how to remove an OSX application from command line ?

[sebjenkins]

I am attempting to remove an application (NeoOffice) from several Macs on our network via ARD.

I thought I would have an attempt at using sending a unix shell command from within ARD to remote Macs.
I typed in 'rm -f /Applications/NeoOffice

ARD told me that the command was sucessful but when I did a search on the remote Mac, this application was STILL in the Applications folder.

Does anybody else have any suggestions on how to resolve this ?

Many thanks

 

[ObviousTroll]

The problem isn't your concept, it's your use of the rm command.

This is like loading a shotgun and leaving it laying around the internet, but what you meant to say was:


'rm -rf /Applications/NeoOffice'

-f means "force" which means rm will neither ask for permission to delete nor complain about errors - which is why ARD said the command was successful.

-r means "recursive" which means "delete this directory and all its subdirectories" - which is what you have to do to delete the NeoOffice directory.

The reason I say this is like loading a shotgun is because "rm -rf" can easily erase your entire hard drive - make sure you don't have any typos before you send the command again!