/**
* Reads a string that consists of a integer denoting the number of bytes, the bytes (including a
* terminating 0 byte)
*
* @return the string
* @throws IOException if the string could not be read
*/
protected String readString() throws IOException {
// read number of bytes
int bytes = _in.readInt();
if (bytes <= 0) {
throw new IOException("Invalid number of string bytes");
}
String s;
if (bytes > 1) {
s = _in.readUTF(bytes - 1);
} else {
s = "";
}
// read terminating zero
_in.readByte();
return s;
}
/**
* @return a null-terminated string read from the input stream
* @throws IOException if the string could not be read
*/
protected String readCString() throws IOException {
return _in.readUTF(-1);
}