checking to see if a directory is empty

drum1981 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

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Re: checking to see if a directory is empty by cmeyer (Pilgrim) on Jul 27, 2005 at 18:27 UTC
How about using `opendir()` and `readdir()`? `my $dir = '/tmp/foo'; if ( my @contents = dir_contents( $dir ) { do_something_about_it( $dir, @contents ); } else { it_is_empty( $dir ) } sub dir_contents { my $dir = shift; opendir DIR, $dir or die "Couldn't open $dir: $!"; return grep !/^\.\.?$/, readdir DIR; }` [download] -Colin. WHITEPAGES.COM \| INC	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: checking to see if a directory is empty by friedo (Prior) on Jul 27, 2005 at 18:25 UTC
You could go globbing: `my $num; chdir $dir_to_check; $num++ while <>; print "There are still files in $dir_to_check\n" if $num;` [download] Update* Used a better glob.	[reply] [d/l]
Re: checking to see if a directory is empty by bofh_of_oz (Hermit) on Jul 27, 2005 at 19:16 UTC
I would suggest using File::Copy::Recursive to transfer directories (or File::NCopy if you wish) recursively, File::Dircmp to verify if everything was copied properly, and File::Path to remove source tree. And I also know that there should be an easier way to do it... -------------------------------- An idea is not responsible for the people who believe in it...	[reply]
Re: checking to see if a directory is empty by datmrman (Initiate) on Jul 27, 2005 at 19:04 UTC
The `rmdir FILENAME` command will only delete directories that are empty. If it succeeds it returns true, otherwise it returns false and sets $! (errno). Maybe you can look into using that as a flag?	[reply] [d/l]
Re: checking to see if a directory is empty by Fletch (Bishop) on Jul 27, 2005 at 20:50 UTC
Rather than iterating you could use `stat` to look at the `nlink` field; on a *NIX system an empty directory should have exactly two links (one from its parent to itself, and one from its own `.` entry). -- We're looking for people in ATL	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: checking to see if a directory is empty by mhi (Friar) on Nov 17, 2006 at 13:14 UTC
Note that some *NIX flavors do allow hard links to directories! It is admittedly highly unlikely that your friendly sysadmin would dare to use this privilege, for fear of corrupting the file system. However, if she did, that directory would have a higher linkcount than expected, even when devoid of subdirectories. Also note that files contained in a directory do not count towards the directory's link-count. Only immediate subdirectories do.	[reply]
Re: checking to see if a directory is empty by holli (Abbot) on Jul 27, 2005 at 19:16 UTC
What function/command do you use to do the move operation? And, more important, do you check the return value of that function/command? holli, /regexed monk/	[reply] [d/l]
Re: checking to see if a directory is empty by sh1tn (Priest) on Jul 27, 2005 at 21:08 UTC
`unless( glob "*" ){ print "empty dir\n" }else{ print "non-empty dir\n" }` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: checking to see if a directory is empty by merlyn (Sage) on Jul 27, 2005 at 22:08 UTC
That's a glob in a scalar context, aka Broken. See Re^3: Finding if files exist when names randomly have letters in both upper and lower cases for more information and examples. -- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.	[reply]