Python 2.7 - How to programmatically read binary data from stdin

Question

I'd like to be able to read binary data from stdin with python.

However, when I use input = sys.stdin.buffer.read(), I get the error that AttributeError: 'file' object has no attribute 'buffer'. This seems strange because the docs say that I should be able to use the underlying buffer object - how can I fix / work around this?

Notes: I've checked out the last time this was asked, but the answers there are all either "use -u", "use buffer" (which I'm trying), or something about reading from files. The first and last don't help because I have no control over the users of this program (so I can't tell them to use particular arguments) and because this is stdin - not files.

You are reading the documentation for Python 3, but using Python 2. — juanpa.arrivillaga
– juanpa.arrivillaga, Commented Feb 25, 2017 at 0:41
You can just use sys.stdin.read(). It's already a binary stream. — tavnab
– tavnab, Commented Feb 25, 2017 at 0:46
This solution was mentiond in the comments of the question you linked to: sys.stdin = os.fdopen(sys.stdin.fileno(), 'rb', 0) — juanpa.arrivillaga
– juanpa.arrivillaga, Commented Feb 25, 2017 at 0:47
@tavnab sure, but that is reading in text mode, which if that's the case, doesn't the OP really just want raw_input? Have I just not slept enough? — juanpa.arrivillaga
– juanpa.arrivillaga, Commented Feb 25, 2017 at 0:53
@juanpa.arrivillaga you're right, it's opened in text mode by default. The -u would still be needed to read it in unbuffered & binary mode. If the OP's expecting to read unbuffered (i.e. no waiting for the newline) from the keyboard though (e.g. writing a game), they'll probably also need to enable "raw" mode on the tty — tavnab
– tavnab, Commented Feb 25, 2017 at 1:07

nico · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-25 00:46:14Z

3

Just remove the buffer for python2:

import sys

input = sys.stdin.read()

answered Feb 25, 2017 at 0:46

nico

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1 Comment

Everyone_Else Over a year ago

Thank you! I thought I'd have to do something special for this and I am pleasantly surprised that that was not the case.

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