[SOLVED] tired of typing full path to php or mysql...some way to create alias?

sneakyimp · 05-25-2010, 08:26 PM

I do some development on a Max running OSX and I'm getting really tired of typing the full path to PHP (i.e., /Applications/MAMP/bin/php5/bin/php) or mysql or mysql dump each and every time i want to run a little script or do a db dump.

Can someone tell me where I could put an alias or perhaps edit my bash config files so I can avoid typing this entire thing every single time?

Tinkster · 05-25-2010, 08:40 PM

Check your ~/.bashrc ... if there's a PATH variable being set, edit it; if there
isn't, create an entry:

Code:

export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/MAMP/bin/php5/bin:/Applications/MAMP/bin/mysql/bin:.

Cheers,
Tink

P.S.: And since I have no idea whether or not MacOS has preserved these
features I've moved the thread to the right place.

sneakyimp · 05-26-2010, 01:17 PM

Hm...no joy on .bashrc I did a complete search:

Code:

My-Mac:/ user$ sudo find * -name '.bashrc'
Password:
My-Mac:/ user$

Would it work to add a symbolic link or file alias to one of the folders in the path?

Code:

My-Mac:/ user$ echo $PATH
/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/X11/bin

Which path then? I'm not really sure what each of these paths is for. Also, won't creating an alias in one of these folders make the alias available to all users on the machine?

If there's some common term for this information I'm after here, I'd be glad to google it.

Tinkster · 05-26-2010, 02:09 PM

It would work, but it's "unclean". You'd be better off to create a
~/.bashrc for your user-account and simply add the

Code:

export PATH=...

mumble-jumble, and (for good measure) source that from ~/.bash_profile
if it exists (again, if it doesn't, create it).

Code:

if [ -e ~/.bashrc ]; then
  source ~/.bashrc
fi

Cheers,
Tink

catkin · 05-26-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakyimp

Would it work to add a symbolic link or file alias to one of the folders in the path?

Which path then? I'm not really sure what each of these paths is for. Also, won't creating an alias in one of these folders make the alias available to all users on the machine?

Yes. EDIT: for symbolic link. IDK what "file alias" is.
/usr/local/bin is the most appropriate.
Yes.

An alternative would be to set a variable in ~/.bashrc like

Code:

PHP=/Applications/MAMP/bin/php5/bin/php

then instead of having to type /Applications/MAMP/bin/php5/bin/php/my_script.sh you could type $PHP/my_script.sh

catkin · 05-26-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakyimp

If there's some common term for this information I'm after here, I'd be glad to google it.

For the conventional usage of Linux directories: Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS).

For ~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile and others: Bash Startup Files.

sneakyimp · 05-26-2010, 03:33 PM

Alright then so my ~/.bashrc now contains this:

Code:

export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/MAMP/bin/php5/bin:/Applications/MAMP/Library/bin:.

and my ~/.bash_profile contains this (which is necessary for the initial login to have the extra PATH info)

Code:

if [ -e ~/.bashrc ]; then
  source ~/.bashrc
fi

I've logged out and logged back in and then created subshells and it appears to alter the PATH properly without adding it twice or whatever.

Additionally, i can just type 'php' or 'mysql' or whatever instead of the entire path.

THANKS!

Tinkster · 05-26-2010, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakyimp

Alright then so my ~/.bashrc now contains this:

Code:

export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/MAMP/bin/php5/bin:/Applications/MAMP/Library/bin:.

and my ~/.bash_profile contains this (which is necessary for the initial login to have the extra PATH info)

Code:

if [ -e ~/.bashrc ]; then
  source ~/.bashrc
fi

I've logged out and logged back in and then created subshells and it appears to alter the PATH properly without adding it twice or whatever.

Additionally, i can just type 'php' or 'mysql' or whatever instead of the entire path.

THANKS!

Sweet ... glad you're sorted.

Cheers,
Tink