We’ve all been there—one wrong command in the terminal can lead to catastrophic consequences. Ever tried to delete a directory and accidentally wiped out your entire project? :scream: But fear not, Shellfirm is here to save your sanity! This article will guide you through the process of installing and using Shellfirm, a tool that intercepts risky shell commands to prevent disasters.

What is Shellfirm?

Think of Shellfirm as your safety net in the wild, wheeling world of shell commands. Just like a seatbelt in a car keeps you secure during unexpected stops, Shellfirm quizzes you about risky commands before they execute. This clever tool helps you double-check your actions, acting like a captcha for your terminal.

How Does Shellfirm Work?

Essentially, Shellfirm watches over everything you type into the terminal. If it detects a risky pattern, it halts the operation and prompts you for verification. This helps ensure that you truly want to proceed with potentially destructive actions. For example, if you accidentally type:

rm -rf some_directory

You would see a warning like:

######################## RISKY COMMAND FOUND ########################
You are going to delete everything in the path.
Solve the challenge: 8 + 0 = ? (^C to cancel)

Setting Up Shellfirm

Ready to give it a whirl? Here’s how to set it up:

Install via Homebrew

• Open your terminal and run:

brew tap kaplanelad/tap

• Then, install Shellfirm:

brew install shellfirm

Validating Your Installation

To ensure Shellfirm is installed correctly, run the following command:

shellfirm --version

Select Your Shell

Shellfirm works with various shells like Bash and Zsh. Here’s how to enable it:

For Zsh Users

• Download the Shellfirm plugin:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kaplanelad/shellfirm/main/shell-plugins/shellfirm.plugin.oh-my-zsh.zsh --create-dirs -o $ZSH_CUSTOM/themes/oh-my-zsh/custom/plugins/shellfirm

• Add it to your plugin list in ~/.zshrc:

plugins=(... shellfirm)

For Bash Users

• Download the pre-exec hook functions:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rcaloras/bash-preexec/master/bash-preexec.sh -o ~/.bash-preexec.sh

• Source the file at the end of your bash profile:

echo '[[ -f ~/.bash-preexec.sh ]] && source ~/.bash-preexec.sh' >> ~/.bashrc

Troubleshooting

If you don’t see the Shellfirm prompt challenge after entering a risky command, check for the following:

• Ensure that the command shellfirm --version returns a valid response.
• Verify you installed the correct Zsh plugin and added it to the plugins list in your .zshrc.

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Customize Shellfirm Settings

Shellfirm comes with predefined risky commands that it recognizes by default, including commands from Git, filesystem operations, and more. You can customize these settings to better fit your needs:

• Add or remove group checks with:

shellfirm config update-groups

• Change the default challenge mode (like math questions) with:

shellfirm config challenge

Conclusion

Shellfirm is your guardian angel in the terminal, preventing the unfortunate mistakes that can lead to significant headaches. By following these installation and customization steps, you can safeguard not only your data but also your time. Embrace safety in your shell and let Shellfirm be your trusty assistant!

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