$ fgrep blah <foo.txt | consolidate | dump
$ preproc <foo.txt | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump
$ additional <foo.txt | preproc | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump

# vs

$ cat foo.txt | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump
$ cat foo.txt | preproc | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump
$ cat foo.txt bar.txt | additional | preproc | fgrep blah | consolidat
+e | dump
$ real_stream | additional | preproc | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump

[download]
First of all, you're using a shell that's not braindead. Take the time to absorb its expressiveness. 
$ < foo.txt fgrep blah | consolidate | dump
$ < foo.txt preproc | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump
$ < foo.txt additional | preproc | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump

[download]
Yes, that's valid code, go ahead and try. And you still don't need to edit more than one place to add multiple files. 
$ < foo.txt fgrep blah | consolidate | dump
$ < foo.txt preproc | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump
$ <(cat foo.txt bar.txt) additional | preproc | fgrep blah | consolida
+te | dump
$ real_stream | additional | preproc | fgrep blah | consolidate | dump

[download]
You don't need crutches in bash. If you need them, something is wrong with your tools.

Makeshifts last the longest.

In reply to Re^3: Think for yourself. (learn your tools (bash)) by Aristotle
in thread is the use of map in a void context deprecated ? by arno

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