#!/bin/sh file="$1" comment="$2" base="`basename "$file"`" sed -i -e '/^$/d;/^\/\//d' "$file" # Probably safe tr -d '\r\n' < "$file" > ".tmp.${base}" # Not so safe mv ".tmp.${base}" "$file" sed -i -e "1i// ${comment}" "$file" # 100% safe