How to use `getch` function of c in Linux? - c

Question

I had installed ncurses library in Linux mint and still I can't use getch function in c. I am using Linux mint 18.2.
Here is my program:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <curses.h>
int main() {
char k;
printf("how are you");
k = getch();
printf("%c",k);
}
and here is the output:
ram#ram$ gcc-7 test.c -lcurses
ram#ram$ ./a.out
how are you�ram#ram$
It does't wait for me to press any key and terminate to quickly. I don't want to install conio.h for Linux. How can I use getch and getche function in Linux? Please don't tell me to make my own function. I am still a noob. Or there must be alternatives.

Answer 1

Here's a "corrected" version, explaining what's wrong in the comments:
#include <curses.h>
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void)
{
// use the correct type, see https://linux.die.net/man/3/getch
int k;
// init curses:
initscr();
// in curses, you have to use curses functions for all terminal I/O
addstr("How are you?");
k = getch();
// end curses:
endwin();
printf("You entered %c\n", k);
return 0;
}
This still isn't good code, you should at least check whether you got a valid character from getch().
It's also important to note that getch() isn't a "function of C". It's part of curses, a well-known platform-independent API for console/terminal control, with implementations e.g. for *nix systems (ncurses) and Windows (pdcurses). It's not part of the language C.