bytesagain Debate Helper
Multi-purpose utility tool for managing data entries, configuring settings, searching records, and exporting information. Provides a simple command-line interface for adding, listing, removing, and searching items in a local data store with full history logging.
Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
debate-helper run <args> |
Execute the main function with the provided arguments. Logs the operation to history. |
debate-helper config <args> |
Show or manage configuration. Displays the config file path (config.json in the data directory). |
debate-helper status <args> |
Show current status of the tool (reports "ready" when operational). |
debate-helper init <args> |
Initialize the data directory and prepare the tool for first use. |
debate-helper list <args> |
List all entries currently stored in the data log. Shows "(empty)" if no data exists. |
debate-helper add <text> |
Add a new entry to the data log. Each entry is prefixed with the current date (YYYY-MM-DD). |
debate-helper remove <item> |
Remove an entry from the data log by identifier. |
debate-helper search <term> |
Search the data log for entries matching the given term (case-insensitive). |
debate-helper export <args> |
Export all data from the data log to stdout. Shows "No data" if the log is empty. |
debate-helper info <args> |
Show tool version and data directory path. |
debate-helper help |
Display all available commands and usage information. |
debate-helper version |
Show the current version (v2.0.0). |
Data Storage
All data is stored in the directory specified by $DEBATE_HELPER_DIR (defaults to ~/.local/share/debate-helper/):
data.log— Primary data file where entries added viaaddare stored, one per line with date prefixhistory.log— Activity history tracking all commands executed with timestamps (format:MM-DD HH:MM command: args)config.json— Configuration file referenced by theconfigcommand- The directory is created automatically on first run
Requirements
- Bash 4.0+ (uses
set -euo pipefail) - Standard Unix utilities:
date,cat,grep,echo - No external API keys or network access required
- No additional dependencies to install
- Optionally set
DEBATE_HELPER_DIRorXDG_DATA_HOMEenvironment variables to customize the data location
When to Use
- Quick note-taking and idea capture — Use
addto jot down ideas, arguments, or observations with automatic date-stamping for easy retrieval later. - Managing a simple knowledge base — Use
add,list,search, andremoveto maintain a lightweight, searchable collection of entries without needing a database. - Project initialization and setup — Use
initandconfigto set up the data directory and verify configuration before starting a new workflow. - Searching and exporting records — Use
searchto find specific entries by keyword andexportto dump all data for use in other tools or pipelines. - Batch processing in automation pipelines — Use
runto execute operations programmatically andstatusto verify the tool is ready before chaining commands in scripts.
Examples
Initialize and add entries
debate-helper init
debate-helper add "Universal basic income improves economic resilience"
debate-helper add "Counter: UBI may reduce workforce participation"
debate-helper add "Evidence: Finland 2017-2018 UBI trial showed improved wellbeing"
debate-helper list
Search and manage entries
debate-helper search "UBI"
debate-helper search "evidence"
debate-helper remove "outdated-entry"
debate-helper list
Check status and export
debate-helper status
debate-helper info
debate-helper export
debate-helper export > debate_notes.txt
Configuration and execution
debate-helper config
debate-helper run "analyze arguments for immigration policy debate"
debate-helper version
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