hangman

hangman [-a] [-o] [-w wordlist]

-a
    Displays the entire dictionary of words that hangman uses. This option can be used to 'cheat' or to explore the word list.

-o
    Uses an 'old' output style, which may feature simpler or less graphical representations of the gallows and other game elements, suitable for older terminals or specific preferences.

-w wordlist
    Specifies an alternative wordlist file to use as the dictionary for words to guess. If this option is not provided, hangman typically uses its default internal or system-wide word file.

hangman is a text-based adaptation of the classic word-guessing game. The computer selects a random word from its dictionary, and the player attempts to guess the word by suggesting letters. For each incorrect guess, a part of a 'hanged man' drawing is added. The goal is to guess the word before the drawing is complete, thereby 'saving' the man.

The game typically provides feedback on correct and incorrect guesses, showing the progress of the word being revealed and the state of the gallows. It's a simple yet engaging game designed for the command line, often included as part of traditional Unix/Linux games packages.

The hangman command is typically part of the bsdgames package and may not be installed by default on all Linux distributions. Users might need to install it manually (e.g., sudo apt-get install bsdgames on Debian/Ubuntu or sudo yum install bsdgames on Fedora/CentOS).

/usr/share/games/bsdgames/hangman.words
The default dictionary file used by hangman. The exact path may vary depending on the system and distribution.

The exact authorship details for hangman can be difficult to pinpoint precisely due to its long history and evolution within the BSD games collection. However, it is generally considered part of the collaborative efforts of the original BSD developers and subsequent contributors.

Given its age and simplicity, hangman is relatively stable. Any potential bugs would likely be minor, such as issues with word parsing in custom word lists or very specific terminal rendering quirks, rather than critical functionality failures. Refer to your system's documentation or bug tracking for specific distribution-related issues.

hangman is a venerable component of the collection of classic Unix games, often found within the bsdgames suite. Its origins trace back to early Unix systems, providing simple entertainment in the command-line environment. Like many such games, it reflects the simplicity and directness of early computing interfaces, focusing on core gameplay mechanics without graphical overhead. It has been maintained and ported across various Unix-like operating systems for decades.

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