[SDL] How to know when SDLNet_TCP_Recv has no more data available, or how to specify timeout for it?

[Alvin]

On 08/10/2007, DARKGuy . <dark.guy.2008 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Yeah, is there a way to specify a timeout for SDLNet_TCP_Recv, or how to
> know when there's no more data, so SDLNet_TCP_Recv doesn't stay waiting
> for data to arrive? I'm thinking in using SDL threads, but I'm still not
> sure how do I apply them in my case...
>
> I've also tried to search in google but I haven't found any info about
> applying a timeout either by SDL_Net or by threads...
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated! :D
>
> - DARKGuy

What I have done is send the number of bytes before hand. The receiver then 
knows how many bytes to expect. For example, the sender transmits a single 
integer (the number of bytes for the payload) which is expected by the 
receiver. The receiver gets the integer and uses that value to receive 
exactly those number of bytes for the second transmission (e.g. the payload).

Another solution could be to have the receiver read one byte at a time. The 
sender would then send a control byte (of some kind) to indicate the end of 
the transmission.

Alvin