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Possible Duplicate:
How do I set PATH and other environment variables?

I would like to put the path of a binary in my bash profile which is not present in the usual location like /usr/bin or /sbin. For example, if the following is the path of the binary:

/path/to/bin

How would I put this path permanently in my bash profile so that every time I login I don't need to specify the path of the binary?

Community
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  • possible duplicate of [How do I set PATH and other environment variables?](http://superuser.com/questions/284342/how-do-i-set-path-and-other-environment-variables), especially [this answer](http://superuser.com/questions/284342/how-do-i-set-path-and-other-environment-variables/284361#284361) which would explain the syntax. – slhck Aug 18 '11 at 16:46

1 Answers1

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You should edit your ~/.bashrc or .bash_profile, and add something like:

export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/bin
Bruno
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Oliver Charlesworth
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  • I did the same but i am not seeing the path after running the command **$PATH** from terminal. Do i need to do restart? Is there any command for it? –  Aug 18 '11 at 13:54
  • You need to start a new shell. To have an immediate effect, you can also type `source ~/.bashrc` (or simply `. ~/.bashrc`). –  Aug 18 '11 at 13:55
  • type `source ~/.bashrc` to get it to update the PATH immediately. – arunkumar Aug 18 '11 at 13:56
  • the bash profile is only read when you login to that terminal. Start a new terminal, and `echo $PATH` should be correct. – Simon Elliston Ball Aug 18 '11 at 13:56
  • I am getting following error **bash: export: `=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/path/to/bin not a valid identifier**.Even **$PATH** does not show the path i have added. –  Aug 18 '11 at 14:00
  • @thetna: Please double-check that the code you've added is *exactly* as I've typed above. In particular, check the `$`! –  Aug 18 '11 at 14:04
  • @Oli I checked it many times.Got the same. –  Aug 18 '11 at 14:06
  • @thetna: Then I don't know. The code above is valid! –  Aug 18 '11 at 14:10
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    Make sure this bit **->PATH=$PATH:/path/to/bin<-** has no spaces in it. – Linker3000 Aug 18 '11 at 14:39
  • Or better: Edit your question to show (paste) the contents of your .bashrc (or at least a few lines containing your edit). – JRobert Aug 18 '11 at 16:01