---
name: "pipe2tmpfile"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pwdsphinx-tools"
version: "2.0.3-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pipe2tmpfile"
---

# pipe2tmpfile(1)

simple tool that allows commands that expect files to work with data coming through a pipe

## NAME

[pipe2tmpfile(1)](/pipe2tmpfile/1.md) - simple tool that allows commands that expect files to work with data coming through a pipe

## SYNOPSIS

-

  ```
  echo input | pipe2tmpfile <command> @@keyfile@@
  ```

`command` will run with a temporary file containing the content `input`.

## DESCRIPTION

This is a simple tool that converts the output of a pipe into a temporary file and runs the command replacing the token `@@keyfile@@` with the filename of temporary file, which gets deleted after the command finishes running. A simple example to sign a file using a minisig key stored in sphinx:

## EXAMPLE

-

  ```
    getpwd | env/bin/sphinx get minisig://user1 minisign-test-key | pipe2tmpfile minisign -S -s @@keyfile@@ -m filetosign
  ```

uses minisign to sign the file `filetosign` using the key fetched from sphinx.

## SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

Since the output of sphinx is generally sensitive it is advised to not write it to permanent storage. Thus pipe2tmpfile tries to store it in a tmpfs, by default under `/run/user/$(id -u)`, however users can provide an alternative path to store these files by setting the environment variable `keyroot`.

The temporary files are deleted after the execution of the command.

## REPORTING BUGS

https://github.com/stef/pwdsphinx/issues/

## AUTHOR

Written by Stefan Marsiske.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2024 Stefan Marsiske. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later ⟨https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html⟩\\c . This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

`sphinx(1)`