C++ Game countdown timer

Question

I would like to ask how can I make a console game when I need the user to input some string within a period of time? (I've tried to use Sleep function but it will make the screen freeze for a period of time which I don't want to)

Example : A Pop Quiz

Answer 1

I think this can be done without multithreading (A very simple version of a timer)

You can try to write something like this and modify it to serve your needs:

Please note that the code is not complete. You need to edit it so it match your needs. However, this should give you an idea.

int main() 
{   
   time_t begin, end;
   char input;
   bool flag = true;
   begin = time();
   while (flag) 
   {
      if(kbhit()) 
         ch = getch();
      end = time();
      if(difftime(end, begin) > NEEDED_TIME_IN_SECONDS) 
        flag = false;  //The user didn't enter it in within the wanted period of time
    }
}

Some documentations:

• double difftime(time_t time2, time_t time1) Return difference between two times Calculates the difference in seconds between time1 and time2.
• getch() Prompts the user to press a character and that character is not printed on screen.
• kbhit() It returns a non-zero integer if a key is in the keyboard buffer. It will not wait for a key to be pressed.