Re: rm -iR

[Robert Elz <kre%munnari.OZ.AU@localhost>]

    Date:        Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:27:22 -0500
    From:        Greg Troxel <gdt%lexort.com@localhost>
    Message-ID:  <rmih5rxea45.fsf%s1.lexort.com@localhost>

  | I sort of thought that at first, but there is a recursion rule, and if
  | you read the spec like a computer, I think only the macos/linux behavior
  | is ok.  But it's really hard for me to be sure I'm reading it right.

I agree.  However note that (as long as the file/dir name is included)
what the message is supposed to say is not specified, it can be almost
anything (though "Should XYC be retained? " where a "y" answer means
"remove it" would be stretching things.)

  | and to mouse about -r vs -R, posix says:
  |
  |   -R
  |       Remove file hierarchies. See the DESCRIPTION.
  |   -r
  |       Equivalent to -R.
  |

And in the RAIIONALE they explain it:

	The -r option is historical practice on all known systems.
	The synonym -R option is provided for consistency with the other
	utilities in this volume of POSIX.1-2024 that provide options
	requesting recursive descent through the file hierarchy.

kre