Bash Shell Messed Up I Think?

lmcilwain · 01-12-2005, 06:38 PM

Hello all,

I think I must have run a rogue command and now when I log into my command line I get the following prompt:

-bash-2.05b$

Can any one tell me how I can fix my command prompt so that it loads my .bashrc file without me having to use the source command?

I have even tried creating a new one and I have not had any luck. Im sure there has to be a way to do this in my home directory instead of doing this in my /etc/profile file.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Lovell

Dark_Helmet · 01-12-2005, 07:05 PM

I think you probably deleted your ~/.bash_profile. Here's a copy of mine (from a stock Red Hat 9 setup) - the stuff for your ~/.bashrc is in red (even though it should be obvious without it):

Code:

# .bash_profile

# Get the aliases and functions
if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
	. ~/.bashrc
fi

# User specific environment and startup programs

PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin

export PATH
unset USERNAME

lmcilwain · 01-12-2005, 07:41 PM

I don't understand, that looks the same as my .bashrc file. What is the difference and do I need them both?

Dark_Helmet · 01-12-2005, 07:55 PM

bash does not read in ~/.bashrc by default (unless you're executing a noninteractive shell). Open up man bash and search for the INVOCATION section to read what files are read at startup and in what order.

If you are typing commands into the shell, then that's an interactive/login shell, and that means ~/.bashrc will not be read when bash starts up. However, bash will read /etc/profile first and then ~/.bash_profile. If you want it to read ~/.bashrc, then you need to manually do so from ~/.bash_profile. If you want it to include /etc/bashrc, it's the same routine (although ~/.bashrc usually handles the whole "if [ -f /etc/bashrc ]" routine).

And just to be on the safe side, if your ~/.bashrc is sourcing itselfs (i.e. ". ~/.bashrc"), then you want to get rid of it. It's a circular reference, and I don't know how bash would handle it. At best bash would ignore it. At worst, you'll get stuck in an infinite loop.

lmcilwain · 01-12-2005, 08:10 PM

OK so then I need to take my edits out of my .bashrc file and put it into my .bash_profile file? That sounds like that would solve it. Sound right?

lmcilwain · 01-12-2005, 08:15 PM

I just looked for my .bash_profile file in my home directory and your right it isn't there. Can I use the simple snipet that you posted to recreate this file?

Dark_Helmet · 01-12-2005, 08:25 PM

Sure. There may be some things you need to add as you go. Everybody's configuration is a little different, but if you find something is missing, just add it in. The snippet I gave is good enough to start with. The last command "unset USERNAME" can probably be removed. USERNAME is probably a variable used by Red Hat's startup for some reason. I haven't taken the time to track it down yet,

lmcilwain · 01-12-2005, 08:51 PM

OK thanks, I will use it and reboot and hope for the best. I will post again if I am still having issues. Thanks for all the help.