Chatbot::Alpha::Tutorial is a beginners guide to Chatbot::Alpha 2.x.

INTRODUCTION

What is Chatbot::Alpha?

Chatbot::Alpha is a Perl module for reading and processing Alpha code. Alpha code is a command-driven response language, primarily used for chatterbots.

The language format is quite simple: its a line-by-line language. The first character is the command, followed by the commands data. The simplest of all Alpha replies is the standard one-way question and answer:

+ hello bot
- Hello human.

Alpha Commands Overview

Here are all the commands supported by Chatbot::Alpha:
+ (Plus)

The + symbol is the basis of all your replies. Its the trigger--that is, what the user says to activate that reply. In most cases this command comes first in a reply, followed by supporting commands that tell the bot what to do next.

- (Minus)

The - command has many purposes. In the example above, a single +TRIGGER and a single -REPLY will give you a one-way question-answer case. If you use multiple -REPLYs under one +TRIGGER, then they will become random responses. On *CONDITIONS, the -REPLYs will be called when no condition returns true. On &HOLDERS, the -REPLY is the first thing the bot sends. And the list goes on... well get into the many uses for -REPLY later.

% (Percent)

The % command is for "that" emulation. If youve worked with AIML youll know what that refers to. Its there to help take the A.D.D. syndrome out of your bots. You can make specific replies based on what the bot last said. Like if the bot asks "Do you have any pets?" and the user says "yes", the bot can ask "What kind of pets?" instead of a generic reply to "yes". Youll learn all about this in the tutorial later.

^ (Carat)

The ^ command is to continue from your last -REPLY. For example, if your reply is very long and you want to break it down a few lines in the reply file (as not to have a horizontal scrollbar and be hard to read), this is the command to use. The ^CONTINUE command will adds its data to the last -REPLY you used under the +TRIGGER.

@ (At)

The @ command is for a redirection. Alpha triggers are "dead-on", meaning "hello|hey" is literally "hello|hey", not "hello OR hey". So when you want one to point to the other, use the @REDIRECT command.

* (Star)

The * is for conditionals. Youll learn about these later as well.

& (Amperstand)

This is for simple conversation holders. Emphasis is on the word "simple." They dont always work, so youd use %THAT if it was really important. The &HOLDER command is slowly becoming deprecated.

# (Pound)

The # command is for executing Perl codes within your reply set. Sometimes Alpha just cant handle the complex tasks you have in mind, and this can fill in all the blanks (assuming youre fluent with Perl anyway).

/ (Slash)

This is comment data, not processed within Chatbot::Alpha.
LessThan and GreaterThan

The > and < are labels. Right now theyre used only for topics.