HOWTO: Easily edit you configuration files

[zipmegabyte]

I use to mess around with configuration files all the time and just got sick of having to type "sudo gedit /etc/fstab" or "sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf" over and over or search for them in the terminal cache.

So I came up with a solution that might be useful for some of you.
I just created some shell scripts in my /usr/bin with the same names of the configuration files I edit the most, so whenever I type "fstab" it will open /etc/fstab for edition with root privileges, using gedit if I'm in Gnome or nano if I'm in pure terminal. All automated and hassle-free.

STEP 1:
So first we need the main script, that I'll call "easyedit.sh". Open a terminal window and type:

sudo gedit /usr/bin/easyedit.sh

Paste the following text into gedit:

#!/bin/sh
TERM_EDITOR="nano"
X_EDITOR="gedit"
X_SUDO="gnome-sudo"

FILE=$1
TERMINAL="`tty`"
if [ $? -eq 1 ];
then
TERMINAL="none"
fi
case $TERMINAL in
/dev/tty[1-8])
if [ `whoami` = "root" ];
then
$TERM_EDITOR $FILE
else
sudo $TERM_EDITOR $FILE
fi
;;
/dev/pts/*|/dev/ttyp*|none)
if [ `whoami` = "root" ];
then
$X_EDITOR $FILE&
else
$X_SUDO "$X_EDITOR $FILE"&
fi
;;
*)
esac

Ok, save the file, return to terminal and type:

sudo chmod 777 /usr/bin/easyedit.sh

STEP2:
Now all we need are the files that will have the same name as the ones you edit the most. Here is how to do fstab:

sudo gedit /usr/bin/fstab

then paste this into gedit:

#!/bin/sh
FILE="/etc/fstab"

easyedit.sh $FILE

Save file and make it executable using 'sudo chmod 777 /usr/bin/fstab'.

That's it. Repeat STEP 2 for any configuration file you want, just remember to save them into /usr/bin with the same name as the original files (for easy remembering) and to change the value of FILE to match the path to the original file. I also created scripts for /boot/grub/menu.lst, /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /etc/apt/sources.list.

Remeber: you can use this command wherever you want, be it in gnome, KDE or pure terminal. You can also change TERM_EDITOR, X_EDITOR and X_SUDO in easyedit.sh to match your tastes.

[Saiboogu]

Great little howto.. Never thought to do that. Just read this on my lunch break, and already have several setup. Thanks!

[zipmegabyte]

I just found a bug that prevented it from running from a .desktop file or the run dialog (ALT+F2) and updated the howto. You'll have to redo Step 1, cause I changed the /usr/bin/easyedit.sh file.

[Turgon]

Nice idea.

If you got time to make further improvements, a list with all the config with a little discription for each of them would be great. You could write f.eks configoverview, and a text file with the overview would pop up.

Turgon

[zipmegabyte]

Can you explain wat you mean? What is f.eks configoverview? I googled it but found nothing in a language I could undestand.

Btw I updated the script again. Seems like I forgot to declare a variable in the first script. At least now I tested the steps and it's ok.

[majikstreet]

That's really neat!

I like typing vi /etc/fstab LOL-- but that's just me ;)

This is a good idea, and should be considered to be included in Dapper Drake by default

[Velox Letum]

Very nice...I'm using it now for my fstab and xorg configs...thanks for the tip! :)

[Stormy Eyes]

Nice work. It's not something I'd use myself, as I prefer to do all config tasks manually in order to focus on the task at hand, but I can this being useful to newbies.

[mhael]

Ok, save the file, return to terminal and type:

sudo chmod 777 /usr/bin/easyedit.sh


It would be better to use 755 as permissions instead of 777. To have world-writable files (especially executables) on system is a serious security risk.

[zipmegabyte]

You're probably right. As I don't care much about security in this machine I tend to be a little too permissive.