GNU bug report logs - #19051
rm symboliclink/ # "Is a directory"

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: aaron brick <abrick <at> ccsf.edu>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: rm symboliclink/ # "Is a directory"
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:53:09 -0800

hi folks,

$ ln -s / sl
$ rm sl/
rm: cannot remove `sl/': Is a directory
$ rm sl
$

the presence of the slash is not such a great way to test for whether
or not a file is a directory. you may find the above example
contrived, but it occurs easily because bash's default tab completion
for symlinks to directories adds the trailing slash. this confused the
hell out of one of my students.

thanks for your hard work!
aaron brick.

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