Launching apps from the command line

fieldyweb · 01-14-2006, 09:12 AM

OK, this is a stupid question

I have just installed an app, a really cool clone of rick Dangerous XRICK

the program works fine, however to launch it u have to type ./xrick

question is what is the difference from the command line between typing

./<program name>

and

<program name>

Sorry for the stupid question, and i am willing to read more if you want to tell me to googleoff...

phil.d.g · 01-14-2006, 09:29 AM

the ./ forces bash to look in the current working directory for the program, if you don't specify it then bash will search all the paths on $PATH for the program

typing a path starting with a . means that the path is relative to the current working directory. `cd /usr/bin; ./mail` has the same result as typing `/usr/bin/mail` for example

tuxrules · 01-14-2006, 09:31 AM

Quote:

./<program name>

Speciafically looks in current directory for the program. This is called relative path. Alternatively, you can give it an absolute path like /some/directory/program_name.

Quote:

Looks for the program binary in user's path.

Code:

echo $PATH

Type the above command in the shell and you'll see what directories are in your path.

fieldyweb · 01-14-2006, 10:09 AM

Cheers, so if i create a symbolic link with ln -s from the program folder to the /usr/bin folder, then i won't need to type ./xrick i can just type in xrick correct?

tuxrules · 01-14-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fieldyweb

Cheers, so if i create a symbolic link with ln -s from the program folder to the /usr/bin folder, then i won't need to type ./xrick i can just type in xrick correct?

Yes, a soft link would do.

pixellany · 01-14-2006, 10:42 AM

You can also put a link in you menu bar, panel, whatever your distro calls it.

in Ubuntu, eg, you right-click on the panel and follow the instructions