delete the 5 oldest files

[Steve_3]

I am looking for a script that will delete the 5 oldest files or "x" oldest files. Thanks.

[Mel Burslan · Accepted solution]

count=5
cd /some/path
for file in `ls -1t | tail -${count}
do
rm ${file}
done


this will delete 5 oldest files. change count to your desired number

[Mel Burslan]

count=5
cd /some/path
for file in `ls -1t | tail -${count}`
do
rm ${file}
done


this will delete 5 oldest files. change count to your desired number

[Mel Burslan]

sorry for the double post. I realized I missed a backtick on the first post but obviously was not fast enough to catch it before it hit the server. Second answer's code part is the right one.

[Pete Randall]

It's pretty easy if there are no sub-directories mixed in with the files:

ls -lt . |tail -5 |awk '{ print $9 }' > /tmp/rm_list
for FILE in `cat /tmp/rm_list`
do
rm $FILE
done


Pete

[Steve_3]

thanks. I will try it.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Steve:

You don't need to create a temporary file that you read back and later delete, either:

# cd /path_to_stuff && ls -t|tail -5|xargs rm

Regards!

...JRF...

[Steve_3]

thanks. great.

[Arturo Galbiati]

Hi
ls -tr|head -5|xargs rm -i

I put -i so system ask you before to delete files.
HTH,
Art