A symbolic link, or symlink, is a filesystem object that refers to another path. When collecting files by name, decide whether links should count before reading file sizes or moving files. section 12.6 section 12.6.2
import pathlib
cur_path = pathlib.Path("sample_data")
size = 0
for text_path in cur_path.rglob("*.test"): #1
if not text_path.is_symlink(): #2
size += text_path.stat().st_size #3
print(size)
The recursive search finds paths ending in .test. `is_symlink()` filters them before `stat().st_size` contributes to the total. section 12.6.2
With `os` and `os.path`, apply the same rule using `os.path.islink(file_path)` before `os.path.getsize(file_path)`. The check applies to the full path assembled during directory traversal, not merely the filename. section 12.6.2
Count and move only non-links
Create a `backup` directory, then find `.test` files. For each path that is not a symlink, add its size and move it to `backup`. If the search also traverses `backup`, exclude that directory so moved files are not processed again. section 12.6.2
