Ubuntu

"rm" command should send files to trash instead of being destructive

Bug #176489 reported by Endolith
4
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
Ubuntu
Won't Fix
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

The standard "rm" command is too destructive for a user-friendly OS. People who aren't too tech-savvy are being forced to go to the command line when things aren't supported correctly, and are destroying files permanently by accident. Just look at http://ubuntuforums.org/announcement.php?a=54 .

The "rm" command should be modified by default to send files to the trash, just as it does in Hotwire shell. Users who want the hardcore delete functionality are smart enough to be able to restore the default.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3955078

Revision history for this message
Emmet Hikory (persia) wrote :

If anyone actually plans to address this, please allow for a configuration option to restore the normal behaviour of rm. Changing the semantics would have significant impact on many workflows for those used to the previous behaviour.

Revision history for this message
Sarah Kowalik (hobbsee-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Last time this was raised, the consensus was reached that people who use the command line actually intend to remove things - it's not for new users who might want to retrieve what they tried hard to remove.

Revision history for this message
Endolith (endolith) wrote :

Or maybe there is a more forgiving but equally powerful shell that could be used by default.

Revision history for this message
Endolith (endolith) wrote :

"people who use the command line actually intend to remove things"

I doubt that is the case with an Ubuntu user. They are using the command line only because something isn't working right and they are following directions online.

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