gistfile1.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
_scs_col="\e[0;32m";
_wrn_col='\e[1;31m';
_trn_col='\e[0;33m'
# Check that xclip is installed.

platform=$(uname)
if [[ "${platform}" == Linux ]]; then
    tardown="tar cJf - --exclude-vcs --exclude=blib --exclude=spec"
elif [[ "${platform}" == Darwin ]]; then
    tardown="gtar cJf - --exclude-vcs --exclude=blib --exclude=spec"
fi


if ! type xclip > /dev/null 2>&1; then
    echo -e "$_wrn_col""You must have the 'xclip' program installed.\e[0m"
    # Check user is not root (root doesn't have access to user xorg server)
elif [[ "$USER" == "root" ]]; then
    echo -e "$_wrn_col""Must be regular user (not root) to copy a file to the clipboard.\e[0m"
else
    # If no tty, data should be available on stdin
    if ! [[ "$( tty )" == /dev/* ]]; then
        input="$(< /dev/stdin)"
        # Else, fetch input from params
    else
        if [[ -d $* || -f $* ]]; then
            input=$(${tardown} $* | base64 -w0)
        else
            echo "$_wrn_col""No such file or directory: ${*}\e[0m"
            exit 1
        fi
    fi
    if [ -z "$input" ]; then  # If no input, print usage message.
        echo "Copies a string to the clipboard."
        echo "Usage: cb <string>"
        echo "       echo <string> | cb"
    else
        # Copy input to clipboard
        echo -n "echo -n $input | base64 -d | tar xvJf -" | xclip -selection c
        # Truncate text for status
        if [ ${#input} -gt 80 ]; then input="$(echo $* | cut -c1-80)$_trn_col...\e[0m"; fi
        # Print status.
        echo -e "$_scs_col""Copied to clipboard:\e[0m $*"
    fi
fi