Is there a way to determine if Java System.in is “interactive”?

Question

If the input is interactive, i.e. from the console, I want to print a command prompt e.g. \">\"

But if it is redirected e.g. from a file, then I do not want to promp

Answer 1

You can make it interactive:

public static void main(String args[]) throws Exception {
    String action = null;
    Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);

    while (!((action = in.nextLine()).equalsIgnoreCase("exit"))) {
        if (action.equalsIgnoreCase("open")) {
            openConnections();
        } else if (action.equalsIgnoreCase("close")) {
            closeConnections();
        }
    }
}