Getch in Python - Read a Character without Enter

Sometimes it is more appropriate to read from keyboard without waiting for Enter to be codessed, for example, when choosing from a menu. The raw_input("Prompt String >") always waits for Enter, so a function similar to getch() in C is needed and there are some solutions for that in Python.

1. There is getch() equivalent for Windows environment in library msvcrt:
   
import msvcrt

result = msvcrt.getch()

   Funny thing is that the code works fine from command window (cmd.exe), but does not in IDLE: in IDLE it does not wait for a key and gives out '\xff' as the result.
   
   In Linux the same can be done this way:
   
import sys, tty, termios

fd = sys.stdin.fileno()
# save original terminal settings
old_settings = termios.tcgetattr(fd)

# change terminal settings to raw read
tty.setraw(sys.stdin.fileno())

ch = sys.stdin.read(1)

# restore original terminal settings
termios.tcsetattr(fd, termios.TCSADRAIN, old_settings)
print '\ncodessed char is \'' + ch +'\'\n'

   Since the solution is system dependent some people propose a universal approach when program tries one implementation and if it fails - the other one, here is an example from ActiveState Code, Danny Yoo:
   
class _Getch:
"""Gets a single character from standard input.
Does not echo to the screen."""
def __init__(self):
try:
self.impl = _GetchWindows()
except ImportError:
self.impl = _GetchUnix()

def __call__(self): return self.impl()

class _GetchUnix:
def __init__(self):
import tty, sys

def __call__(self):
import sys, tty, termios
fd = sys.stdin.fileno()
old_settings = termios.tcgetattr(fd)
try:
tty.setraw(sys.stdin.fileno())
ch = sys.stdin.read(1)
finally:
termios.tcsetattr(fd, termios.TCSADRAIN, old_settings)
return ch

class _GetchWindows:
def __init__(self):
import msvcrt

def __call__(self):
import msvcrt
return msvcrt.getch()

getch = _Getch()



2. Using TK library the following code works OK:
   
import Tkinter as tk

def keycodess(event):
if event.keysym == 'Escape':
root.destroy()
x = event.char
if x == "a":
print "A done"
elif x == "b":
print "B done"
elif x == "c":
print "C done"
elif x == "d":
print "D done"
else:
print x

root = tk.Tk()
print "a. Menu choice A"
print "b. Menu choice B"
print "c. Menu choice C"
print "d. Menu choice D"
root.bind_all('', keycodess)
# hiding the tk window
root.withdraw()
root.mainloop()

   It works OK in Windows command window (cmd.exe), but in IDLE and Linux the line root.withdraw() should be commented out - the code works OK while the root window is in focus. This kind of examples you can find here.
   


3. Curses library has its own getch implementation. I did not check it, just would like to mention for the record.

If you know any other solutions - I'd love to here from you about them!