PREMOVE

premove is a command-line utility that removes a file or directory if it already exists before a subsequent operation creates or moves a new file to that location. The name derives from “pre‑remove,” indicating that the removal takes place prior to another action such as a copy, move, or installation step. The utility is commonly used in build scripts, deployment automation, and package installation scripts where the presence of an older file could interfere with the current operation.

On Unix-like systems the most typical form of premove is implemented as a small shell script or an alias that checks for the existence of a given path and invokes the standard rm command. A common syntax is premove <path>, which expands to [ -e <path> ] && rm -rf <path>. The command handles both files and directories and can be combined with other options such as -f to override errors. Some package managers, such as the Arch Linux `makepkg` tool, provide built‑in support for premove actions that clean old configurations or temporary files before installing new package data.

In scripting contexts premove helps avoid duplication errors and ensures deterministic behavior. It is particularly useful in continuous integration pipelines where repeated builds may leave residual artifacts. While the concept is simple, premove commands are often wrapped in higher‑level frameworks or deployment tools, and documentation for those tools typically includes a dedicated section on “Pre‑Removal” to clarify usage semantics.

Use of premove is confined to environments where the user explicitly permits deletion, and the command typically does not prompt for confirmation. Some systems warn users if premove is called with a protected path such as `/etc` or `/usr`. Overall, premove provides a straightforward method for safely replacing files and directories during automated workflows.