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Why `system("pause")' shouldn't be used?
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Join Date: Oct 2009
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* Don't use system("pause") to pause your program if possible. Use getchar( ) if you are using C and cin.get( ) if you are using C++. Why is that? A reasonable explanations for those tips would help to learn.
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#2 Oct 9th, 2009
getchar()-it shows the character to be displayed on screen. Where else getch() gives the character but doesn't display on the screen.
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#3 Oct 9th, 2009
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Originally Posted by ugyen t 
getchar()-it shows the character to be displayed on screen. Where else getch() gives the character but doesn't display on the screen.
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#4 Oct 9th, 2009
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Originally Posted by neithan
Yes but, why don't use system("pause") at all? I mean what's wrong with it?
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>system("pause");
This is all kinds of wrong. First, while system is a standard function and thus portable, the argument you pass to it cannot be portable because it relies on the system command interpreter. If you move the code to a different system, the command interpreter will probably be different (or not available!) and system("pause") could do something completely different or break.
Second, system is unsafe because it doesn't verify that the pause program is the one supplied by the system. It may be a malicious program bent on wreaking havoc.
Third, system is sloooooooow. Dreadfully, painfully, agonizingly sloooooooow. This isn't really a problem if you call it once, like here, but system should really be avoided in favor of better alternatives. My code shows one of those alternatives. It requires the user to hit return, but it's portable and does the job admirably with no noticeable inconvenience to the user.
"One of the methods used by statists to destroy capitalism consists in establishing controls that tie a given industry hand and foot, making it unable to solve its problems, then declaring that freedom has failed and stronger controls are necessary." --Ayn Rand
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#5 Oct 10th, 2009
Although i'm using it only to avoid the cmd from closing without getting a chance to glance the outpot, that was a nice explanation and very usefull.
Thanks a lot!
Thanks a lot!
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#6 Oct 10th, 2009
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Originally Posted by neithan
* Don't use system("pause") to pause your program if possible. Use getchar( ) if you are using C and cin.get( ) if you are using C++.
Why is that? A reasonable explanations for those tips would help to learn.
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Originally Posted by neithan
Yes but, why don't use system("pause") at all? I mean what's wrong with it?
"Never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
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#7 Oct 13th, 2009
Awesome, thank you.
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