Bash Scripts

This page provides several Bash scripts that I have written over the years. Many of them are specific to Mac OS X. See also my Bash aliases and functions.

• active_net_iface
  Echos the name of the current active network interface (e.g. "en0" or "en1")
• active_net_service_name
  Echos the name of the currently active network service (e.g. "Airport" or "Built-in Ethernet") This is the "human-readable" counterpart to the network interface name that can be obtained via the 'active_net_iface' script.
• app_running
  Determines whether a specified program is running (uses the 'ps' command). This is intended as an illustration of a technique that might be used in other scripts - e.g. a script that restarts a program if it gets terminated for some reason.
• app_running2
  Determines whether a specified program is running. An alternative version of the above that uses the 'killall -s' command instead of the 'ps' command. This version only detects programs running as the current user.
• fixAppleScriptApp
  Changes the application bundle of a compiled AppleScript (one that has been saved as an application bundle) so that the application name is used instead of "applet". Optionally changes the 4-character "creator code" for the application.
• fus
  Uses OS X's "Fast User Switching" to switch to a specified user or to the login window.
• grep_pkg
  Searches the bom files in /Library/Receipts for a specifed component name and shows the info about that component from the bom file followed by the name of the pkg that contained that component. This is useful for finding out which pkg installed a particular software component. (See also 'grepl_pkg', 'lspkg', 'pkgsummary')
• grepl_pkg
  Searches the bom files in /Library/Receipts for a specifed component name and shows the name of the pkg that contained that component. (The "grepl" in its name refers to "grep -l") This is useful for finding out which pkg installed a particular software component. (See also 'grep_pkg', 'lspkg', 'pkgsummary')
• listjar
  Recursively lists the files inside a ZIP, JAR, EAR, or WAR file
• lspkg
  Lists the "bill of materials" for a pkg file. (See also 'pkgsummary', 'grep_pkg', 'grepl_pkg')
• make_alias
  Makes a Finder-style alias to a specified file or folder and puts it in the specified destination folder.
• pkgsummary
  Gives a summary of what is contained in a pkg file according to its "bom" (bill of materials). (See also 'pkgSummaryOfApps', 'lspkg', 'grep_pkg', 'grepl_pkg')
• pkgSummaryOfApps
  This script gives a summary of what apps from a package were installed under /Applications or /Applications/Utilities according to the package's "bom" (bill of materials). (See also 'pkgsummary', 'lspkg', 'grep_pkg', 'grepl_pkg')
• remove_suffix
  Removes the suffix (portion after the last dot) from strings (e.g. filenames). Also has a note about how to remove such suffixes from a Bash variable.
• show_getinfo
  Opens the Finder's "Get Info" window for a specified file or folder.
• indirect_variables
  Illustrates how to use "indirect expansion" of Bash variables.

Mac OS X  /  Programming  /  Bash Scripts