Opcode - Local Command Shortcuts

Opcode lets you define a simple configuration file in any directory. This file includes shortcuts to other commands.

For a similar project, but for globally accessible aliases, see alf.

The simplest way to install, is to run the installation script:

$ curl -Ls get.dannyb.co/opcode/setup | bash

If you prefer to install manually, simply download the op file, place it somewhere in your path, and make it executable.

When you execute op, Opcode will look for a file named op.conf (or opcode) in the current directory. See the example/op.conf file for reference.

The syntax of op.conf is simple:

Each line should contain a code and the command to run:

code: command to run

For example:

commit: git commit -am "quick commit"

With this configuration, you can now simply run:

$ op commit

Any argument provided to the CLI will be forwarded to the command, so with this configuration:

commit: git commit -am

You can supply a commit message:

$ op commit "my commit message"

$ op --help

Usage:
  op CODE [ARGS]
    Execute a command from the config file (op.conf)
    Arguments will be passed to the command

  op ?
    Show all codes and their usage comments (#?)

  op -l, --list
    List command codes

  op -s, --show
    Show the config file (op.conf)

  op -w, --what CODE
    Show the command for a given code

  op -e, --edit
    Open the config file for editing

  op -a, --add CODE COMMAND...
    Append a command to the config file

  op -h, --help
    Show this message

  op -v, --version
    Show version number

In some cases, you may want to use the command line arguments in different positions in your command. Given this configuration:

deploy: git commit -am "$1" && git push

You can now run:

$ op deploy "version 1.1.1"

and it will be translated to this command

git commit -am "version 1.1.1" && git push

This is made possible due to the fact that any command that contains a $ character, will not have the command line arguments ($@) appended to it.

You may add special usage comments in your op.conf file. These will be displayed alongside their command code when running op ?. The usage comments must start with #? and be placed underneath their associated command.

For example, this configuration file:

# op.conf
deploy: git commit -am "$1" && git push
#? perform git commit and push.
#? usage: op deploy COMMIT_MESSAGE

pull: git pull
#? perform git pull

will result in this output:

$ op ?
deploy
  perform git commit and push.
  usage: op deploy COMMIT_MESSAGE

pull
  perform git pull

In order to specify multiple commands for a single code, provide the commands indented with one or more spaces immediately under the command code:

up:
  docker compose build
  docker compose up web

Note that these commands will be joined together with && - so the above will be converted to:

docker compose build && docker compose up web

In case you wish to split your command to multiple lines without joining the lines with &&, you can add escape the newline by using \ (backslash):

concat: echo who \
  ordered \
  this \
  pizza

Using this syntax will generate this command:

echo who ordered this pizza

Using the keyword private in a separate line anywhere in your op.conf file will hide all subsequent commands from op ? and op --list. The private commands can still be executed.

deploy: op clean && op build
test: docker compose run test

private

clean: rm tmp/*
build: docker build

When running a command, opcode will first try to find an exact match. If none is found, it will try to find a command that starts with the code you typed.

In other words, if you have this in your op.conf file:

server: echo "Running Server" && rackup

You can run it with op server, op s and anything in between. The first matched command will be executed.

Opcode comes with bash completion. If you install opcode using the setup script, bash completion will be installed automatically.

If you install opcode manually, and would like to enable bash completion, simply add this to your ~/.bashrc:

complete -C 'op --completion' op

$ curl -Ls get.dannyb.co/opcode/uninstall | bash

If you experience any issue, have a question or a suggestion, or if you wish to contribute, feel free to open an issue.