Delete the file or non-empty directory at the supplied path in Java

//ww w  .j  a  v  a2  s. c o  m
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 *
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 */

import java.io.File;

public class Main {

  /**
   * Delete the file or directory at the supplied path. This method works on a directory that is not empty, unlike the
   * {@link File#delete()} method.
   * 
   * @param path the path to the file or directory that is to be deleted
   * @return true if the file or directory at the supplied path existed and was successfully deleted, or false otherwise
   */
  public static boolean delete( String path ) {
      if (path == null || path.trim().length() == 0) return false;
      return delete(new File(path));
  }

  /**
   * Delete the file or directory given by the supplied reference. This method works on a directory that is not empty, unlike
   * the {@link File#delete()} method.
   * 
   * @param fileOrDirectory the reference to the Java File object that is to be deleted
   * @return true if the supplied file or directory existed and was successfully deleted, or false otherwise
   */
  public static boolean delete( File fileOrDirectory ) {
      if (fileOrDirectory == null) return false;
      if (!fileOrDirectory.exists()) return false;

      // The file/directory exists, so if a directory delete all of the contents ...
      if (fileOrDirectory.isDirectory()) {
          for (File childFile : fileOrDirectory.listFiles()) {
              delete(childFile); // recursive call (good enough for now until we need something better)
          }
          // Now an empty directory ...
      }
      // Whether this is a file or empty directory, just delete it ...
      return fileOrDirectory.delete();
  }
}