rmdir -f

spaetz · 15th March 2001, 07:50

Currently NSIS allows only to delete empty directories (which is good). But in some rare cases it would be needed to delete a whole directory anyway. I propose to introduce a -f(orce) option that wipes the whole thing.

The problem case I have is that I have a "data" subdirectory which contains an arbitrary directory whose name depends on the used portnumber. So I'd like to be able to wipe the "data" directory brutally not caring what's in there.

jarsonic · 15th March 2001, 21:46

I see your problem (and proposed solution), but I think that the danger of this is that potentially some evil developer/terrorist/"1337 h4x0r"-wannabe will program the installer to delete the Windows directory, etc. in the instruction set. It would be like a new class of virus or something.

Basically, I think that your proposed patch has a valid purpose, but the potential misuse of the function could have disasterous results. We also wouldn't want NSIS to get the reputation of being a "virus package" or something.

Just my 2 cents.

-- Jarsonic

spaetz · 15th March 2001, 22:24

Jupp, I know it is dangerous, but nearly every other installer offers this functionality and if I want to destroy somebodies computer, it can conveniently be done with a
!system "format c: /yes" (or similar) anyway. I used to use deltree, but that isn't provided with W2K anymore (and some other versions), so I can delete c:\Windows on Win9x easily.

justin · 16th March 2001, 00:58

Yeah, it's a good thing to have.
http://firehose.net/free/nsis/
has v1.1p, which adds that functionality.
I made it a nice recursive thing with
pretty minimal overhead.

-Justin

spaetz · 16th March 2001, 01:26

Thanks Justin, you rock!

Until now I just popped up a Messagebox on Uninstall telling the user to delete their f...reaking directories themselves :-)

jarsonic · 16th March 2001, 02:35

spaetz, I stand corrected

My bad. You know, the more I think about it, the more useful that feature wuodl be (especially with the stuff I'm making right now).
Thanks for the new version, Justin!

--Peace--

-- Jarsonic

16th March 2001, 01:26	#5
spaetz Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 44	Thx Thanks Justin, you rock! Until now I just popped up a Messagebox on Uninstall telling the user to delete their f...reaking directories themselves :-)

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15th March 2001, 07:50	#1
spaetz Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 44	Currently NSIS allows only to delete empty directories (which is good). But in some rare cases it would be needed to delete a whole directory anyway. I propose to introduce a -f(orce) option that wipes the whole thing. The problem case I have is that I have a "data" subdirectory which contains an arbitrary directory whose name depends on the used portnumber. So I'd like to be able to wipe the "data" directory brutally not caring what's in there.

15th March 2001, 21:46	#2
jarsonic Major Dude Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 1,112	I see your problem (and proposed solution), but I think that the danger of this is that potentially some evil developer/terrorist/"1337 h4x0r"-wannabe will program the installer to delete the Windows directory, etc. in the instruction set. It would be like a new class of virus or something. Basically, I think that your proposed patch has a valid purpose, but the potential misuse of the function could have disasterous results. We also wouldn't want NSIS to get the reputation of being a "virus package" or something. Just my 2 cents. -- Jarsonic

15th March 2001, 22:24	#3
spaetz Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 44	Jupp, I know it is dangerous, but nearly every other installer offers this functionality and if I want to destroy somebodies computer, it can conveniently be done with a !system "format c: /yes" (or similar) anyway. I used to use deltree, but that isn't provided with W2K anymore (and some other versions), so I can delete c:\Windows on Win9x easily.

16th March 2001, 00:58	#4
justin Moderator Alumni Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: USA Posts: 315	Yeah, it's a good thing to have. http://firehose.net/free/nsis/ has v1.1p, which adds that functionality. I made it a nice recursive thing with pretty minimal overhead. -Justin

16th March 2001, 02:35	#6
jarsonic Major Dude Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 1,112	spaetz, I stand corrected My bad. You know, the more I think about it, the more useful that feature wuodl be (especially with the stuff I'm making right now). Thanks for the new version, Justin! --Peace-- -- Jarsonic