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linuxbashshellrm

rm cannot delete files starting with "--"

I have a script that creates files, and sometimes they end up having two dashes at the beginning. Is there any way to delete them? mv doesn't work either.

Here is the error I am getting:

$ ls
 --1355509766.jpg

$ rm --1355509766.jpg 
rm: illegal option -- -
usage: rm [-f | -i] [-dPRrvW] file ...
   unlink file

$ rm "--1355509766.jpg"
rm: illegal option -- -
usage: rm [-f | -i] [-dPRrvW] file ...
   unlink file
Solution

  • The usual trick is

    rm ./--1355509766.jpg

    Update: here's what man rm has to say about this:

    To  remove a file whose name starts with a '-', for example '-foo', use
one of these commands:

       rm -- -foo

       rm ./-foo