namespace JPT { class Sample { static void Main(string[] args) { var worklist = new List(); using (var reader = new StreamReader("input.txt")) { while (!reader.EndOfStream) { var item = reader.ReadLine().Trim(); if (item.Length < 1) continue; worklist.Add(item); } } Console.WriteLine("Doing work:"); using (var progress = new TextProgressBar(worklist.Count)) foreach (var workItem in worklist) { DoWork(workItem); progress.Increment(); } } } }