[Python-ideas] Add shutil.ignore_patterns() to shutil.rmtree()

[Serhiy Storchaka]

On 05.05.17 10:58, George Fischhof wrote:
> I have a task to synchronize folders but some files should be remained
> untouched.
> I think this is a very common task.
>
> I found that shutil.copytree() has ignore_patterns() but rmtree() has not.
>
> So here comes my idea: add ignore_patterns() to rmtree() it is a good
> feature and makes the functions symmetric.

You can't remove a tree when remain its branches. Thus rmtree() with 
ignore_patterns will always fail.

For your particular case I suggest to use os.walk(). You can implement 
arbitrary application specific conditions.