File Deletions Control in Ubuntu using trash-cli

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trash-cli is a command-line tool designed for managing file deletions in a way similar to the trash bin functionality found in graphical user interfaces. It offers a set of commands that allow users to move files to the trash, restore files from the trash, view the contents of the trash, and empty the trash. Using trash-cli can reduce the risk of losing important files due to accidental misuse of the rm command. Moreover, it provides a safety net for file deletion in the command-line environment, making file recovery possible.

Installing trash-cli

On Ubuntu systems, you can install trash-cli using the APT package manager:

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sudo apt update
sudo apt install trash-cli

This command installs trash-cli and its necessary dependencies.


Main Commands of trash-cli

  1. trash-put or trash
    • Moves files or directories to the trash.
    • Usage: trash-put [file or directory]
    • Example: trash-put example.txt moves the file example.txt to the trash.
  2. trash-list
    • Lists the files and directories currently in the trash.
    • Example: trash-list shows all items in the trash with their deletion dates.
  3. trash-restore
    • Restores files from the trash.
    • This command lists all files in the trash and allows you to select a file to restore.
    • Example: Run trash-restore and follow the prompts to choose and restore a file.
  4. trash-rm
    • Removes specific files from the trash based on a pattern.
    • Usage: trash-rm [pattern]
    • Example: trash-rm *example* removes all files containing “example” from the trash.
  5. trash-empty
    • Empties all files from the trash or files that have been in the trash for a specified number of days.
    • Usage: trash-empty [days]
    • Example: trash-empty 30 will remove all files that have been in the trash for more than 30 days.

Clear the Trash every Monday Morning:

  1. Open a terminal.

  2. Enter crontab -e to edit your cron job list.

  3. In the editor, set or update the line to execute at 2 AM every Monday by adding or modifying the following line:

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    0 2 * * 1 /usr/bin/trash-empty

This cron expression means:

  • 0 2: At 2:00 AM.
  • * * 1: Every day of every month, if it is Monday (1 represents Monday), execute the command.

With this setting, the system will automatically execute the trash-empty command at 2 AM every Monday, emptying all the files in the trash.

After saving and exiting the cron editor, the cron service will automatically load the new job. You can confirm that the task is correctly scheduled by checking the cron logs:

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grep CRON /var/log/syslog

This command helps you see recent log entries related to cron, ensuring that your task has been recognized and scheduled correctly.

This approach allows you to flexibly adjust the timing of scheduled tasks to meet different maintenance needs and personal preferences.