I'm writing a script that recieves cmds in the form: ( command: .. .. .. . ) example: 
command: cmd;
command: cmd arg1;
command: cmd arg1 arg2;
command: cmd arg1 arg2 arg3;

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what I am having trouble with is combining all those options in a single regexp. should I just write 3 separate tests to match the possible input? NOTE: the format above is exactly as I want it to match with the semicolon left out of the variable $1. What I have tried: 
/^command: ([a-z]+ (?:[^ ]+ ){0,3});/

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In reply to single regexp to match a defined STDIN by Anonymous Monk

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