Help with adding to $PATH

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1

Machine# #2
I am want to find out how to properly add ~/.local/bin to PATH.
I need to do this in order to run a program from a bash [Konsole] terminal because the program resides in ~/.local/bin
I have read a couple of articles on ways to do this but am unsure and don’t want to mess anything.
My current PATH is:

la@localhost:~> echo $PATH     
/home/la/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/snap/bin 
la@localhost:~>

So if I want to add this to my PATH permanently I am supposed to open bashrc with an editor{nano??}
and add the following line at the end of it. I note here that when I opened this ~/.bashrc file there was nothing in it.

export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"

What I am not sure of is: Do I just insert this line or do I have to substitute $HOME for .local?

export PATH=".local/bin:$PATH"

Or is there another/better way to do this?
Thank You.

2

Try:

export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
3

Note this section of /etc/profile:

# 
# Make path more comfortable 
# 
# save current path setting, we might want to restore it 
ORIG_PATH=$PATH 
# 
if test -z "$PROFILEREAD" ; then 
    PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin 
    if test "$HOME" != "/" ; then 
        for dir in $HOME/bin/$CPU $HOME/bin $HOME/.local/bin/$CPU **$HOME/.local/bin** ; do 
            test -d $dir && PATH=$dir:$PATH 
        done 
    fi 
    if test "$UID" = 0 ; then 
        test -d /opt/kde3/sbin  && PATH=/opt/kde3/sbin:$PATH 
        PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/sbin:$PATH 
    fi 
    for dir in  /usr/X11/bin \ 
                /usr/X11R6/bin \ 
                /var/lib/dosemu \ 
                /usr/games \ 
                /opt/bin \ 
                /opt/kde3/bin \ 
                /opt/kde2/bin \ 
                /opt/kde/bin \ 
                /usr/openwin/bin \ 
                /opt/cross/bin 
    do 
        test -d $dir && PATH=$PATH:$dir 
    done 
    unset dir 
    export PATH 
fi

Creating $HOME/.local/bin will automatically prepend the directory to PATH on next login:

karl@i3-4130:~> echo $PATH 
**/home/karl/.local/bin**:/home/karl/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin 
karl@i3-4130:~>
4

The main issue with the PATH variable is, it ain’t only used by “bash” – it’s used by every other shell as well plus, some Desktop Environments.

  • Therefore, do not set the PATH variable in the ~/.bashrc file.

The system-wide setting of the PATH variable is done in the /etc/profile file – if you do not wish to believe me, “grep” for PATH in /etc …

  • Therefore, simply follow the system-wide method and, set any user specific modifications needed to the PATH variable in the user’s ~/.profile file.

[HR][/HR]Editor to use –

  • Short answer, any text editor.
  • Command line – “vim” or, “ex” or, “ed” or, EMACS or, whatever
    … - Desktop Environment – simply click on the configuration file – the default text editor will, normally, start and, open the file for editing:
    If KDE Plasma then, “Kate”.
    If GNOME then, “gedit”.
    If something else then, whatever that Desktop Environment has as a default text editor.

[HR][/HR]And, if you want to append you private Path to the PATH variable – as opposed to prepending «as in attaching as a prefix» your private Path to the PATH variable, then, you have to use the following syntax:

export PATH=${PATH}:"$HOME/.local/bin"

[HR][/HR]Why make it complex when, it’s so simple?

  • Even that thing out of Redmond normally opens text files for editing if, you «double
    » click on the file …
5

If your system is multi-user, i.e., others using system and doing different things, I would add the amended PATH statement to the user ~/.bashrc file rather than the system profile file. Changing PATH in /etc makes it universal fror all users. This could upset executible searches that other users are doing for their searches. Each user has its own ~/.bashrc file that is run upon login for that user or when a user runs “source” command. Put their personal PATH needs in ~/.bashrc.

If it is a single user system, it makes no difference where you put the amended PATH statement.

tom kosvic

6

Hi Tom
There is nothing to do, if the directory exists for $USER, the openSUSE default /etc/profile checks for this directory ~/.local/bin and will add to $PATH.

7

Jumping on the thread here:
I have done exactly this to my ~/.bashrc (I am the only user) and when I echo $PATH after reboot I get my newly defined path appended twice. How do I append it only once?

BR

8

Because bash.rc is added at every bash start. So start from a bash will ad it again and again.
It should be in you users .profile

9

Thanks very much, that has worked for me!