Unix Programming Frequently Asked Questions - 3. It takes a string to use as a prompt. It will read up to an EOF or newline and returns a pointer to a static area of memory holding the string typed in. The following two routines should allow echoing, and non-echoing mode.
Terminals are usually in canonical mode, where input is read in lines after it is edited.
You may set this into non-canonical mode, where you set how many characters should be read before input is given to your program. You also may set the timer in non-canonical mode terminals to 0, this timer flushs your buffer at set intervals. I want to do full screen editing without using curses. Seriously, you probably don't want to do this. They exist in order to provide a means to emulate the behaviour of a serial terminal under the control of a program.