UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi. Newbie here....so Unix for Dummies question for sure.

I was compiling a piece of software and having problems and somebody suggested:

sudo ln -s /usr/X11 /usr/X11R6

Didn't work. How do I undo this?

I am on a Mac OS X snow leopard. I figure it is something with the unlink command but I can't make it work.

Any help would be appreciated. Also, what command can I use to verify that the link does not exist anymore.

Thanks,

Just delete the unwanted symbolic link with the rm command.

Is this the correct command?

sudo rm -s /usr/X11 /usr/X11R6

It is just a bit unnerving to read the manual about rm which seems to also delete stuff. I just want to remove the link between these two directories. hmmm....

any help is appreciated.

No.

Why not have a look at the OSX man page for rm?

You don't need to ask questions about non-existent switches like "-s" when you can easily review the man page yourself.

I'm confused as to why you would propose a non-existent switch like "-s" that does not exist in the rm man page for OSX. Don't you read the instructional pages at all?

As a novice, reading the instructions, especially the man pages, is one of the most important things you can do!

Hmm....

I guess the reason I came to this forum was that it confused me.

I am new to unix which I thought was the point of this forum.

Will look elsewhere.

Good day.

No, you are mistaken.

The point of a forum, such as this one, is to help folks who help themselves, not do all their reading and research for them.

I answered your question and mentioned you could use the rm command. The correct response by you is to do some research, search the forum for answers, and perhaps, even read the man page for the rm command.

If you had of done this, you would see there is no "-s" switch for rm and might have learned something in the process.

The point of a forum, including this one, is not to replace your own research and reading.

We help people who help themselves. We don't do their reading for them, unless they show they are, at least, trying.

You did not even try to read the rm command I recommended.

OBTW, forum rules are to search the forum before posting questions.

If your misunderstood anger is justified then Unix users must, in general, be lazy.

I can wholeheartedly assure you that I have spent the last couple of hours on this question...and before that many more on questions that I suppose are just as "simple".

Perhaps the part that was missed is...I am a newbie.

I come from the land of PC (where directory stuff is not so complicated) and then spent the last 3 years or so with a mac without using any of the underlying unix.

I have read at least half a dozen web pages about removing a symbolic link.

Supposedly when one is created a file is created. I can't find this file. Not sure why. So...can't remove the link. The documentation is not that good. I have even read pages that are tutorials for removing symbolic links. They give step by step instructions for creating it and then, just as you did, say use the rm command without giving the same step-by-step instructions.

Not sure why you guys have to be so difficult (using a nice word here).

Just a simple question. It seems it would take less time just to answer than to be so difficult.

Cheers!