winforms - C# TcpClient updating (for an IRC client) -

i bascially trying make barebones irc client c#, winforms, , tcpclient display raw data irc server onto the text area (textbox1). struggling on updating code (reading stream server). right have timer runs function (listener) reads tcp stream every 100ms. application freezes , cursor disapeears, , application hangs trying grab more data. better updating function?

using system; using system.collections.generic; using system.componentmodel; using system.data; using system.drawing; using system.linq; using system.text; using system.threading.tasks; using system.windows.forms; using system.io; using system.net.sockets;  namespace logernirc {     public partial class form1 : form     {         public form1()         {             initializecomponent();         }         //variables         tcpclient client;         streamreader sr;         streamwriter sw;         //functions         public void connect(string host)         {             client = new tcpclient(host, 6667);             sr = new streamreader(client.getstream());             sw = new streamwriter(client.getstream());         }         public void write(string str)         {             textbox1.text += str;         }         public void senddata(string str)         {             sw.writeline(str);             sw.flush();         }         public void listener()         {                 string data = sr.readline();                 write(data);         }         //end functions         private void form1_load(object sender, eventargs e)         {             //initialize             write("welcome logernirc. type \"/help\" commands.\r\n");         }          private void button1_click(object sender, eventargs e) //submit button clicked         {             //textbox 1 text area , textbox 2 message/command area             //command area             if (textbox2.text == "/help")             {                 write("help:\r\n/connect connect irc server\r\n/help display menu\r\n/join join channel");             }             if (textbox2.text.startswith("/connect"))             {                 write("\r\nconnecting " + textbox2.text.split(' ')[1] + " on port 6667...");                 connect(textbox2.text.split(' ')[1]);             }             if (textbox2.text.startswith("/join"))             {                 write("\r\njoining channel " + textbox2.text.split(' ')[1]);             }             if (textbox2.text == "/test")             {                 timer1.start();                 connect("irc.freenode.net");                 write("\r\nactivating test function...");                 senddata("nick logern");                 senddata("user logern 0 * :logern");                 listener();             }         }          private void timer1_tick(object sender, eventargs e)          {             //read data             listener();         }     } } 

the delay happens when timer event raised, there's no data read. sit , wait until there is. best way address issue use asynchronous operations handle i/o. example:

public form1() {     initializecomponent(); } //variables tcpclient client; streamreader sr; streamwriter sw; //functions public void connect(string host) {     client = new tcpclient(host, 6667);     sr = new streamreader(client.getstream());     sw = new streamwriter(client.getstream()); } public void write(string str) {     textbox1.text += str; } public void senddata(string str) {     sw.writeline(str);     sw.flush(); } public async task listener() {     try     {         string data          while ((data = await sr.readlineasync()) != null)         {             write(data);         }     }     catch (objectdisposedexception)     {         // socket closed forcefully     } } //end functions private void form1_load(object sender, eventargs e) {     //initialize     write("welcome logernirc. type \"/help\" commands.\r\n"); }  private void button1_click(object sender, eventargs e) //submit button clicked {     //textbox 1 text area , textbox 2 message/command area     //command area     if (textbox2.text == "/help")     {         write("help:\r\n/connect connect irc server\r\n/help display menu\r\n/join join channel");     }     if (textbox2.text.startswith("/connect"))     {         write("\r\nconnecting " + textbox2.text.split(' ')[1] + " on port 6667...");         connect(textbox2.text.split(' ')[1]);     }     if (textbox2.text.startswith("/join"))     {         write("\r\njoining channel " + textbox2.text.split(' ')[1]);     }     if (textbox2.text == "/test")     {         connect("irc.freenode.net");          // initiate async reading (storing returned task in variable         // prevents compiler complaining don't await         // call).         var _ = listener();          write("\r\nactivating test function...");         senddata("nick logern");         senddata("user logern 0 * :logern");     } } 

the above example leaves out error-checking , other niceties, it's basic idea of want do.