My favourite pattern for this use-case is to write script A that generates script B; instead of A invoking 'rm' directly, it runs 'echo rm', or even 'echo #rm'.

My favourite pattern for this use-case is to write script A that generates script B; instead of A invoking 'rm' directly, it runs 'echo rm', or even 'echo #rm'. Then I open up script B in an editor and review the planned changes. Once I like what I see (potentially after a few edits) I run 'bash B'.