diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 58f2c2c..7d2b413 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -107,22 +107,19 @@ const parseMessage = (message) => {
 }
 
 client.on('message', (channel, tags, message, self) => {
-
     console.log(`${tags['display-name']}: ${message}`);
     parseMessage(message)
 });
 
+const readline = require('node:readline').createInterface({
+    input: process.stdin,
+    output: process.stdout,
+});
 
-var testMessages = ['init','pu','pd','up','down','left','right','right','rectangle','circle','LBhaihai'];
-var testIndex = 0;
-var interval = setInterval(function () {
-    console.log("----- about to send a test message: ", testMessages[testIndex]);
-    parseMessage(testMessages[testIndex]);
+const askQuestion = message => {
+    console.log(`sending ${message}! \n`);
+    readline.question(`What do you want the plotter to do? \n`, askQuestion);
+    parseMessage(message)
+}
 
-    if(testIndex < (testMessages.length - 1)) {
-        testIndex++;
-    } else {
-        console.log("completed the test")
-        clearInterval(interval);
-    }
-}, 1000);
\ No newline at end of file
+readline.question(`What do you want the plotter to do?`, askQuestion);
\ No newline at end of file