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CLEAN(1)		    General Commands Manual		      CLEAN(1)

NAME
       clean --	automatically remove unwanted files

SYNOPSIS
       clean [-bifloqVw] [-t days] [-eE	glob] [-xX exclude] [directory ...]

DESCRIPTION
       The clean utility searches through the filesystem for "temporary	files"
       which can be deleted safely.

       The options are as follows:

       -b      batch  mode:  Wait until	all subdirectories have	been traversed
	       and then	prompts	to delete the complete list of matching	 files
	       (default)

       -i      interactive  mode:  Prompt  for	deletion of each file as it is
	       found.  Also, allows entire directory trees to  be  skipped  at
	       the prompt.

       -f      force  mode:  Run  the program quietly and automatically	delete
	       all matching files.  This switch	recommended  only  for	expert
	       users.

       -l      flat  mode: Only	clean the current directory; do	not enter sub-
	       directories.

       -o      object files: Add *.o, *.pyc, *.pyo to the list of  regex  pat-
	       terns to	search for.

       -q      Quiet  mode:  Do	 not echo the directory	names while traversing
	       the filesystem.

       -V      Version number: Print the version number	of the program.

       -t days
	       time mode: only eliminate files that are	more than days old.

       -e glob
	       Use this	expression without using the the .cleanrc or  the  de-
	       fault list (as appropriate).  Can be used more than once.

       -E glob
	       Use  this expression in addition	to the .cleanrc	or the default
	       list.  Can be used more than once.

       -x glob
	       Exclude this directory name from	the traversal.	This overrides
	       the .cleanrc and	the default list.  Can be used more than once.

       -X glob
	       Exclude this directory name from	the traversal.	This is	in ad-
	       dition to the .cleanrc and the default list.  Can be used  more
	       than once.

	       If  no  directory is specified, then clean defaults to the cur-
	       rent directory.	Only one of -b,	-i, or -f  may	be  specified.
	       Also, -e	and -x may not be used in conjunction with -E and -X.

How globbing works, using your own .cleanrc, and the default .cleanrc:
       A  glob	expression  may	 include  regular characters as	well as	"wild-
       cards".	For the	definition of globbing see the appropriate part	of the
       sh(1) man page.

     To	make your own .cleanrc,	create a file  in  your	 home  directory  name
     ".cleanrc"	 and  put in it	any glob expressions that you would like clean
     to	look for.  Also, you may put in	the names of directories that you want
     to	exclude	from the search.  The names of the directories should be  pre-
     fixed with	a `!'.	A `#' at the beginning of a line represents a comment.

     The default .cleanrc would	look something like this:

	  # Default .cleanrc
	  #
	  # Expressions	to match
	  core
	  *~
	  *.BAK
	  *.CKP
	  *.NEW
	  \#*#
	  dead.letter
	  *.otl
	  *.backup
	  # End	of default .cleanrc

WARNING
       This  program  was  written  with  the express purpose of deleting (un-
       wanted) files.  Please be certain that you understand this program  and
       that  you  really want to use such an automatic deletion	process	before
       you begin.

FreeBSD	ports 15.0		 July 4, 2003			      CLEAN(1)

Want to link to this manual page? Use this URL:
<https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=clean&sektion=1&manpath=FreeBSD+Ports+15.0>

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