Dotfiles/Scripts

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

A set of Fish shell functions to list listening ports, interactively kill processes by port, and create timestamped file backups.

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

A set of Fish shell functions to list listening ports, interactively kill processes by port, and create timestamped file backups.

🔑

This script adds three convenient utilities to your Fish shell: ports to see what's running, pkillport to stop a process, and backup for quick file snapshots.

⚠️

The ports function requires either lsof or ss to be installed on your system. The pkillport function requires fzf (a command-line fuzzy finder) for its interactive menu.

Installation

Save the script's content to a file in your Fish functions directory, for example, ~/.config/fish/functions/utils.fish. Fish will automatically load the functions in new shell sessions. You do not need to source it manually.

Usage

`ports` - List Listening Ports

Run this command to get a colorized list of all processes currently listening on TCP ports. It shows the PID, process name, port number, and the full command.

Example Command:

ports

Example Output:

PID      PROCESS    PORT   COMMAND
1234     sshd       22     sshd: user [priv]
5678     node       3000   node /path/to/your/app.js
9101     python     8000   python -m http.server

`pkillport` - Interactively Kill a Process by Port

This command displays an interactive fzf menu of listening ports. You can fuzzy-find a process, see a preview of what will be killed, and press Enter to select. It will then ask for confirmation before killing the process.

Example Command:

pkillport

This will open a screen where you can type to filter and use arrow keys to select a process to terminate.

`backup` - Create a Timestamped Backup

Creates a quick backup of any file. A timestamp in YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS format is appended to the original filename.

Example Command:

backup my_important_document.txt

Example Output:

Backup created: my_important_document.txt.20250625-203000.bak

Full Source Code

#!/usr/bin/env fish
 
# Provides utility functions for port management and file backups in Fish shell.
# Functions:
#   - ports: Lists listening TCP ports with process info.
#   - pkillport: Interactively kills a process by selecting a port (requires fzf).
#   - backup: Creates a timestamped backup of a file.
 
function ports
    # List listening TCP ports with PID and process name, colorized
    set -l header (printf "%-8s %-10s %-6s %-s\n" "PID" "PROCESS" "PORT" "COMMAND")
    echo (set_color cyan)$header(set_color normal)
 
    # Use lsof to find listening TCP ports; fallback to ss if lsof missing
    if type -q lsof
        lsof -nP -iTCP -sTCP:LISTEN | tail -n +2 | while read -l line
            # Parse line: COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
            set -l cols (string split -r ' ' $line)
            set -l pid $cols[2]
            set -l cmd <span class="math-inline">cols\[0\]
\# Extract port from last col, e\.g\. \*\:8080 or \[\:\:\]\:80
set \-l rawport \(string match \-r '\:\(\\d\+\)</span>' <span class="math-inline">cols\[\-1\]\)
set \-l port \(string replace \-r '\.\*\:\(\\d\+\)</span>' '$1' $rawport)
            if test -n "$port"
                printf "%-8s %-10s %-6s %-s\n" (set_color green)$pid(set_color normal) (set_color yellow)$cmd(set_color normal) (set_color magenta)$port(set_color normal) $line
            end
        end
    else if type -q ss
        ss -ltpn | tail -n +2 | while read -l line
            # Sample output: LISTEN 0      128         *:22                    *:* users:(("sshd",pid=1234,fd=3))
            set -l port (string match -r '.*:(\d+) ' $line | string replace -r '.*:(\d+) ' '$1')
            set -l pid (string match -r 'pid=(\d+),' $line | string replace -r 'pid=(\d+),.*' '$1')
            set -l cmd (string match -r '\("([^"]+)",pid' $line | string replace -r '\("([^"]+)",pid.*' '$1')
            if test -n "$pid" -a -n "$port"
                printf "%-8s %-10s %-6s %-s\n" (set_color green)$pid(set_color normal) (set_color yellow)$cmd(set_color normal) (set_color magenta)$port(set_color normal) $line
            end
        end
    else
        echo (set_color red)"Error: Neither 'lsof' nor 'ss' found on system."(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
end
 
function pkillport
    # List ports and PIDs, let user pick one to kill, confirm and kill
    if not type -q fzf
        echo (set_color red)"Error: fzf not installed. Install fzf to use pkillport."(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
 
    set -l choices (ports | tail -n +2 | awk '{print $3 "\t" $1 "\t" $2}')
    if test -z "$choices"
        echo (set_color yellow)"No listening ports found."(set_color normal)
        return 0
    end
 
    echo (set_color cyan)"Select a port to kill (use arrows and enter):"(set_color normal)
    # Format: port TAB pid TAB cmd
    set -l selection (echo $choices | fzf --prompt="port\tpid\tcmd> " --with-nth=1,3,2 --delimiter="\t" --preview="echo Killing PID {2} on port {1} running {3}")
 
    if test -z "$selection"
        echo (set_color yellow)"No selection made, aborting."(set_color normal)
        return 0
    end
 
    set -l port (echo $selection | awk '{print $1}')
    set -l pid (echo $selection | awk '{print $2}')
    set -l cmd (echo $selection | awk '{print $3}')
 
    echo (set_color red)"Confirm kill process $cmd with PID $pid listening on port $port? (y/N)"(set_color normal)
    read -l answer
    if test "$answer" = "y" -o "$answer" = "Y"
        kill $pid
        if test $status -eq 0
            echo (set_color green)"Successfully killed PID $pid ($cmd)." (set_color normal)
        else
            echo (set_color red)"Failed to kill PID $pid."(set_color normal)
        end
    else
        echo (set_color yellow)"Kill aborted."(set_color normal)
    end
end
 
function backup
    # Backup file with timestamp suffix
    if test (count $argv) -eq 0
        echo (set_color red)"Usage: backup <file>"(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
 
    set -l file $argv[1]
 
    if not test -f $file
        echo (set_color red)"File not found: $file"(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
 
    set -l timestamp (date "+%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")
    set -l backupfile "$file.$timestamp.bak"
 
    cp $file $backupfile
 
    if test $status -eq 0
        echo (set_color green)"Backup created: $backupfile"(set_color normal)
    else
        echo (set_color red)"Failed to create backup."(set_color normal)
    end
end

Clipboard Copy Commands

A set of functions to simplify copying to the clipboard in the terminal.

Recursive file & folder creation

Allow writing touch & mkdir which allows to create recursive with auto folder creation and runs chmod +x on the created file by default

Dotfiles/Scripts

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

A set of Fish shell functions to list listening ports, interactively kill processes by port, and create timestamped file backups.

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

A set of Fish shell functions to list listening ports, interactively kill processes by port, and create timestamped file backups.

🔑

This script adds three convenient utilities to your Fish shell: ports to see what's running, pkillport to stop a process, and backup for quick file snapshots.

⚠️

The ports function requires either lsof or ss to be installed on your system. The pkillport function requires fzf (a command-line fuzzy finder) for its interactive menu.

Installation

Usage

`ports` - List Listening Ports

Run this command to get a colorized list of all processes currently listening on TCP ports. It shows the PID, process name, port number, and the full command.

Example Command:

ports

Example Output:

PID      PROCESS    PORT   COMMAND
1234     sshd       22     sshd: user [priv]
5678     node       3000   node /path/to/your/app.js
9101     python     8000   python -m http.server

`pkillport` - Interactively Kill a Process by Port

Example Command:

pkillport

This will open a screen where you can type to filter and use arrow keys to select a process to terminate.

`backup` - Create a Timestamped Backup

Creates a quick backup of any file. A timestamp in YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS format is appended to the original filename.

Example Command:

backup my_important_document.txt

Example Output:

Backup created: my_important_document.txt.20250625-203000.bak

Full Source Code

#!/usr/bin/env fish
 
# Provides utility functions for port management and file backups in Fish shell.
# Functions:
#   - ports: Lists listening TCP ports with process info.
#   - pkillport: Interactively kills a process by selecting a port (requires fzf).
#   - backup: Creates a timestamped backup of a file.
 
function ports
    # List listening TCP ports with PID and process name, colorized
    set -l header (printf "%-8s %-10s %-6s %-s\n" "PID" "PROCESS" "PORT" "COMMAND")
    echo (set_color cyan)$header(set_color normal)
 
    # Use lsof to find listening TCP ports; fallback to ss if lsof missing
    if type -q lsof
        lsof -nP -iTCP -sTCP:LISTEN | tail -n +2 | while read -l line
            # Parse line: COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
            set -l cols (string split -r ' ' $line)
            set -l pid $cols[2]
            set -l cmd <span class="math-inline">cols\[0\]
\# Extract port from last col, e\.g\. \*\:8080 or \[\:\:\]\:80
set \-l rawport \(string match \-r '\:\(\\d\+\)</span>' <span class="math-inline">cols\[\-1\]\)
set \-l port \(string replace \-r '\.\*\:\(\\d\+\)</span>' '$1' $rawport)
            if test -n "$port"
                printf "%-8s %-10s %-6s %-s\n" (set_color green)$pid(set_color normal) (set_color yellow)$cmd(set_color normal) (set_color magenta)$port(set_color normal) $line
            end
        end
    else if type -q ss
        ss -ltpn | tail -n +2 | while read -l line
            # Sample output: LISTEN 0      128         *:22                    *:* users:(("sshd",pid=1234,fd=3))
            set -l port (string match -r '.*:(\d+) ' $line | string replace -r '.*:(\d+) ' '$1')
            set -l pid (string match -r 'pid=(\d+),' $line | string replace -r 'pid=(\d+),.*' '$1')
            set -l cmd (string match -r '\("([^"]+)",pid' $line | string replace -r '\("([^"]+)",pid.*' '$1')
            if test -n "$pid" -a -n "$port"
                printf "%-8s %-10s %-6s %-s\n" (set_color green)$pid(set_color normal) (set_color yellow)$cmd(set_color normal) (set_color magenta)$port(set_color normal) $line
            end
        end
    else
        echo (set_color red)"Error: Neither 'lsof' nor 'ss' found on system."(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
end
 
function pkillport
    # List ports and PIDs, let user pick one to kill, confirm and kill
    if not type -q fzf
        echo (set_color red)"Error: fzf not installed. Install fzf to use pkillport."(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
 
    set -l choices (ports | tail -n +2 | awk '{print $3 "\t" $1 "\t" $2}')
    if test -z "$choices"
        echo (set_color yellow)"No listening ports found."(set_color normal)
        return 0
    end
 
    echo (set_color cyan)"Select a port to kill (use arrows and enter):"(set_color normal)
    # Format: port TAB pid TAB cmd
    set -l selection (echo $choices | fzf --prompt="port\tpid\tcmd> " --with-nth=1,3,2 --delimiter="\t" --preview="echo Killing PID {2} on port {1} running {3}")
 
    if test -z "$selection"
        echo (set_color yellow)"No selection made, aborting."(set_color normal)
        return 0
    end
 
    set -l port (echo $selection | awk '{print $1}')
    set -l pid (echo $selection | awk '{print $2}')
    set -l cmd (echo $selection | awk '{print $3}')
 
    echo (set_color red)"Confirm kill process $cmd with PID $pid listening on port $port? (y/N)"(set_color normal)
    read -l answer
    if test "$answer" = "y" -o "$answer" = "Y"
        kill $pid
        if test $status -eq 0
            echo (set_color green)"Successfully killed PID $pid ($cmd)." (set_color normal)
        else
            echo (set_color red)"Failed to kill PID $pid."(set_color normal)
        end
    else
        echo (set_color yellow)"Kill aborted."(set_color normal)
    end
end
 
function backup
    # Backup file with timestamp suffix
    if test (count $argv) -eq 0
        echo (set_color red)"Usage: backup <file>"(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
 
    set -l file $argv[1]
 
    if not test -f $file
        echo (set_color red)"File not found: $file"(set_color normal)
        return 1
    end
 
    set -l timestamp (date "+%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")
    set -l backupfile "$file.$timestamp.bak"
 
    cp $file $backupfile
 
    if test $status -eq 0
        echo (set_color green)"Backup created: $backupfile"(set_color normal)
    else
        echo (set_color red)"Failed to create backup."(set_color normal)
    end
end

Clipboard Copy Commands

A set of functions to simplify copying to the clipboard in the terminal.

Recursive file & folder creation

Allow writing touch & mkdir which allows to create recursive with auto folder creation and runs chmod +x on the created file by default

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

Installation

Usage

`ports` - List Listening Ports

`pkillport` - Interactively Kill a Process by Port

`backup` - Create a Timestamped Backup

Full Source Code

On this page

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

Fish Shell Port and File Utilities

Installation

Usage

`ports` - List Listening Ports

`pkillport` - Interactively Kill a Process by Port

`backup` - Create a Timestamped Backup

Full Source Code

On this page