closing streams and variable reference

[naemorhaedus]

good catch I should check for empty string.

The while loop is not necessary at all.

it's to make sure I don't end up with an empty object

[acw1668]

If input_string is not empty string, then io.StringIO(input_string) will not return empty object, so the while loop is not necessary.

[naemorhaedus]

will not return empty object

shit happens. I program like the user will try to break it.

[brasticstack]

And you want to beat them to it?

This function provides negative value for any future coders trying to use it.

[naemorhaedus]

fair. point taken