vigr

Edit the group or shadow-group file with locking

TLDR

Edit the /etc/group file

$ sudo vigr

Edit the /etc/gshadow (shadow group) file

$ sudo vigr -s

Edit group files in a chroot environment

$ sudo vigr -R [/path/to/chroot]

vigr edits the `/etc/group` file (or `/etc/gshadow` with -s) while setting appropriate locks to prevent file corruption from concurrent access. It first locks the file, creates a temporary copy, opens it in the user's preferred editor (checking `$VISUAL`, then `$EDITOR`, falling back to `vi`), performs syntax checks after editing, and then atomically replaces the original file.

PARAMETERS

-g, --group

Edit the group database (default).

-s, --shadow

Edit the gshadow (shadow group) database.

-p, --passwd

Edit the passwd database (equivalent to running vipw).

-q, --quiet

Quiet mode.

-R, --root CHROOTDIR_

Apply changes in a chroot environment.

-h, --help

Display help message.

INSTALL

sudo apt install passwd

sudo pacman -S shadow

sudo apk add shadow

sudo zypper install shadow

nix profile install nixpkgs#shadow

CAVEATS

The vigr command should always be used instead of directly editing `/etc/group` to prevent file corruption from concurrent access. Changes take effect immediately. Requires root privileges. If you edit `/etc/group`, you should also check `/etc/gshadow` for consistency by running `vigr -s`.

HISTORY

vigr is part of the shadow-utils package, providing safe editing of group files similar to how vipw edits password files.