When to rehash executables in $PATH with bash

bashpath

Bash shell has a built-in command hash -r to reset the internal $PATH cache for executables.

When is it necessary to use this command?

Best Answer

hash is a bash built-in command. The hash table is a feature of bash that prevents it from having to search $PATH every time you type a command by caching the results in memory.

So when the cached/stored information are not anymore updated or valid you may need to reset it.

Read more on this nice answer on Unix stackexchange.

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Start bash shell (cygwin) with correct path without changing directory

It turns out that the cygwin default /etc/profile checks for an environment variable named CHERE_INVOKING and inhibits the change of directory if set.

set CHERE_INVOKING=1
\path\to\bash.exe -l -c command

has the desired behavior.

Bash – How to Rehash Executables in $PATH

hash -r is what needs to be done. In zsh it is rehash and rehash doesn't exist (by default) in bash.

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Start bash shell (cygwin) with correct path without changing directory

Bash – How to Rehash Executables in $PATH

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