public static void main (String[] args) {

    Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
    System.out.println("Welcome to the To Do list app");
    int length = 0;
    String[] listToDo = new String[length];
    String menu = "edit";

    while (menu != "exit")  {
      System.out.println("type *edit* to edit, *view* to read and *cancel* to cancel");
      String userListItem = new String();
      menu = input.next();
      if (menu == "edit") {
        System.out.println("How many items do you want to add to the list?");
        System.out.println("hit enter to move to the next line or enter *:q!* to exit");
        length = input.nextInt();
        for (int counter = 0; counter < length; counter++)  {
          userListItem[counter] = input.nextLine();
          if (!userListItem.isEmpty()) {
            listToDo[counter] = userListItem;
          }
          if (userListItem.equals(":q!"))  {
            break;
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }