del-cli is an npm command-line utility for deleting files and directories by path or glob. You can preview matching targets with --dry-run before deleting; actual deletion is permanent. On Windows, run the package as del-cli because del is already a built-in command.
Install del-cli
The project README documents a global npm installation:
npm install --global del-cliAfter installation, the command syntax is del <path|glob> …. On Windows, use del-cli instead of del to avoid the built-in command name.
Delete files or directories by path
Pass one or more paths to the command. For example, a command such as del build/output.js targets that file; replace the example with the path you intend to remove. The README documents deletion by path, but the exact path must match a file or directory in your environment. [del-cli README]
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Use glob patterns to target groups of files
A glob lets you select files by a pattern rather than naming each one. The project gives this example, which targets PNG files while excluding unicorn.png:
del "*.png" "!unicorn.png"Quote glob patterns so the command-line shell does not expand them before del-cli processes them. The project says globbing works on Windows as well. Check the pattern carefully: anything it matches is eligible for permanent deletion.
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Preview targets before deleting
Use --dry-run (or -d) to list what would be deleted without removing it:
del --dry-run "*.png" "!unicorn.png"The option is silent when there are no matches. If nothing is listed, do not assume the pattern was correct; inspect the working directory and pattern before running a destructive command. [del-cli README]
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Options and their effects
| Option | Effect | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
--dry-run, -d |
Lists targets that would be deleted instead of deleting them; produces no output if there are no matches. | Preview a path or glob before running the deletion. |
--verbose, -v |
Displays absolute paths as they are deleted. | See which paths are removed during a command. |
--force, -f |
Allows deleting the current working directory and paths outside it. | Only when you deliberately need to target those locations and have verified the paths. |
Deletion is permanent. Be especially cautious with --force: it removes the default boundary that prevents deleting the current working directory or paths outside it. Preview targets first and omit the option unless it is required. [del-cli README]
What safety protections does del-cli provide?
The project describes del-cli as safer by default than the rimraf CLI and rm -rf because it disallows deleting parent directories and includes a dry-run mode. That is the project’s characterization, not an independent comparison or guarantee that a mistaken pattern cannot delete wanted files. Use a preview and verify the target paths before proceeding.
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Version and license
The npm listing identifies del-cli as version 7.0.0 under the MIT license. Its page displays a relative publication age, not a precise release date, so that age should not be treated as a dated release record. Check the npm package listing for current package metadata.
For safer manual deletion
The del-cli README points to trash-cli as an option for manual deletion. The related del library documentation also distinguishes its API from trash-cli, describing the latter as a safe version suited to running by hand. That makes it an alternative to consider when working interactively rather than in an automated cleanup task.
Quick Recap
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