Message 58441 - Python tracker
> Since we already have os.rename, wouldn't it be better for shutil.move() > to be closer to command line 'mv'? I think Facundo's approach should work. I'd rather not do this. It might cause disasters for code that expects the old semantics. If you want a way to do the "mv" semantics, propose a new API. shutil.move() still offers several things over os.rename(): deleting the target even if os.rename() doesn't (it doesn't on Windows); cross-filesystem moves implemented as copy.