ifne

Run command if input

$ command1 | ifne command2

$ find . -empty | ifne xargs rm

$ command | ifne -n echo "no output"

$ make 2>&1 | ifne mail -s "errors" [admin]

ifne [options] command [args]

ifne runs a command only if there is input. It reads stdin and passes it to the command if non-empty.
The tool is useful in pipelines where subsequent commands should only run when there's data. The -n flag inverts the behavior.

COMMAND

Command to run.

Command arguments.

Run if NO input.

Display help information.

Part of moreutils. Buffers input. Stdin passed to command.

ifne is part of moreutils, a collection of Unix tools by Joey Hess.

xargs(1), moreutils(7), test(1)