function firstWord(a) {
    // returns the first word in a given text.
    var output = '';
    var i;
    console.log('Input: [' + a + ']');
    for (i=0;i < a.length; i++){
        var t = a.charCodeAt(i)
        if (!i==0 && t!==32){
            console.log('Char: ' + a.charAt(i) + ' Char Code:' + t + ' i:' + i);
            if (t>=65 && t<= 90 || t==45 || t==32 || t>=97 && t<= 122) {
                if (t==32){ break; }
                output += a.charAt(i);
            }
        }
    }
    console.log('Output: ' + output)
    return output;
}

var assert = require('assert');
if (!global.is_checking) {
    console.log('Example:')
    console.log(firstWord("Hello world"))

    // These "asserts" using for self-checking and not for auto-testing
    assert.equal(firstWord("Hello world"), "Hello")
    assert.equal(firstWord(" a word "), "a")
    assert.equal(firstWord("don't touch it"), "don't")
    assert.equal(firstWord("greetings, friends"), "greetings")
    assert.equal(firstWord("... and so on ..."), "and")
    assert.equal(firstWord("hi"), "hi")
    console.log("Coding complete? Click 'Check' to earn cool rewards!");