Be aware that on *nix, the -f file test will be true for a symbolic link that points to a plain file. Apply the -l test as well if this is a concern.

$ cat > rubbish  
a load of rubbish
$ ln -s rubbish linkToRubbish
$ cat rubbish 
a load of rubbish
$ cat linkToRubbish 
a load of rubbish
$
$ ls -l rubbish linkToRubbish 
lrwxrwxrwx 1 johngg None  7 May 21 10:51 linkToRubbish -> rubbish
-rw-r--r-- 1 johngg None 18 May 21 10:51 rubbish
$
$ perl -le '
> $file = q{linkToRubbish};
> unlink $file if -f $file;'
$ ls -l rubbish linkToRubbish 
ls: cannot access linkToRubbish: No such file or directory
-rw-r--r-- 1 johngg None 18 May 21 10:51 rubbish
$
$ ln -s rubbish linkToRubbish
$ cat linkToRubbish 
a load of rubbish
$
$ perl -le '
> $file = q{linkToRubbish};
> unlink $file if -f $file and not -l $file;'
$ ls -l rubbish linkToRubbish 
lrwxrwxrwx 1 johngg None  7 May 21 11:01 linkToRubbish -> rubbish
-rw-r--r-- 1 johngg None 18 May 21 10:51 rubbish
$

[download]

I hope this is of interest.

Cheers,

JohnGG

In reply to Re: code explanation by johngg
in thread code explanation by Anonymous Monk

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