bash question

shanenin · 02-14-2004, 11:56 AM

If I want to set a variable permantly by placing it in one of my files: ..bashrc or .bash_profile, Do I need the export command? Or is this just used if I need to export something temporarely.

example

Code:

PATH=$PATH:/home/shane ; export PATH

is the second part export PATH really needed?

Code:

TEST=/usr/bin/local/test ; export TEST

is export TEST really needed? It seems to work without it, but documentation I read tells me to use it

wapcaplet · 02-14-2004, 12:16 PM

I'm fairly sure the 'export' part needs to be there; otherwise, the value of those variables disappears when the script is done running. If you want $PATH or $TEST available outside of that .bashrc or .bash_profile script, they need to be exported.

mikshaw · 02-14-2004, 06:07 PM

I think it depends on how your system is set up. I'm not sure why, but I've never used "export" and have everything, including environment variables, in my .bashrc and never had trouble.

jschiwal · 02-14-2004, 06:10 PM

If the script that you put it in is sourced, the variables will be live in the calling script, but use export anyway.