My utility functions (I have these built in to MASH, which is mentioned in the question):
pr = WriteString["stdout", ##]&; (* More *)
prn = pr[##, "\n"]&; (* convenient *)
perr = WriteString["stderr", ##]&; (* print *)
perrn = perr[##, "\n"]&; (* statements. *)
re = RegularExpression; (* I wish mathematica *)
eval = ToExpression[cat[##]]&; (* weren't so damn *)
EOF = EndOfFile; (* verbose! *)
read[] := InputString[""]; (* Grab a line from stdin. *)
doList[f_, test_] := (* Accumulate list of what f[] *)
Most@NestWhileList[f[]&, f[], test]; (* returns while test is true. *)
readList[] := doList[read, #=!=EOF&]; (* Slurp list'o'lines from stdin. *)
cat = StringJoin@@(ToString/@{##})&; (* Like sprintf/strout in C/C++. *)
system = Run@cat@##&; (* System call. *)
backtick = Import[cat["!", ##], "Text"]&; (* System call; returns stdout. *)
slurp = Import[#, "Text"]&; (* Fetch contents of file as str. *)
(* ABOVE: mma-scripting related. *)
keys[f_, i_:1] := (* BELOW: general utilities. *)
DownValues[f, Sort->False][[All,1,1,i]]; (* Keys of a hash/dictionary. *)
SetAttributes[each, HoldAll]; (* each[pattern, list, body] *)
each[pat_, lst_, bod_] := ReleaseHold[ (* converts pattern to body for *)
Hold[Cases[Evaluate@lst, pat:>bod];]]; (* each element of list. *)
some[f_, l_List] := True === (* Whether f applied to some *)
Scan[If[f[#], Return[True]]&, l]; (* element of list is True. *)
every[f_, l_List] := Null === (* Similarly, And @@ f/@l *)
Scan[If[!f[#], Return[False]]&, l]; (* (but with lazy evaluation). *)
