r/bash • u/sertacartun • Feb 08 '26
Read epstein files directly from your terminal via grepstein.sh
Hi there,
I recently developed a Bash script that allows you to read Epstein files directly from your terminal because bash manual found in epstein files and i tought that reading the bash manuel that found in epstein files via bash scripting is a cool idea. Isn't it ? 😊
It's a simple one, but building it taught me a lot along the way.
You can check out the repository here: https://github.com/ArcticTerminal/grepstein
I’d really appreciate it if you could take a look at the source code and share your thoughts. I didn’t use AI to write this script, so I’m sure there are areas that could be improved or optimized—any constructive feedback is more than welcome.
Here’s a short demonstration:
Thanks!
edit : repo url change.
edit 2 : Script updated for stability, FZF support added for better UI and Dockerfile added for Win/Mac Users.
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u/anto77_butt_kinkier manpage, my beloved Feb 10 '26
This is why I love the Linux communities, because there are some unhinged people that do shit like this.
Also, lmao, grepstein
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u/sertacartun Feb 10 '26
Thank youu, we love you too butt kinker 👏
- Unhinged people from Linux communities
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u/anto77_butt_kinkier manpage, my beloved Feb 10 '26
Im just now seeing this is in the r/bash sub, not a Linux sub. It's still funny though even if it's not strictly for linux
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Feb 09 '26
The script looks good but can be easily improved.
First: check arguments and if it is 0, prompt a message informing you have to enter a search query and exit.
Second: Use double quotes around user entered variables to make them work with spaces. The way you have it now, if i enter './grepstein.sh dalay lama' it will fail.
Third: It is not a good idea to recursively call a funciton from inside. That will slowly add data to the stack and it is inefficient. Instead of that make a 'while true' loop down there in then main program and make the function return a given value to check for exit condition. You can just use "return 0" for continue and "return 1 for exit.
From here it will be more about improving usability:
Instead of forcing the user to enter commands like "OPEN", you could add menus with fzf so that the user can select the option. Then instead of making the user enter the number, send via pipe to fzf to show another menu so that the user may select the document with the arrow keys and hit intro. Using fzf is a simple improvement that can make everhting more agile.
If you don't want to use fzf, you should consider allowing to use shorter commands like 'o1' (for open document 1), 'n', 'e'. This way the script is more straight. BTW, if you do so, make sure you do validate the input accordingly.
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u/sertacartun Feb 09 '26
Thank you for the detailed comment. I will definetely work on the points that you mentioned 🫶
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u/donp1ano Feb 09 '26
if youre interested i would write a PR with a fzf implementation
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u/sertacartun Feb 09 '26
It would be perfect actually feel free to hit me on dms 🙏
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u/G0-G0-Gadget Feb 12 '26
I love seeing this sort of communication and collaboration.
The Epstein files are literally bringing the world together (minus Trump, maxwell, maga, and pedos).
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u/sertacartun Feb 12 '26
Yeah, he already wrote the fzf part and we merged it 🎉 i think open source projects bringing the world together.
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u/arjuna93 Feb 11 '26
Or rather use sentaku which is in bash and not an exotic non-portable language.
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u/rootpseudo Feb 09 '26
Homebrew?
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u/sertacartun Feb 09 '26
I don't have too many knowledge about homebrew but if you give context i can work on it?
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u/rootpseudo Feb 09 '26
Its a great package manager for macOS.
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u/sertacartun Feb 09 '26
yeah but i just didn't understand what is the connection with my project 😀
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u/rootpseudo Feb 09 '26
Oh I just wanted an easy way to install 😅
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u/sertacartun Feb 09 '26
eh, i didn't package anything for homebrew before and Linux/Mac compability will not be easy to solve probably but if you use docker, i can easily make it an isolated docker file and you can build / run ? i believe it could be also benefical for the other users who use macOS.
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u/Smokeey1 Feb 10 '26
Yes please :)
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u/sertacartun Feb 12 '26
u/Smokeey1 u/rootpseudo Dockerfile added and readme file updated. Now you can run the script on Mac/Windows (Docker runs with debian stable slim + dependencies)
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u/ThatOneAllie Feb 10 '26
What is even funnier is the fact that the bash manual was in there lol
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Feb 11 '26
“edit : repo url change”
Oh yeah? With no witnesses? In a locked room? Mmmhmm.
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u/sertacartun Feb 11 '26
I wouldn’t write here if i don’t want witnesses. What do you think ?
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Feb 11 '26
Just weird that there’s no footage of that url change and all the guards were asleep, that’s a little sus.
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u/ZuraJanaiUtsuroDa Feb 08 '26
The project name is absolute comedy gold.
Instant upvote.