not to diminish this creation in any way, but if you had to create something like this might awk have been an easier tool to use, and equally available? Obvious

not to diminish this creation in any way, but if you had to create something like this might awk have been an easier tool to use, and equally available? Obviously this is just for.... i dunno someone desperately wanting to chat on a production server or the result of a geek finding an interesting challenge (maybe both) but... if you DID have to...