+# usage example:
+# check4progs [-s,-q,--quiet,--silent] arg [arg .... argn]
+#
+# with option given either of:
+# -s,-q,--quiet,--silent
+#
+# check for available progs but produce no output
+check4progs() {
+ [ -n "${ZSH_VERSION}" ] && emulate -L sh
+ local RTN=0
+ local oldifs="${IFS}"
+ local ARG d found
+ local VERBOSE=1
+
+ case ${1} in
+ -q | -s | --quiet | --silent)
+ VERBOSE=0
+ shift 1
+ ;;
+
+ *)
+ ;;
+ esac
+
+ while [ $# -gt 0 ]
+ do
+ ARG="$1"
+ shift
+
+ found=0
+ IFS=:
+ for d in $PATH
+ do
+ if [ -x "${d}/${ARG}" ]
+ then
+ found=1
+ break
+ fi
+ done
+ IFS="${oldifs}"
+
+ # check for availability
+ if [ ${found} -eq 0 ]
+ then
+ if [ ${VERBOSE} -eq 1 ]
+ then
+ printf "%s: binary not found\n" "${ARG}" >&2
+ fi
+ RTN=1
+ fi
+ done
+
+ # return non zero, if at least one prog is missing!
+ return $RTN