Need a script to delete previous versions of files Post: 302299148

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Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting Need a script to delete previous versions of files Post 302299148 by jbsimon000 on Thursday 19th of March 2009 10:05:34 AM

03-19-2009

Registered User

Need a script to delete previous versions of files

Hi.

I need a script (either bash or perl) that can delete previous versions of files.

For instance, from our continuous build process I get directories such as

build5_dev_1.21
build5_dev_1.22
build5_dev_1.23
build5_dev_1.24

I need a script that I can run every night (using "at" command) that deletes all but the last 1 or 2, such that when the script runs tonight, if the limit is 2, I end up with only the following two directories.

build5_dev_1.23
build5_dev_1.24

if a new build is created during the day the directory ill be named

build5_dev_1.25

and after the script runs I will have directories

build5_dev_1.24
build5_dev_1.25

left.

Ideally I only need to save the "latest" build (the one with the highest "1.xx" number), but i would like the option to save "n" builds, so that I can always have the last 2 or even 3 around if I want.

I am not well versed in script building, my main job is software development, and maintaining the builds is a side task that I write scripts for when i get tired of doing the repetitive tasks by hand. As a consequence I do the scripting so seldom that I have to re-learn alot each time I start a new script. that's why I'm asking for any pointers anyone would be willing to give.

thanks !
Joe Simon

jbsimon000

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LEARN ABOUT LINUX

alien::package::rpm

Alien::Package::Rpm(3pm)				User Contributed Perl Documentation				  Alien::Package::Rpm(3pm)

NAME

       Alien::Package::Rpm - an object that represents a rpm package

DESCRIPTION

       This is an object class that represents a rpm package. It is derived from Alien::Package.

FIELDS

       prefixes
	   Relocatable rpm packages have a prefixes field.

METHODS

       checkfile
	   Detect rpm files by their extention.

       install
	   Install a rpm. If RPMINSTALLOPT is set in the environement, the options in it are passed to rpm on its command line.

       scan
	   Implement the scan method to read a rpm file.

       unpack
	   Implement the unpack method to unpack a rpm file. This is a little nasty because it has to handle relocatable rpms and has to do a bit
	   of permissions fixing as well.

       prep
	   Prepare for package building by generating the spec file.

       cleantree
	   Delete the spec file.

       build
	   Build a rpm. If RPMBUILDOPT is set in the environement, the options in it are passed to rpm on its command line.

	   An optional parameter, if passed, can be used to specify the program to use to build the rpm. It defaults to rpmbuild.

       version
	   Set/get version.

	   When retreiving the version, remove any dashes in it.

       postinst
       postrm
       preinst
       prerm
	   Set/get script fields.

	   When retrieving a value, we have to do some truely sick mangling. Since debian/slackware scripts can be anything -- perl programs or
	   binary files -- and rpm is limited to only shell scripts, we need to encode the files and add a scrap of shell script to make it
	   unextract and run on the fly.

	   When setting a value, we do some mangling too. Rpm maintainer scripts are typically shell scripts, but often lack the leading shebang
	   line.  This can confuse dpkg, so add the shebang if it looks like there is no shebang magic already in place.

	   Additionally, it's not uncommon for rpm maintainer scripts to contain bashisms, which can be triggered when they are ran on systems
	   where /bin/sh is not bash. To work around this, the shebang line of the scripts is changed to use bash.

	   Also, if the rpm is relocatable, the script could refer to RPM_INSTALL_PREFIX, which is set by rpm at run time. Deal with this by
	   adding code to the script to set RPM_INSTALL_PREFIX.

       arch
	   Set/get arch field. When the arch field is set, some sanitizing is done first to convert it to the debian format used internally. When
	   it's retreived it's converted back to rpm form from the internal form.

AUTHOR

       Joey Hess <joey@kitenet.net>

perl v5.12.3							    2011-06-11						  Alien::Package::Rpm(3pm)