Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site gatech.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!gatech!spaf From: spaf@gatech.UUCP (Gene Spafford) Newsgroups: net.cog-eng,net.unix,net.jokes Subject: A proposal Message-ID: <3836@gatech.UUCP> Date: Tue, 7-Feb-84 12:43:32 EST Article-I.D.: gatech.3836 Posted: Tue Feb 7 12:43:32 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 10-Feb-84 01:17:22 EST Organization: Georgia Tech School of ICS, Atlanta Lines: 78 I was looking through one of my archives on another system and found the following. I think there may be merit in the idea. Anybody out there have any comments? Begin Inserted Text: # 366 From : PHIL REED To : USER FRIENDLIES Subject : AN IDEA Date : Wed. 12/09/81 10:56 Has anyone thought of 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 EST) % 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 your 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 . . . (downloaded from the Original NorthStar BBS, run by Microstuf.) End Inserted Text. -- Off the Wall of Gene Spafford The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332 CSNet: Spaf @ GATech ARPA: Spaf.GATech @ CSNet-Relay uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,rlgvax,sb1,unmvax,ulysses,ut-sally}!gatech!spaf