---
name: "please"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pleaser"
version: "0.5.6-1+b5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/please"
---

# please(1)

a tool for access elevation.

## NAME

please - a tool for access elevation.

## SYNOPSIS

**please /bin/bash**

**pleaseedit /etc/fstab**

**pleaseedit \[-r/--reason "new fs"\] /etc/fstab**

**pleaseedit \[-g/--group groupname\] filename**

**pleaseedit \[-t/--target username\] filename**

**pleaseedit \[--resume\] filename**

**please \[-a/--allowenv list\]**

**please \[-c/--check\] /etc/please.ini**

**please \[-d/--dir directory\] command**

**please \[-e/--env environment\] command**

**please \[-g/--group groupname\] 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. **resume** will continue editing when **exitcmd** fails.

- **-a**/**--allowenv list**

  allow environments separated by **,** to be passed through

- **-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

- **-g**/**--group groupname**

  run or edit as groupname

- **-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)](/please.ini/5.md)

## AUTHORS

Ed Neville (ed-please@s5h.net).