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2902

answers:

6

When setting the export path in Unix, example:

export PATH=$PATH: $EC2_HOME/bin

If I quit terminal and open it back up to continue working, I have to go through all the steps again, setting up the paths each time. I'm wondering how I can set the path and have it "stick" so my system knows where to find everything the next time I open terminal without having to do it all over again. Thanks!

+1  A: 

add it to your .bashrc or another .bash startup file.

J.J.
+1  A: 

You need to find your profile file and put that line in there. Suppose you use bash, the profile files are .bashrc and .bash_profile, found in ~. These files will vary depending on which shell you use.

Paul Nathan
+1  A: 

You have to put those commands into one of the "autostart" files of your shell.

For bash this would be .bashrc in your homedirectory (create it if necessary)

Mo
+9  A: 

Open ~/.bashrc. This file is loaded every time you start up a new shell (if you're using Bash, which most people are). If you're using a different shell, the file may have a different name, like ~/.shrc.

Add the line you need to the bottom of the file:

export PATH=$PATH:$EC2_HOME/bi

Other info rolled up from elsewhere in the thread:

There are multiple places to put this, depending on your shell and your needs. All of these files are in your home directory:

For Bash: .bashrc (executed when you shart a shell) OR .bash_profile (executed when you log in)

For csh and tcsh: .cshrc

For sh and ksh: .profile

JSBangs
Generally, you are better off doing this in a profile file - executed once when you login, rather than in an rc file (like .bashrc) which is read whenever you start a shell.
Jonathan Leffler
Finally I understand how this works. Thanks!
Brock Woolf
+2  A: 

Add it to your .cshrc file (for csh and tcsh), .profile file (for sh and ksh), or .bash_profile file (for bash)

itsmatt
A: 

... and for ksh edit .profile.

ceretullis