def _input(prompt=''):
            sys.stdout.write(prompt)
            sys.stdout.flush()
            with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as sock:
                try:
                    sock.connect((input_host, input_port))
                    userdata = sock.recv(1024)
                except ConnectionRefusedError:
                    userdata = b'<user-input-unavailable>'
            return userdata.decode()