feature-name

# 3. Make changes & commit
git commit -m "Add feature-name"

# 4. Push and open PR
git push origin feature-name

Please:

• Stick to the existing code style
• Write helpful commit messages
• Document new features
• Add tests when possible ✅

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🔗 Links

• 📦 NuGet Package
• 🧑‍💻 GitHub Source
• 📝 Blog Post

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Give it a ⭐ if you like it and share it with your fellow devs!