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Full Discussion: Problem with PATH
Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting Problem with PATH Post 303020759 by jim mcnamara on Thursday 26th of July 2018 09:30:52 PM
Old 07-26-2018
I'm not sure what you think a PATH variable does. If a file has execute permissions (meaning you can run it by just typing the correct name of the file) then it can be run by typing the whole filename from anywhere

Code:
# example:
/path/to/shell.sh parameter1

This is awkward if you have your current directory somewhere else. So. PATH allows you to put directories into the variable. Then when you type the name no matter where your current directory is set, the PATH looks up the file, then lets you run it.

Example after adding the directory where shell.sh lives to PATH:
Code:
shell.sh parameter1

Not delete it
Not write to it.
Just execute it.

The which command helps you figure out what file you will execute before you try to run it. Why? Well, in the example: shell.sh could be in several places. So if you type shell.sh you could be running another script by accident. PATH can be a cause of this.

Code:
export PATH=".:${PATH}"

makes the current directory part of the PATH. Dangerous.

Example: I use t.shl as a throwaway temporary filename. So it could be in any of the my own directories.
Code:
which t.shl

tells me which one will run when I type the command.

Last edited by jim mcnamara; 07-26-2018 at 10:37 PM..
 

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WRITE(1)						      General Commands Manual							  WRITE(1)

NAME
write - write to another user SYNOPSIS
write user [ ttyname ] DESCRIPTION
Write copies lines from your terminal to that of another user. When first called, it sends the message Message from yourname yourttyname... The recipient of the message should write back at this point. Communication continues until an end of file is read from the terminal or an interrupt is sent. At that point write writes `EOT' on the other terminal and exits. If you want to write to a user who is logged in more than once, the ttyname argument may be used to indicate the appropriate terminal name. Permission to write may be denied or granted by use of the mesg command. At the outset writing is allowed. Certain commands, in particu- lar nroff and pr(1) disallow messages in order to prevent messy output. If the character `!' is found at the beginning of a line, write calls the shell to execute the rest of the line as a command. The following protocol is suggested for using write: when you first write to another user, wait for him to write back before starting to send. Each party should end each message with a distinctive signal--(o) for `over' is conventional--that the other may reply. (oo) for `over and out' is suggested when conversation is about to be terminated. FILES
/etc/utmp to find user /bin/sh to execute `!' SEE ALSO
mesg(1), who(1), mail(1) WRITE(1)
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