A few thoughts come to mind:

1. The server isn't flushing its buffer
2. If the protocol specifies a new line, but the server doesn't send one, then the server is violating the protocol
3. If the protocol doesn't specify a new line, then your program can't assume there will be one

The first two are solved at the server end. For #1, set $| = 1; (assuming it's in Perl--other languages should have some method for flushing the buffer). For #2, you need to add a new line to the server's output.

If #3 is the problem, you need to read the protocol docs more carefuly :)

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I wanted to explore how Perl's closures can be manipulated, and ended up creating an object system by accident.
-- Schemer

Note: All code is untested, unless otherwise stated