A simple script which lets you write in the shell between two strings

getstring.py

# In memoria della programmazione funzionale, che qui giace

import sys
import tty
import termios


def write(string):

    '''
    Given a  string, this function  writes it as  is on the
    stdout

    Usage:
    >>> write('Hello!\n')
    '''

    sys.stdout.write(string)
    sys.stdout.flush()


def backspace(characters):

    '''
    This function removes  the last [characters] characters
    from the stdout

    Usage:
    >>> backspace(8)
    '''

    sys.stdout.write('\b \b' * characters)
    sys.stdout.flush()


def getchar():

    '''
    This function returns the next character from the stdin
    It works only on UNIX-like systems

    Usage:
    >>> char = getchar()
    '''

    old_settings = termios.tcgetattr(sys.stdin.fileno())
    tty.setraw(sys.stdin.fileno())
    char = sys.stdin.read(1)
    termios.tcsetattr(sys.stdin.fileno(), termios.TCSADRAIN, old_settings)

    return char


def getstring(prompt = '%s'):

    '''
    Given a prompt  with the  form '[pre] %s [post]', this
    function  lets you  write between [pre] and [post] and
    returns the last line from the stdin

    Usage:
    >>> string = getstring('Type between this %s and this')
    '''

    result = ''

    while (not result.endswith('\r')):

        write(prompt % result)
        result += getchar()
        backspace(len(prompt % result))
        result = result[:-2] if result[-1] == '\x7f' else result

    write('%s\n' % (prompt % result[:-1]))

    return result[:-1]