zablib

ZabLib

[!CAUTION] Use at your own risk! This library is still in development.

A simple, robust input/output library designed for SZABIST students to handle console input validation and user interaction in C++.

Features

• Type-safe input validation - Robust validation for all numeric types
• Error handling - Clear error messages and automatic retry on invalid input
• Cross-platform compatibility - Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Header-only library - Easy to integrate into any project
• Multiple input types - Support for integers, strings, characters, booleans, dates, and times
• Interactive menus - Built-in choice selection and confirmation dialogs
• Console utilities - Screen clearing and pause functionality

Quick Start

1. Download the zablib.h file
2. Include it in your C++ project:

   #include "zablib.h"
   

3. Create a ZabLib instance and start using it:

   ZabLib io;
   int age = io.get_int("Enter your age: ");
   

Usage Examples

Basic Input Types

#include "zablib.h"

int main() {
    ZabLib io;
    
    // Get different types of input
    int age = io.get_int("Enter your age: ");
    std::string name = io.get_line("Enter your full name: ");
    char grade = io.get_char("Enter your grade (A-F): ");
    bool isStudent = io.get_bool("Are you a student? (y/n): ");
    
    std::cout << "Hello " << name << ", age " << age << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Menu Selection

#include "zablib.h"

int main() {
    ZabLib io;
    
    const char* options[] = {
        "View Profile",
        "Edit Settings", 
        "Logout",
        "Exit"
    };
    
    int choice = io.get_choice(options, 4, "Main Menu:");
    
    switch(choice) {
        case 0: std::cout << "Viewing profile..." << std::endl; break;
        case 1: std::cout << "Editing settings..." << std::endl; break;
        case 2: std::cout << "Logging out..." << std::endl; break;
        case 3: std::cout << "Goodbye!" << std::endl; break;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Date and Time Input

#include "zablib.h"

int main() {
    ZabLib io;
    
    std::string birthDate = io.get_date("Enter your birth date");
    std::string appointmentTime = io.get_time("Enter appointment time");
    
    std::cout << "Appointment scheduled for " << appointmentTime 
              << " on " << birthDate << std::endl;
    
    return 0;
}

API Reference

Integer Input Functions

Function	Description	Return Type
get_int(msg)	Get a valid integer input	int
get_unsigned_int(msg)	Get a valid unsigned integer	unsigned int
get_long_long(msg)	Get a valid long long integer	long long
get_unsigned_long_long(msg)	Get a valid unsigned long long	unsigned long long

String and Character Input

Function	Description	Return Type
get_char(msg)	Get a single character	char
get_word(msg)	Get a single word (no spaces)	std::string
get_line(msg)	Get a full line of text	std::string

Boolean and Choice Input

Function	Description	Return Type
get_bool(msg)	Get boolean input (true/false, y/n, 1/0)	bool
get_choice(choices[], count, msg)	Display menu and get user choice	int
get_confirmation(msg)	Get yes/no confirmation	bool

Date and Time Input

Function	Description	Return Type	Format
get_date(msg)	Get date input with validation	std::string	MM/DD/YYYY
get_time(msg)	Get time input with validation	std::string	HH:MM

Utility Functions

Function	Description
pause_console(msg)	Pause execution until user presses Enter
clear_console()	Clear the console screen

Input Validation

ZabLib automatically validates all input and provides helpful error messages:

• Numeric validation: Ensures input is within valid range for the data type
• Format validation: Checks date/time formats match expected patterns
• Type validation: Prevents invalid conversions and overflow
• Retry mechanism: Automatically prompts user to re-enter invalid input

Error Messages

The library provides clear, user-friendly error messages:

Error: 'abc' is not a valid integer. Please try again.
Error: unsigned int cannot be negative. Please try again.
Error: Please enter date in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Error: Please enter 'y' or 'n'.

Platform Support

• Windows: Uses cls command for screen clearing
• Linux/macOS: Uses clear command for screen clearing
• All platforms: Cross-platform compatible input handling

Requirements

• C++11 or later
• Standard C++ library
• Console/terminal environment

Installation

Simply download zablib.h and include it in your project. No compilation or linking required.

Contributing

This library is designed for SZABIST students. Feel free to suggest improvements or report issues.

License

Open source - feel free to use and modify for educational purposes.

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Made with ❤️ for SZABIST students