UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi.
I'm started to use minix 3.2.1 recently and I'm trying to create a recycle bin for it. I'm kinda struggling on how to do it. I searched internet and I found scripts created for it but I actually didn't learn how to create scripts in college and I'm not sure if I understand them. I just wanted to know if anyone can give me an idea on how to create the recycle bin for minix. After creating the folder I want to use as the recycle bin how do I send the deleted file/folder to the recycle? Do I have to replace the rm command and make the rm command copy the file to the recycle bin before it is deleted? Any ideas please?

Thank you.

Where some OS have a bucket (being careful not to infringe trademarks, copyright etc.) where everything goes unless you specify it is really to be deleted in case you make a mistake, all Unix systems (and mainframes) work the opposite way round in that they assume you know what you are doing and will do exactly what you say.

You could, in theory, intercept the rm command and substitute a move of the file to another location, writing a record to a list you can interrogate later, but I would say that this is fraught with danger. You have to consider the sizes of the files concerned for a starter. Do you move them to a separate filesystem and have that IO cost and risk it will fail (what do you do then) or keep them in the same filesystem and risk filling it up.

There are no doubt many other possible problems, but you would be better to manage it by good practice and doing things accurately rather than having a "Whoops, I've deleted something important" Heath-Robinson affair. You also have to consider what the automated processes might do if you get in their way. What would you expect them to do with files they want to delete? How would you differentiate?


Sorry if this isn't the answer you wanted, but it's my humble opinion that it is designed in the best way already, in that it does what you tell it to.



Robin