Probably a DUMB question... rm without confirming every file?

[plattypus1]

Okay, I've been using Linux for the past few months... and I have yet to figure out how to rm a directory without having to confirm every file... and now I have to work on a web server without X-windows and I need to delete a directory with a lot of files. Any help would be appreciated!

[Hayl]

rm -rf directory_name

[radcc]

you can double check the man files to be sure but I believe you can

rm -f to force file deletion without confirmation
rm -Rf * forces file deletion of all files in a directory then delete the directory without confirmation

[jmartinez]

rm -rf inside that particular directory

or

rm -rf /path/to/directory/u/want/deleted


careful with that command


YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!:D

[trilarian]

Just want to reiterate the BE CAREFULL with the -r or -R switch. Everything after that directory INCLUDING sym links or mount points to other directories are deleted. Check for such things before issuing the command. Speaking from painfull experience.

[sharth]

and be careful with rm in general. no trash bin in linux.

[plattypus1]

I see... well, I'll be careful. Thanks for the help! :-)

[chrism01]

you'll find that somewhere in the .bash_profile or .bashrc (or /etc equiv), that this alias exists
alias rm="rm -i"
see the man page; basically forces interactive/confirm mode. As the posts above explain, this is not necessarily a bad thing, esp for newbies ;)