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I've been a fool.

I've written a python script that's supposed to create a folder at ~/photos and then write some files to it. However, instead of this it created a folder in my working directory called '~'. (including the 's).

I foolishly stormed ahead with an rm -rf ~ and hit enter before thinking. After spending the last few hours recovering I've ran the python script again and once again I'm faced with a folder named '~'.

Too terrified to run any command to remove it, I've come here to ask: How do I delete this folder safely? Am I safe to run rm -r '~'? (with the 's)

Danny Herbert
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    If you feel unsure, you can always run `ls '~'` before `rm -r '~'` to double-check. – Wieland Oct 30 '21 at 20:19
  • See also [Does ~ always equal $HOME](//unix.stackexchange.com/q/146671) – Stéphane Chazelas Oct 30 '21 at 20:21
  • @Wieland `ls '~'` was the solution for me here. Thanks for this. – Danny Herbert Oct 30 '21 at 20:23
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    If you are unsure and you even are not sure if `ls` and `rm` work the same way, I would have renamed `~` using `mv ./~ baddir` (`./~` should not be interpreted as the home directory) and then check if the bad directory has been renamed to `baddir`. In the worst case, your home directory is renamed to `baddir`. In the good case, you can safely do a `rm -r baddir`. – Martin Rosenau Oct 30 '21 at 20:34
  • @Wieland that would have shown nothing. Perhaps `ls -d ~` – roaima Oct 30 '21 at 20:42
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    Quote the quotes, like `"'~'"`. Use `rm -i ???` to match all names with 3 chars and interactively choose y or n for each one. `ls` will report names inside quotes if it thinks they contain suspect characters -- the name may really be just `~`. Use `find . -name '~'` -- it should not treat it as HOME. – Paul_Pedant Oct 30 '21 at 20:51
  • learning the hard way.. you can always use `find` to list files, it has lot of search and exclude options (size date permissions etc) once only desired file is printed, add `-delete` flag – alecxs Oct 30 '21 at 22:11

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