Using find - Deleting all files/directories (in Linux ) except any one

Question

If we want to delete all files and directories we use, rm -rf *.

But what if i want all files and directories be deleted at a shot, except one particular fi

Answer 1

mv subdir/preciousfile  ./
rm -rf subdir
mkdir subdir
mv preciousfile subdir/

This looks tedious, but it is rather safe

• avoids complex logic
• never use rm -rf *, its results depend on your current directory (which could be / ;-)
• never use a globbing *: its expansion is limited by ARGV_MAX.
• allows you to check the error after each command, and maybe avoid the disaster caused by the next command.
• avoids nasty problems caused by space or NL in the filenames.