---
title: please
section: 1
header: User Manual
footer: please 0.4.0
author: Ed Neville (ed-please@s5h.net)
date: 21 April 2021
---
# NAME
please - a tool for access elevation.
# SYNOPSIS
**please /bin/bash**
**pleaseedit /etc/fstab**
**pleaseedit [-r/\--reason \"new fs\"] /etc/fstab**
**please [-c/\--check] /etc/please.ini**
**please [-d/\--dir] [dir] command**
**please [-h/\--help]**
**please [-t/\--target username] backup tar -cvf - /home/data | ...**
**please [-u/\--user username] backup tar -cvf - /home/data | ...**
**please [-l/\--list]**
**please [-l/\--list] [-t/\--target username]**
**please [-l/\--list] [-u/\--user username]**
**please [-n/\--noprompt] command**
**please [-r/\--reason \"sshd reconfigured, ticket 24365\"] /etc/init.d/ssh restart**
**please [-p/\--purge]**
**please [-w/\--warm]**
# DESCRIPTION
**please** and **pleaseedit** are sudo alternatives that have regex support and a simple approach to ACL.
The aim is to allow admins to delegate accurate principle of least privilege access with ease. **please.ini** allows for very specific and flexible regex defined permissions.
**pleaseedit** adds a layer of safety to editing files. The file is copied to /tmp, where it can be updated. When **EDITOR** exits cleanly the file is copied alongside the target, the file will then be renamed over the original, but if a **exitcmd** is configured it must exit cleanly first.
**-c**/**\--check file**
: will check the syntax of a **please.ini** config file. Exits non-zero on error
**-d**/**\--dir**
: will change directory to **dir** prior to executing the command
**-h**/**\--help**
: print help and exit
**-l**/**\--list**
: to list rules
**-n**/**\--noprompt**
: will not prompt for authentication and exits with a status of 1
**-p**/**\--purge**
: will purge your current authentication token for the running user
**-r**/**\--reason** **[reason]**
: will add **reason** to the system log
**-t**/**\--target** **[username]**
: to execute command, or edit as target **username**
**-u**/**\--user** **[username]**
: to execute command, or edit as target **username**
**-v**/**\--version**
: print version and exit
**-w**/**\--warm**
: will warm an authentication token and exit
# EXAMPLE USAGE
**please -t httpd /bin/bash**
: run a shell as the httpd user
**please -l**
: to list what you may run
**please -t \"username\" -l**
: to show what username may run. **username** must match the target regex in a **type=list** rule
**please -r \'reloading apache2, change #123\' systemctl reload apache2**
: to reload apache2 with a reason
**pleaseedit -r \'adding new storage, ticket #24365\' /etc/fstab**
: to use pleaseedit to modify **fstab**
Please see **please.ini** for configuration examples.
# FILES
/etc/please.ini
# CONTRIBUTIONS
I welcome pull requests with open arms. New features always considered.
# BUGS
Found a bug? Please either open a ticket or send a pull request/patch.
# SEE ALSO
**please.ini**(5)