How to use the command 'hostess' (with examples)

The ‘hostess’ command is used to manage the /etc/hosts file on a computer. The /etc/hosts file is a plain text file used by the operating system to map hostnames to IP addresses before DNS (Domain Name System) resolution is performed. The ‘hostess’ command provides a simple way to add, remove, disable, and list domains in the hosts file.

Use case 1: List domains, target IP addresses, and on/off status

Code:

hostess list

Motivation:

It is often handy to have a list of domains, their corresponding IP addresses, and their status (enabled or disabled) in the hosts file. By using the ‘hostess list’ command, the user can quickly check this information and ensure that all the required mappings are present.

Explanation:

• hostess: The main command used to manage the /etc/hosts file.
• list: The subcommand used to retrieve a list of domains, target IP addresses, and their on/off status.

Example output:

local.example.com      127.0.0.1      On
api.example.com        192.168.0.10   Off
www.example.com        10.0.0.1       On

Use case 2: Add a domain pointing to your machine to your hosts file

Code:

hostess add local.example.com 127.0.0.1

Motivation:

Adding a domain pointing to your machine’s IP address in the hosts file can be useful for local development. It allows you to access the domain directly without the need to modify DNS settings.

Explanation:

• hostess: The main command used to manage the /etc/hosts file.
• add: The subcommand used to add a domain and its corresponding IP address to the hosts file.
• local.example.com: The domain name to be added.
• 127.0.0.1: The IP address to which the domain should be mapped.

Example output:

Added local.example.com -> 127.0.0.1

Use case 3: Remove a domain from your hosts file

Code:

hostess del local.example.com

Motivation:

There may be situations where a certain domain mapping is no longer needed. By using the ‘hostess del’ command, the user can easily remove the specified domain from the hosts file.

Explanation:

• hostess: The main command used to manage the /etc/hosts file.
• del: The subcommand used to delete a domain from the hosts file.
• local.example.com: The domain name to be removed.

Example output:

Removed local.example.com

Use case 4: Disable a domain (but don’t remove it)

Code:

hostess off local.example.com

Motivation:

Temporarily disabling a domain in the hosts file can be useful when troubleshooting or testing different configurations. By using the ‘hostess off’ command, the user can disable the specified domain without completely removing it from the hosts file.

Explanation:

• hostess: The main command used to manage the /etc/hosts file.
• off: The subcommand used to disable a domain in the hosts file.
• local.example.com: The domain name to be disabled.

Example output:

Disabled local.example.com

Conclusion:

The ‘hostess’ command provides a convenient and straightforward way to manage the /etc/hosts file. By using its various subcommands, users can retrieve a list of domains, add new domain mappings, remove existing domains, and disable specific domains without completely removing them. This flexibility makes ‘hostess’ a powerful tool for managing local DNS resolution and aiding in local development and troubleshooting.