#!/bin/sh -e if test $# -eq 0 then echo usage: $0 shellname '[shellname ...]' 1>&2 exit 1 fi file=/etc/shells # I want this to be GUARANTEED to be on the same filesystem as $file tmpfile=${file}.tmp otmpfile=${file}.tmp2 set -o noclobber trap "rm -f $tmpfile $otmpfile" EXIT if ! cat $file > $tmpfile then cat 1>&2 < $otmpfile || true mv $otmpfile $tmpfile done chmod --reference=$file $tmpfile chown --reference=$file $tmpfile mv $tmpfile $file trap "" EXIT exit 0