> soundex:soundex("Smith").
"S530"
> soundex:soundex("Smyth").
"S530"

-module(soundex).

-export([soundex/1]).

soundex([]) -> [];

%%

soundex([First|T]) ->
	pad([First|[num(X) || X <- strip(httpd_util:to_upper(T))]]).
	
strip(String) -> strip(String, []).
strip([$A|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([$E|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([$H|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([$I|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([$O|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([$U|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([$W|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([$Y|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([32|T], Acc) -> strip(T, Acc);
strip([C|T], Acc)  -> strip(T, [C|Acc]);
strip([], Acc) -> lists:reverse(Acc).

num($B) -> $1; num($F) -> $1; num($P) -> $1; num($V) -> $1;
num($C) -> $2; num($G) -> $2; num($J) -> $2; num($K) -> $2; 
num($Q) -> $2; num($S) -> $2; num($X) -> $2; num($Z) -> $2;
num($D) -> $3; num($T) -> $3;
num($L) -> $4;
num($M) -> $5; num($N) -> $5;
num($R) -> $6.

dedup(String) -> dedup(String, []).
dedup([X,X|T], Acc) -> dedup([X|T], Acc);
dedup([C|T], Acc) -> dedup(T, [C|Acc]);
dedup([], Acc) -> lists:reverse(Acc).

pad([A,B,C,D]) -> [A,B,C,D];
pad([A,B,C])   -> [A,B,C,$0];
pad([A,B])     -> [A,B,$0,$0];
pad([A])       -> [A,$0,$0,$0];
pad([])        -> [$0,$0,$0,$0].