Re: search folder and delete certain files with perl

in reply to search folder and delete certain files with perl

Why bother with a module when stat is available?

use strict;
use warnings;

my ($path, $cutoff, $handle, $file, $c);

$path = '/var/opt/xim/syslogs/';
$cutoff = time() - 3600*12;    ### 12 hours ago
$c = 0;

### Fail if you don't have read permimssions
opendir ($handle, $path) || die;

while ($file = readdir($handle)) {
    ### File name must start with pattern
    next if $file !~ /^Syslogd/;
    
    ### Check modified time in seconds since epoch
    next if (stat $file)[9] > $cutoff;

    ### Error if you don't have write permissions
    if (unlink "$path$file") {
        print "$file removed.\n";
        $c++;
    }
    else {
        print "$file could not be removed.\n";
    }
}
print "$c total files removed.\n";
[download]

Comment on Re: search folder and delete certain files with perl Download Code

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Re^2: search folder and delete certain files with perl by CountZero (Bishop) on Dec 07, 2011 at 21:26 UTC
Because it is so much more compact: `use Modern::Perl; use File::Find::Rule; my $directory = '/var/opt/xim/syslogs/'; my $age = time - 126060; unlink for File::Find::Rule->file() ->name('Syslogd*') ->mtime("<$age") ->maxdepth( 1 ) ->in($directory);` [download] CountZero A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James	[reply] [d/l]
Re^3: search folder and delete certain files with perl by TJPride (Pilgrim) on Dec 07, 2011 at 21:33 UTC
Maybe slightly, I could have compacted my example quite a bit. But I personally prefer doing at least simple things on my own rather than relying on a black box that may or may not work as intended. Maybe this is an extremely reliable module that everyone uses, but how do I know?	[reply]
Re^4: search folder and delete certain files with perl by CountZero (Bishop) on Dec 07, 2011 at 21:42 UTC
You can never be certain, but verily I say, I have made more errors in home brewn code than in code I loaded from CPAN. CountZero A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be retained throughout. There should be neither too little or too much, neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of structure nor overwhelming rigidity." - The Tao of Programming, 4.1 - Geoffrey James	[reply]
Re^5: search folder and delete certain files with perl by TJPride (Pilgrim) on Dec 07, 2011 at 22:08 UTC
Re^4: search folder and delete certain files with perl by Your Mother (Archbishop) on Dec 08, 2011 at 14:11 UTC
Why bother with a module when stat is available? Also because CountZero's example is more legible which makes it more elegant and more maintainable. I have to focus my attention more to read your code, and I would have to consult `perldoc -f stat` if I had any trouble with remembering what the hell falls at `[9]`; which I would. Positional arguments/values are good for computers but my human brain tunes out after two of them. Maybe this is an extremely reliable module that everyone uses, but how do I know? Try it and exercise good judgement. Read the numerous five star reviews of it on CPAN ratings. See how often it's been used in answers here by beautiful and talented monkses.	[reply] [d/l] [select]

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