ATREMOVEDIR

ATREMOVEDIR is a name used in some software projects for a routine or utility that removes a directory and its contents. It is not a standard command in POSIX, Windows, or other major platforms, and its exact behavior varies between implementations. In many codebases, ATREMOVEDIR is a wrapper around a recursive delete operation, returning a status code to indicate success or failure.

Typical characteristics include taking a single argument that specifies the directory path and performing a recursive traversal to delete files and subdirectories before removing the target directory itself. Some implementations may offer optional flags or settings to control behavior, such as whether to prompt for confirmation, whether to follow symbolic links, or how to handle read-only files. Others may be minimal, exposing only the core deletion function.

Behavior and safety considerations are central to ATREMOVEDIR. Because directory deletion is destructive, correct path resolution is essential to avoid unintended data loss. Safeguards often include validating the path, ensuring it is within an allowed area, and providing a dry-run or verbose mode to preview actions. Cross-platform differences exist in how permissions, hard links, and symbolic links are handled, so portable code typically implements its own traversal and deletion logic rather than relying on a single system call.

In practice, ATREMOVEDIR may be implemented as part of a build system, a utility library, or a standalone program. It is commonly used where controlled, automated directory cleanup is required.

See also: rm, rmdir, RemoveDirectory, recursive delete utilities, directory deletion safeguards.