If you're trying to start an application from the shell prompt and it
isn't working, try adding ./ before the name of
the application's executable.
For example, you've downloaded a setiathome
client and want to try it out. You follow the directions for
installing the software. Now you change to the directory in which you
know the executable can be found (as shown below).
To start the application now, precede the executable with a
./ as shown below:
Briefly, the reason you need to use the ./ in
order to start the application is because the executable wasn't placed
in a directory where your shell knew it could be found (such as
/usr/bin).
In such instances, you often have to go into the directory which holds
the executable and start the application from there. That means you'll
have to tell your shell where it can find the executable; adding
./ tells bash the executable can be found in
the current working directory.
You can customize your settings so that you won't be required to use
the ./ each time. See the following for more
information on how to accomplish this.
If you want to periodically start programs without having to enter a
./ before the executable, you'll have to edit a
file.
You'll have to add the current working directory (signified by the
.) to the list of directories in your
PATH environment variable. This will let the shell
know that it can start applications in the directory in which you're
currently working.
 | Be Careful With Root Files |
|---|
| | These instructions are intended only for
user accounts. Avoid modifying files such as root's
.bash_profile, because of the potential
security risks. |
Start a text editor, such as pico, at a
shell prompt. You can open the file called
.bash_profile by typing the following:
You'll see a PATH statement, similar to the one shown
below.
To the end of this statement, add ./ as shown
below
PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin:/usr/lib/:./ |
Now, type
[Ctrl]-[x]; you'll
be asked whether you want to save "the modified buffer" (that's what
Pico calls an updated file); type
[y] for "yes." Next, you'll see the name the file
will be saved as; press the [Enter] key.
Now, you should never have to manually add ./ to
the beginning of an executable to start an application located in
your current working directory.
