GNU bug report logs - #64326
Bug in rm command

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

From: LitHack <lithack0 <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: Bug in rm command
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 18:05:17 +0530

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

There is bug in rm command by which we can not delete a special file with
dash(-) in front of them.

Like rm -file, rm "-file" will not delete the file (-file)

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #8 received at 64326 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: LitHack <lithack0 <at> gmail.com>
To: 64326 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Some more info about rm bug
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:32:45 +0530

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Basically what it doing is that it doesn't recognise (-) this as a file
name part even when using (\-). This bug will work on most of utilities
like cat, cp etc

Thanks and regards

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #11 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Arsen Arsenović <arsen <at> aarsen.me>
To: LitHack <lithack0 <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 64326 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#64326: Some more info about rm bug
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 17:41:13 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hi,

LitHack <lithack0 <at> gmail.com> writes:

> Basically what it doing is that it doesn't recognise (-) this as a file
> name part even when using (\-). This bug will work on most of utilities
> like cat, cp etc

This is simply how argument parsing and shell syntax work.  'rm \-abc'
is equivalent to just 'rm -abc', which is parsed as 'rm -a -b -c'.  To
delete a file with a dash at the start of its name, use 'rm ./-file' and
similar.

Hope that helps, have a lovely day.
-- 
Arsen Arsenović

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Message #17 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Chris Elvidge <celvidge001 <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-coreutils <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#64326: Some more info about rm bug
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 18:33:07 +0100

Or rm -- -abc

The "double-dash" signals "end of options"

On 28/06/2023 16:41, Arsen Arsenović via GNU coreutils Bug Reports wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> LitHack <lithack0 <at> gmail.com> writes:
> 
>> Basically what it doing is that it doesn't recognise (-) this as a file
>> name part even when using (\-). This bug will work on most of utilities
>> like cat, cp etc
> 
> This is simply how argument parsing and shell syntax work.  'rm \-abc'
> is equivalent to just 'rm -abc', which is parsed as 'rm -a -b -c'.  To
> delete a file with a dash at the start of its name, use 'rm ./-file' and
> similar.
> 
> Hope that helps, have a lovely day.
> 


-- 

Chris Elvidge

Message #24 received at 64326 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Bernhard Voelker <mail <at> bernhard-voelker.de>
To: Chris Elvidge <celvidge001 <at> gmail.com>, 64326 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#64326: Some more info about rm bug
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:02:03 +0200

tag 64326 notabug
close 64326
stop

On 6/28/23 19:33, Chris Elvidge wrote:
> On 28/06/2023 16:41, Arsen Arsenović via GNU coreutils Bug Reports wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> LitHack <lithack0 <at> gmail.com> writes:
>>
>>> Basically what it doing is that it doesn't recognise (-) this as a file
>>> name part even when using (\-). This bug will work on most of utilities
>>> like cat, cp etc
>>
>> This is simply how argument parsing and shell syntax work.  'rm \-abc'
>> is equivalent to just 'rm -abc', which is parsed as 'rm -a -b -c'.  To
>> delete a file with a dash at the start of its name, use 'rm ./-file' and
>> similar.
>>
>> Hope that helps, have a lovely day.

> Or rm -- -abc
>
> The "double-dash" signals "end of options"

And finally: FAQ #11 - #13:
https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/faq/coreutils-faq.html#How-do-I-remove-files-that-start-with-a-dash_003f

I'm hereby closing this issue as not-a-bug.

Have a nice day,
Berny

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