I like split. 
my $text = 'command: cmd arg1 arg2;';

# if Schwern ever reads this, he'll be impressed
chop $text;

my ($command, $cmd, @args) = split(' ', $text);

[download]
Is that remotely close to what you're attempting?

In reply to Re: single regexp to match a defined STDIN by chromatic
in thread single regexp to match a defined STDIN by Anonymous Monk

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