safe-rm ☆

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Description:
Wraps rm to prevent dangerous deletion of files

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: System utilities

Tags: cli safety utility file-management system

Install: brew install safe-rm

About:
SafeRm is a wrapper for the standard rm command that adds a layer of protection against accidental deletion of important files. It works by checking paths against a user-defined blacklist of protected directories like /, /usr, or /etc before allowing removal. If a protected path is targeted, the command is blocked, preventing catastrophic data loss.

Key Features:

Protects critical system directories from accidental deletion
User-configurable blacklist of protected paths
Acts as a drop-in replacement for the standard rm command
Provides clear error messages when blocking a deletion

Use Cases:

Preventing catastrophic system damage from a mistyped rm command
Protecting critical project directories on a development machine
Adding a safety net for users who frequently use the command line

Alternatives:

trash-cli – Moves files to a trash can for recovery, whereas safe-rm simply blocks deletion.
rm -i – Prompts for every single file confirmation, which can be tedious; safe-rm automates protection for specific paths.

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 14, 2024 4:13pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	e5d2e832
Nov 29, 2022 11:59pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	14446e96