Adcdwest.102
net.unix-wizards
utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ucsfcgl!sdcarl!phonlab!sdcsvax!dcdwest!phb
Fri Feb  5 12:35:00 1982
VS11 Driver Wanted
----- Mail saved at Fri Jan 29 09:15:27 1982
To: rew
Subject: Junk
Cc: bennson kp naylor ward


HUMAN-NETS Digest        Monday, 30 Nov 1981       Volume 4 : Issue 92

Date: 27 Nov 1981 13:02:55-CST
From: jon at uwisc
Subject: command interpreters

Has anyone ever tried grafting the pseudo-English parser of Zork, or
other dungeon games, onto a shell?  Not only would it be a cheap way
to get the more natural syntax some people say they want, it could
provide a very amusing interface, and add glamour and excitement to
ordinary work:

% go to bin
you are in ~jon/bin. there are many files here.
% look
you are in ~jon/bin. the directory contains:
     date
     date.c
     readtape
     scramble
the only exit is up.
% use date to create tmp
done!
% take tmp
taken
% open tmp
you open tmp to reveal:
     Tue. November 24, 1981 (2:00pm CST)
% take date.c
taken
% look
you are in ~jon/bin. the directory contains:
     date
     readtape
     scramble
the only exit is up.
% inventory
you are carrying:
     date.c
     tmp
% goto src
you are in ~jon/src. there are many files here.
% drop date.c
dropped
% throw tmp at printer
the printer catches your file, turns it into paper,
and leaves it in the basement.
% look
you are in ~jon/src. the directory contains:
     date.c
     scramble.c
     readtape.c
there are exits marked 'zshell' and 'secret'
as well as the path leading up.
% xyzzy
you are back in your home directory.
there are many files here.
% run foo
the foo dumps core.
Oh dear! you seem to have gotten yourself killed.
% attack core with sdb
 .
 .
 .

-------

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen <jgoerzen@complete.org>
 of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/


This Usenet Oldnews Archive
article may be copied and distributed freely, provided:

1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles.

2. The following notice remains appended to each copy:

The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 
 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.