How do i edit my .bash_profile file?

[btf18]

Hey there,

Can someone please tell me how to edit my .bash_profile file, so that i add a command: export PATH=$PATH:/home/bin so that this existing directory is added to my path for good? I dont know how to open the .bash_profile file.

Thanks

[andrew.46]

Simply use your favourite text editor, such as gedit. I have a similar setting but I will admit that my own is actually in $HOME/.bashrc, my $HOME/.bash_profile is as follows:

if [ -f $HOME/.bashrc ]; then
source $HOME/.bashrc
fi

Andrew

[btf18]

Thanks Andrew, im not sure i understand your code as im new to scripting, but i do know how to use my text editor, Vim. Do i just type the code you said into Vim and that will open a file called .bash_profile? Then type the command i first said into that? Cheers

[nothingspecial]

I think Andrew is advising you to put you $PATH entry in ~/.bashrc instead.

vim ~/.bashrc

Put your path variable in that, then either log out and back in or get bash to read your new bashrc

. ~/.bashrc

[btf18]

Instead of Andrews HOME would i type /home/bin? I just must have to type /home/bin into the code somehwere. Thanks guys. What does rc stand for? Whats the difference between Andrews way and the way the tutorial does it? Thank you

[andrew.46]

Instead of Andrews HOME would i type /home/bin? I just must have to type /home/bin into the code somehwere. Thanks guys. What does rc stand for? Whats the difference between Andrews way and the way the tutorial does it? Thank you

Actually $HOME is a variable that will expand out to the correct path. Try the following command and it should all become clear:

andrew@skamandros~$ echo $HOME
/home/andrew

rc files are for the most part configuration files, a nice read on the subject here:

Configuration file
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Configuration_file

As for the tutorial, can you give a link?

[btf18]

Thanks Andrew. I want home/bin in my paths, will HOME just put home/username in my paths?

[btf18]

Could you please tell me the exact code to type and where, remembering my directory to add to paths is /home/bin. thanks. This method is not the same as the tutorial does. And what is ./? It's always used to open files. i know its a directory. I know / is the root directory, but what does the . mean in ./? I just want to know how to edit my .bash_profile, I dont even know how to open my .bash_profile and view it. im confused as to the comments. Im new lol

[btf18]

If i could just edit my .bash_profile to include the command in my first message. Thanks

[andrew.46]

If you look a little further down in the guide you have used you will see that the author of the guide also warns against use of PATH commands in $HOME/.bash_profile:

Though placing your aliases and shell functions in your .bash_profile will work, it is not considered good form. There is a separate file named .bashrc that is intended to be used for such things.

and then goes on to give a variation of the condition that I suggested for your $HOME/.bash_profile.

Andrew