Mastering rm command

#ubuntu #linux #devops #devshow

we use the rm command to delete files from the server/local machine, this is rm is lifesaver command but sometimes it can be a life destroyer, so here we're gonna master of the rm command to be a lifesaver, not a destroyer. let's get into that.

Basic

Let's first create fake fille to practice with it:

$ touch myfile-{1..10}.txt

the above command will create 10 files, {1..10} will just give you 10 number, if you're curious to see run this $ echo {1..100}.

now to delete single fire,

$ rm myfile-1.txt

this will delete myfile-1.txt only. to delete multiple files add the file name after it:

$ rm myfile-2.txt myfile-3.txt myfile-4.txt

simpler is that!

if you wish to delete all files

$ rm -rf *

-r flag recursively
-f flag force, don't prompt

The above command will delete all the files in the current directory without showing any warning just because we're using -f flag to force and don't show any warning. using -rf flag, verify you're in the right directory by using $ pwd command, then proceed to delete files.

Advance

so far we've learned the basic of deleting files, what about the delete all files except some files, if you want to delete files but not all some fo them you want to keep, let's do it:

first enable the extglob shell option:

# shopt -s extglob

To delete all files in a directory except filename, run this below command:

$ rm -v !("filename")

To delete all files with the exception of filename1 and filename2:

$ rm -v !("filename1"|"filename2")

The example below shows how to remove all files other than all .zip files interactively:

$ rm -i !(*.zip)

Next, you can delete all files in a directory apart from all .zip and .odt files as follows, while displaying what is being done:

$ rm -v !(*.zip|*.odt)

Once you've done, turn off the extglob shell:

$ shopt -u extglob

There you've it! Thanks for reading my post, let us know what you tink, or find good solution!

my github: https://github.com/lifeeric

Top comments (7)

Raphael Habereder • Aug 22 '20

I just commented this on another post, I thought it might fit here too.
As you perfectly said:

using -rf flag, verify you're in the right directory by using $ pwd command, then proceed to delete files.

If you want to prevent deleting any important directory via rm -rf <directory/>*, there is a neat trick.

Create a file named -i in all directories you want to protect. This can be done using
touch -- -i
or
touch ./-i

The * in rm -r * will expand the -i File to the command line, so your command ultimately becomes
rm -rf -i
Thus rm will prompt you before deleting anything. You can put this file in your /, /home/, /etc/, and so on.
Example:

rha@vm:/tmp/rmtest$ touch foobar
rha@vm:/tmp/rmtest$ ls
foobar
rha@vm:/tmp/rmtest$ touch -- -i
rha@vm:/tmp/rmtest$ ls
-i  foobar
rha@vm:/tmp/rmtest$ rm -r *
rm: remove regular empty file 'foobar'? ^C

Vlastimil Pospichal • Aug 23 '20

I use rm -rf directory often, but never use rm -rf "$directory"

HasOne • Aug 23 '20

Thanks, Habereder! you're the best this is something awesome I'll definitely do this in future like server host and local ... and will save our life. I love this hack!