question about $PATH

drewski · 01-05-2004, 11:49 PM

I just checked my what is stored in $PATH, and it includes the current directory (.) in it but it never used to. what files and/or settings are used to set $PATH initially (this problem occurs just after a boot/reboot) that could have appended the current working directory to my $PATH

using slackware 9.1 if that helps

thanks...andrew

AMMullan · 01-06-2004, 01:13 AM

Check your ~/.bashrc as this is where you can specify more paths etc.

slakmagik · 01-06-2004, 02:17 AM

/etc/profile sets the global path and any of several files may set your specific path, such as ~/.bash_profile, ~/.bash_login, ~/.profile and, if not a login shell or otherwise accessed, ~/.bashrc.

But the current directory is explicitly placed in the path of non-root users in the original Slack /etc/profile. Had it been altered, anyone or anything with root permissions could change your path and anything with those or your permissions could change your own files. That would be uncool, at best, though.