How to permanently set $PATH on Linux/Unix? [closed]

Answer 1

I think the most elegant way is:

1.add this in ~/.bashrc file Run this command

gedit ~/.bashrc

add your path inside it

export PATH=$PATH:/opt/node/bin

2.source ~/.bashrc

(Ubuntu)

Answer 2

Permanently add PATH variable

Global:

echo "export PATH=$PATH:/new/path/variable" >> /etc/profile

Local(for user only):

echo "export PATH=$PATH:/new/path/variable" >> ~/.profile

For global restart. For local relogin.

Example

Before:

$ cat /etc/profile 

#!/bin/sh

export PATH=/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin

After:

$ cat /etc/profile 

#!/bin/sh

export PATH=/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin
export PATH=/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin:/new/path/variable

Alternatively you can just edit profile:

$ cat /etc/profile 

#!/bin/sh

export PATH=/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin:/new/path/variable

Another way(thanks gniourf_gniourf):

echo 'PATH=$PATH:/new/path/variable' >> /etc/profile

You shouldn't use double quotes here! echo 'export PATH=$PATH:/new/path/variable'... And by the way, the export keyword is very likely useless as the PATH variable is very likely already marked as exported. – gniourf_gniourf

Answer 3

It can be directly added by using the following command:

echo 'export PATH=$PATH:/new/directory' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Answer 4

1.modify "/etc/profile" file.

#vi /etc/profile

Press "i" key to enter editing status and move cursor to the end of the file,Additional entries：

export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/dir;

Press "Esc" key exit edit status,':wq' save the file.

2.Make configuration effective

source /etc/profile

Explain： profile file works for all users,if you want to be valid only for the active user, set the ".bashrc" file

Answer 5

This is a one-liner. It adds a line to the .bashrc. Tha line is going to check if the directory has already been added to the path and append if not. This will prevent duplicating your directory in the path every time you source .bashrc.

echo "[[ \":\$PATH:\" != *\":$(pwd)/path/to/add:\"* ]] && export PATH=\"\${PATH:+\${PATH}}:$(pwd)/path/to/add\"" >> ~/.bashrc

source ~/.bashrc

Answer 6

For debian distribution, you have to:

• edit ~/.bashrc e.g: vim ~/.bashrc
• add export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/dir
• then restart your computer. Be aware that if you edit ~/.bashrc as root, your environment variable you added will work only for root