#!/bin/sh 

# Strip all comments '#' from a file, including on individual lines and in
# lines, not taking escaping due to, e.g. strings into account. 
# Use as: cat filename | strip-comments, 
# or as strip-comments filename

[ $# -ge 1 -a -f "$1" ] && in="$1" || in="-"

sed '/^[[:blank:]]*#/d;s/#.*//' "$in"