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Automation & scripting

CLI tools, scheduled jobs, filesystem tasks, and glue scripts that save time.

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Automation & scripting easy

How to Update a Hosts File to Block Distractions in Python

This script updates a local hosts file (or a demo file) by adding or updating entries to block distracting websites like Facebook and Twitter.

hosts-file automation blocking
Python
from pathlib import Path

def update_hosts(entries):
    """
    Add or update blocking entries in the hosts file.
    Uses a local demo file by default to avoid system changes.
    """
    hosts_path = Path("demo_hosts.txt")
    
    # Create demo file if it doesn't exist
    if not hosts_path.exists():
        hosts…
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