gistfile1.sh

#!/bin/sh
# Shell script to prepend i3status with more stuff

prepend_formatting="\"full_text\":\""

# -----
# Enter desired extra test here
extra_text="test"
# -----

can_edit=false
prefix=""
suffix="\"},{"

i3status | while :
do
    read line

    if [[ "${line:0:2}" == "[{" ]]; then
        prefix="[{"
        can_edit=true
        suffix="\"},{"

    elif [[ "${line:0:2}" == ",["  ]]; then 
        prefix=",[{"
        can_edit=true
        suffix="\"},"
    fi


    if $can_edit ; then
        line=$(echo $line | cut -b 1-2 --complement)
        echo "$prefix$prepend_formatting$extra_text$suffix$line" || exit 1
    else
        echo "$line" || exit 1
    fi
done