diff --git a/helpers.rs b/helpers.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb4d915
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+use std::io;
+
+pub fn read_std_in() -> String {
+    let mut input = String::new();
+    let mut done = false;
+    while !done {
+        match io::stdin().read_line(&mut input) {
+            Ok(n) => {
+                if n == 0 {
+                    done = true;
+                }
+            },
+            Err(error) => {
+                println!("error: {}", error);
+                done = true;
+            },
+        }
+    }
+    return String::from(input.trim());
+}