Host blocking functions for /etc/hosts -- for when you need to get shit done

README.md

Host blocking -- For when you need to get shit done

Chill drop-in functions for your .zshrc to make blocking sites quick and easy.

Simply concats the host(s) you say to /etc/hosts with a redirect to 127.0.0.1-- shit ain't original.

usage

Run with no args to see what's currently blocked, or n args to block the specified sites. unblock does the obvious.

$ block facebook.com

$ block
facebook.com

$ block twitter.com reddit.com

$ block
facebook.com
twitter.com
reddit.com

$ unblock twitter.com

$ block
facebook.com
reddit.com

notes

• Idea stolen from all over the interwebs, just couldn't find a drop-in anywhere so HERE IT IS.
• block isn't smart. If you add facebook.com twice, it will make two entries in /etc/hosts
• unblock is slightly smarter-- it will remove all duplicates and squash doubled-up empty lines

code (again) if you want to just copy + paste

block () {
  if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
    # no args == show list of already-blocked hosts
    grep --color=never --ignore-case --extended-regexp "^##\s+block" /etc/hosts | cut -d" " -f 3-
  else
    # loop through hosts and block each one on ipv4 + ipv6
    while (($#)); do
      echo "echo \"\n## block $1\"        >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      echo "echo \"127.0.0.1  $1 www.$1\" >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      echo "echo \"::1        $1 www.$1\" >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      echo "echo \"## /block $1\"         >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      shift
    done
  fi
}

unblock () {
  while (($#)); do
    # remove specified hosts and squash multiple empty lines
    newContents=$(sed "/## block $1/,/## \/block/d" /etc/hosts | sed '/./,/^$/!d')
    echo "echo \"$newContents\" > /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
    shift
  done
}

block-unblock-hosts.zsh

#==============================================================================#
#  Host blocking -- For when you need to get shit done                         #
#==============================================================================#
#
# USAGE:
# Run with no args to see what's currently blocked, or n args to block
# specified sites. unblock does the obvious.
#
# EXAMPLES:
# $ block facebook.com
#
# $ block
# facebook.com
#
# $ block twitter.com reddit.com
#
# $ block
# facebook.com
# twitter.com
# reddit.com
#
# $ unblock twitter.com
#
# $ block
# facebook.com
# reddit.com
#==============================================================================#

block () {
  if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
    # no args == show list of already-blocked hosts
    grep --color=never --ignore-case --extended-regexp "^##\s+block" /etc/hosts | cut -d" " -f 3-
  else
    # loop through hosts and block each one on ipv4 + ipv6
    while (($#)); do
      echo "echo \"\n## block $1\"        >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      echo "echo \"127.0.0.1  $1 www.$1\" >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      echo "echo \"::1        $1 www.$1\" >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      echo "echo \"## /block $1\"         >> /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
      shift
    done
  fi
}

unblock () {
  while (($#)); do
    # remove specified hosts and squash multiple empty lines
    newContents=$(sed "/## block $1/,/## \/block/d" /etc/hosts | sed '/./,/^$/!d')
    echo "echo \"$newContents\" > /etc/hosts" | sudo sh
    shift
  done
}