GNU bug report logs - #12339
Bug: rm -fr . doesn't dir depth first deletion yet it is documented to do so.

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Message #256 received at control <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Assaf Gordon <assafgordon <at> gmail.com>
To: Linda Walsh <coreutils <at> tlinx.org>, 12339 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#12339: Gnu rm, changed only recently (4-5 years), and didn't
 follow letter of posix...(statement follows)
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2019 02:29:24 -0700

close 12339
stop

(triaging old bugs)


Hello,

This long and winding thread covers several topics
relating to rm(1), historical unix and POSIX compatibility
(and a bugfix or two in the mix).

An enlightening read for those interested...
( https://bugs.gnu.org/12339 )

But the bottom line is:

   rm -rf .

will not delete the content of the current directory
(while keeping the directory itself) and that is not likely to change.

Two suggested alternatives:

   find . -delete
   rm -rf * .[!.] .??*


As such, and with no more comments in 6 years, I'm closing this bug.

PLEASE do not reply to this thread.

If there are other relevant issues (that have not been discussed
elsewhere, and have not been previously rejected),
please start a new thread by emailing coreutils <at> gnu.org .

regards,
 - assaf

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