Hy guys!
I've got a silly question,

Some programs(normally which I created using g++) must run as
'./myprogram'

but other programs like java run by just typing
'java'

can I make 'myprogram' also runnable without that ugly dot and slash??


Thanks

Well, the issue here is "/usr/local/bin" and "/usr/sbin"

These directories hold binary programs such as "ls" or the forementioned "java" and since they are in this directory they are accessible by simply typing them without that nasty "./"

"./" simply means ... run from this directory. i.e. ./randomprogram = please run the binary file randomprogram from this directory.

So, if you want to NOT have to type "./program" you will have to copy the binary file into the /usr/local/bin/ directory.

Have fun.

ok, take a look at a variable that is set automatically for linux:
PATH

to show its content, type "echo $PATH"..

you'll see a list of directories separated by a ":"
every executable that is in one of those directories will be executed if you just type their names..

for example /sbin/lilo is an executable, and /sbin is in the PATH..
you just have to type lilo and it's executed


If you want to add your own directory to the PATH, do this:
PATH="$PATH:/mydirectory/"

but that applies only for your current session, if you want it to apply for all the others,
you have to edit the file /etc/profile..
search for the lines containing the PATH content and add your dir to this group of dirs..
DON'T forget that the directories must be separated by ":"

uhhhh, no. I'm gonna warn you though this could be considered a security risk by some. Anyway, what you want to do is add the current directory in your PATH ( but it will always be the current directory, not a static directory like "/home/programs/bin" or something like that). Some distro's do this and some do not. here is what you need to add to /etc/profile:

# For non-root users, add the current directory to the search path:
if [ ! "`id -u`" = "0" ]; then
PATH="$PATH:."
fi



I would copy it verbatim for security reasons.

What do you really mean with "not a static directory"?

'cause I have added /ext3/scripts/shell to my PATH just to have a separated dir for my scripts..
and it's totally static so far..

I just had to create a .bash_profile for each user and add this to the PATH there, in order to let them run my scripts too...

Sorry if I misunderstood..

Suggestion:

If you use these programs often, you can add it into the
menu or create a desktop icon.

Menu:
-> K (window equivalent of start)
-> Appl...
-> System
-> Menu Editor
[could be be diffenrence based on distribution)
Icon:
wiggle to executable on a file manager
Left-click and hold and drag to desktop.
choose to link.

Sheng-Chieh

yes that works if you're running X..
But the questions here is how to run programs in console...