Parsing user commands in a text adventure is a spectrum from Adventure's "go north" to mind-bogglingly diabolically clever hhgttg.

Are there essays or articles that explain approaches to parsing text commands?

I seem to remember reading nice how-tos in computer magazines back in the 80's, but now I find almost nothing on the 'net except a very brief ref on wikipedia.

And how would you do it?

UPDATE: for the curious, I went with the simpliest approach possible in my Ludum Dare entry: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=10313

Parsing user commands in a text adventure is a spectrum from Adventure's simple "go north" to some mind-bogglingly clever ones in hhgttg.

I seem to remember reading nice how-tos in computer magazines back in the 80s, but now I find almost nothing on the 'net except a brief Wikipedia ref.

How would you do it?

Update: I went with the simplest approach possible in my Ludum Dare entry.

Parsing user commands in a text adventure is a spectrum from Adventure's "go north" to mind-bogglingly diabolically clever hhgttg.

Are there essays or articles that explain approaches to parsing text commands?

I seem to remember reading nice how-tos in computer magazines back in the 80's, but now I find almost nothing on the 'net except a very brief ref on wikipedia.

And how would you do it?

Parsing user commands in a text adventure is a spectrum from Adventure's "go north" to mind-bogglingly diabolically clever hhgttg.

Are there essays or articles that explain approaches to parsing text commands?

I seem to remember reading nice how-tos in computer magazines back in the 80's, but now I find almost nothing on the 'net except a very brief ref on wikipedia.

And how would you do it?

UPDATE: for the curious, I went with the simpliest approach possible in my Ludum Dare entry: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview&uid=10313