[patch] rm can have undesired side-effects

[Joerg Pernfuss]

On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 12:30:02 +1030
"Daniel O'Connor" <doconnor at gsoft.com.au> wrote:

> > Silently ignoring user specified options is seldom a good way to go.
> > The user explicitly stated he wants to wipe the file contents.
> 
> I disagree that the user really meant to wipe the file if its link
> count is >1.

That of course may or may not be true. I still do not like the 'silent'
part.

> IMO having rm -P not wipe the file if its link count is >1 is a good
> idea. if you are deleting a tree containing a file with links then
> this will result in the file getting wiped in the end anyway because
> the link count will be 1 after the first link is removed.
> 
> It would be easy enough to add a diagnostic message in the -P case
> where the link count is >1.

Yes, see my other mails. Bahviour similar to OpenBSD (don't overwrite,
generate warning, unlink) is probably what should be done.

The pitfall may really be too big.

	Joerg
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