timeout - How to read for X seconds maximum in C++? -

i want program wait read in fifo, if read (i use std::fstream) lasts more 5 seconds, want exit.

is possible or have use alarm absolutely?

thank you.

i not believe there clean way accomplish portable c++ solution. best option use poll or select on *nix based systems , waitforsingleobject or waitformultipleobjects on windows.

you can transparently creating proxy streambuffer class forwards calls real streambuffer object. allow call appropriate wait function before doing actual read. might this...

class mystreambuffer : public std::basic_streambuf<char> { public:     mystreambuffer(std::fstream& streambuffer, int timeoutvalue)         : timeoutvalue_(timeoutvalue),           streambuffer_(streambuffer)     {     }  protected:     virtual std::streamsize xsgetn( char_type* s, std::streamsize count )     {         if(!wait(timeoutvalue_))         {             return 0;         }          return streambuffer_.xsgetn(s, count);      }  private:      bool wait() const      {          // not entirely complete idea          return (wait_object_0 == waitforsingleobject(...));      }      const int       timeoutvalue_;     std::fstream&   streambuffer_; }; 

you need on every call through. might little tedious provide transparent solution providing timeouts might not explicitly supported in client code.