> Message date : Jun 03 2005, 10:07 PM > From : "Jan Depner" <eviltwin69@xxxxxxxxxxxx> > To : tomcharles-edwards@xxxxxxxxxx, "A list for linux audio users" <linux-audio-user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Copy to : > Subject : Re: [linux-audio-user] System Path - Basic Information > > On Fri, 2005-06-03 at 11:49, Tom Charles-Edwards wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > newbie alert: > > > > I'm looking for some basic info about the system path, e.g. what its for, how it relates to read/write/execute privileges for directories, and tips on what to do/not to do - particularly in terms of installing and running applications. > > > > Not really much to it. The system PATH is where the system searches > for commands. As far as privileges are concerned you just have to have > execute privileges to the executables and directories. Generally, both > directories and executables are 755 (rwxr-xr-x). Most tar.gz packages > will install by default in /usr/local/bin - which is normally in your > PATH. > > Jan > > > <doh> Thanks for that. If software installs into my home directory instead is that a sign of something horrible happening, or am I OK simply copying the application across to /usr/local/bin and carrying on as normal? I take it putting my home directory in the system path is not the way forward, on security grounds. I was also wondering about editing the system path. From what I can gather from a cursory google the system path can be edited temporarily to affect a specific shell, or system-wide. The files that I've seen mentioned in this context are: /etc/login.defs /home/tom/.bashrc /home/tom/.bash_profile login.defs has 2 lines in it that seem to specify the system path (normal and su), but when I edit the line for the normal user and do echo $PATH there's no change to the system path. Any thoughts? Cheers, Tom </doh> -- Whatever you Wanadoo: http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/ This email has been checked for most known viruses - find out more at: http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/help/id/7098.htm
