Python 2.6 Chat Loop Issue. Cant Receive And Send Simultaneously

Question

Im trying to make a console chat program, but have a problem with my loop. I cant get input and receive the other persons input at the same time. If two message or more are sent

Answer 1

The Twisted framework can be used to help accomplish this task. The code below initiates a chat server that clients can then connect to and communicate back and forth, based off of the server instance settings. You can make the appropriate modifications to fit your requirements:

from twisted.internet.protocol import Factory
from twisted.protocols.basic import LineReceiver
from twisted.internet import reactor

class Chat(LineReceiver):

    def __init__(self, users):
        self.users = users
        self.name = None
        self.state = "GETNAME"

    def connectionMade(self):
        self.sendLine("What's your name?")

    def connectionLost(self, reason):
        if self.users.has_key(self.name):
            del self.users[self.name]

    def lineReceived(self, line):
        if self.state == "GETNAME":
            self.handle_GETNAME(line)
        else:
            self.handle_CHAT(line)

    def handle_GETNAME(self, name):
        if self.users.has_key(name):
            self.sendLine("Name taken, please choose another.")
            return
        self.sendLine("Welcome, %s!" % (name,))
        self.name = name
        self.users[name] = self
        self.state = "CHAT"

    def handle_CHAT(self, message):
        message = "<%s> %s" % (self.name, message)
        for name, protocol in self.users.iteritems():
            if ':' in message:
                self.exc(message.split(':')[0])
            if protocol != self:
                protocol.sendLine(message)

    def exc(self, cmd):
        print cmd
        if cmd == 'who':
            for i in self.users:
                print i


class ChatFactory(Factory):

    def __init__(self):
        self.users = {} # maps user names to Chat instances

    def buildProtocol(self, addr):
        return Chat(self.users)


reactor.listenTCP(8123, ChatFactory())
reactor.run()