defaults2

# A shell function that mimics the defaults command using /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy
function defaults2() {
  # Check the number of arguments

  # If the number of arguments is less then 2, fallback to defaults command
  if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
    /usr/bin/defaults "$@"
    return $?
  fi

  # Get the command, domain, key and value arguments
  local cmd=$1
  local domain=$2
  local key=$3
  local value=$4

  # Check if key and value are provided for write command
  if [ "$cmd" = "write" ] && ([ -z "$key" ] || [ -z "$value" ]); then
    echo "Key or value is missing"
    return 1
  fi

  # Get the plist file path from the domain name
  local plist="$domain"

  # Check if the file exists, otherwise try other locations
  if [ ! -f "$plist" ]; then
    # Define an array of possible plist locations
    local plist_locations=("/Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/" "/Users/$USER/Library/Application Support/" "/Library/Preferences/" "/System/Library/Preferences/")

    # Loop through the plist locations and check if the file exists
    for location in "${plist_locations[@]}"; do
      if [ -f "$location$domain" ]; then
        plist="$location$domain"
        break
      fi
      # Try to append .plist if not found
      if [ -f "$location$domain.plist" ]; then
        plist="$location$domain.plist"
        break
      fi
    done
  fi

  # Check if the file exists, otherwise exit the function
  if [ ! -f "$plist" ]; then
    echo "File not found: $plist"
    return 2
  fi

  # Define the PlistBuddy command and the key path with colon as separator
  local pb="/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy"

  # Execute the command using PlistBuddy and check for errors
  case $cmd in
  read)
    # Read the value for the given key
    $pb -c "Print $key" "$plist" 2>/dev/null
    # If PlistBuddy fails, fallback to defaults command
    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
      /usr/bin/defaults read "$domain" "$key"
    fi
    ;;
  write)
    # Write the value for the given key, creating it if necessary
    $pb -c "Add $key $value" "$plist" 2>/dev/null ||
      $pb -c "Set $key $value" "$plist" 2>/dev/null
    # If PlistBuddy fails, fallback to defaults command
    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
      /usr/bin/defaults write "$domain" "$key" "$value"
    fi
    ;;
  delete)
    # Delete the key and its value
    $pb -c "Delete $key" "$plist" 2>/dev/null
    # If PlistBuddy fails, fallback to defaults command
    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
      /usr/bin/defaults delete "$domain" "$key"
    fi
    ;;
  *)
    # Invalid command
    echo "Invalid command: $cmd"
    return 3
    ;;
  esac

  # Return the exit status of the last command or fallback command
  return $?
}