The bash environment variables are commands
that are simply expected to be there. As long as
bash has the right pointers, it will fulfill
your commands quickly. Take a look at the environment
variables. At the shell prompt, type:
A long list of bash environment variables appears. Each
one helps customize the environment for you.
The PATH environment variable defines what is known as the
default path. The PATH environment variable for our account
newuser might look something like this:
PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/home/newuser/bin |
The PATH statement looks like a confusing jumble, but is
actually a signpost which points to where programs can be found.
 | A PATH Standard |
|---|
| | Remember the earlier reference to the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard
(see the section called A Larger Picture of the Filesystem in Chapter 11)? The
PATH statement is set according to that standard, and
programs are installed in directories in accordance with the FHS as
well. The result is that the PATH statement will enable
bash to automatically find nearly any
program, assuming it has been installed in accordance with the FHS.
|
