Basic Unix Hacking

[Igor Chudov @ home]

CTH wrote:
> Is there a way to get a .plan file to execute shell script when
> it is read by finger??
> 
> I'm sure this is an old question, but it seems there must
> be a way.
> 
> echo \"date\"  or some damn thing that will execute as opposed
> to printing.

use a named pipe for your plan: 

$ cd $HOME
$ /bin/mv -f .plan .plan.old
$ mknod .plan p
$ (date > .plan) &
$ finger `whoami`@0

or use "masterplan" program available from the net.

But IMHO, all this activity is a WASTE of time.