install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install rmtrash

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install rmtrash

MacPorts ports tree · sysutils/rmtrash/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#rmtrash

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/rm/rmtrash/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Move files and directories to the trash

Project links

Commands and aliases

rmtrash

history

Project history and usage

rmtrash is a macOS command-line utility that moves files and directories to the system Trash instead of deleting them permanently.

Project history

TBXark created rmtrash as a small macOS utility that moves files and directories to the system Trash instead of permanently unlinking them. The current implementation is written in Swift and includes a bundled manual and tests.

The utility evolved toward broad rm-compatible option handling, including recursive deletion, interactive modes, filesystem-boundary control, root preservation, empty-directory removal, and verbose output.

Adoption history

rmtrash is installable through Homebrew, Mint, MacPorts, and Nix, with the latter two channels identified in the supplied package facts. The official README also documents manual binary installation.

The project encourages interactive shell use through del and trash aliases while recommending that users keep permanent rm visibly separate.

How it is used

Users pass files or directories to rmtrash with familiar rm-style flags. Recursive and interactive modes, preserve-root behavior, one-filesystem traversal, empty-directory handling, and verbose output are supported.

RMTRASH_INTERACTIVE_MODE can select the default prompting mode. The official README recommends aliases such as del or trash while leaving permanent deletion accessible through the full path to rm.

Why package nerds care

rmtrash gives macOS command-line users recoverable deletion with an interface modeled closely on GNU rm, including recursive, force, interactive, verbose, filesystem-boundary, and root-preservation options.

Its value lies in fitting Finder Trash behavior into familiar shell muscle memory while retaining guardrails such as interactive prompts and preserve-root semantics.

Timeline

2016: Public development of TBXark's rmtrash began.
2021: The project migrated from its earlier implementation toward Swift Package Manager-based development.
2026: Version 0.8.0 was distributed through Homebrew.

Related projects

rmtrash belongs to the family of safer rm replacements and trash-oriented command-line tools. Unlike FreeDesktop trash wrappers, this project specifically targets the macOS Trash.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 4 platform targets.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`rmtrash`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-09-19

manager version0.8.0

manager updated2026-09-12

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detected0.8.0

https://github.com/TBXark/rmtrash

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:rmtrash
Version	0.8.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/rmtrash
Homepage	https://github.com/TBXark/rmtrash
Repository	https://github.com/TBXark/rmtrash
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/TBXark/rmtrash/archive/refs/tags/0.8.0.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-09-12T10:46:43Z
Pulse	updated
Bottle	available (on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	rmtrash
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Requirements	macos xcode
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

rmtrash

nix profile install nixpkgs#rmtrash

normalized package name match
Matched by: Rmtrash

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/rm/rmtrash/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

MacPorts95%

rmtrash

sudo port install rmtrash

normalized package name match
Matched by: Rmtrash

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/rmtrash/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/rmtrash.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment
pkg.so package database
pkgdb category and tag curation

Install rmtrash with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix