command lineenvironment-variables
I accidentally unset all the directories of $PATH while trying to add a new one in ~/.bashrc. I opened a new terminal window as I was editing and now $PATH is empty. I'm worried if I boot from another drive to find the $PATH I won't be able to boot into this drive again.
Basically, what is the default result of echo $PATH?
You could try to use POSIX ACL (access control lists), that allow to set ad hoc permissions for additional users and groups (other than owner user and owner group), and furthermore allow to set default permissions for new object created in a directory.
To this end you could use at least two alternatives:
the package acl for command line tools (getfacl, setfacl, chacl),
the package eiciel that provide both a GUI interface
and the possibility to change ACL directly from Nautilus (right click on an object, then Properties, then Access Control List tab).
Is also provide some brief but meaningful help pages.
Building on the comments made by steeldriver try the following two simple steps:
1. Backup existing config:
mv -v ~/.bashrc ~/.bashrc_bak && mv -v ~/.profile ~/.profile_bak
2. Create new, safe copies:
cp -v /etc/skel/{.bashrc,.profile} $HOME
Note: This can all be accomplished with a one-liner, demonstrated on my own system:
andrew@athens:~$ cp -v -S _bak /etc/skel/{.bashrc,.profile} $HOME
'/etc/skel/.bashrc' -> '/home/andrew/.bashrc' (backup: '/home/andrew/.bashrc_bak')
'/etc/skel/.profile' -> '/home/andrew/.profile' (backup: '/home/andrew/.profile_bak')
andrew@athens:~$
And finally add any customisations made by yourself previously from the 2 backup files, by 'customisations' I mean such things as:
$PATH made in these files, I note in your case you have installed to /opt which is not in the default $PATHAnd any other changes that have been made to the safe defaults of both files...
Best Answer
The answer to your question is:
and works on any POSIX compliant system. The selected answer is the correct way to augment the path without obliterating prior existing content. If you use bash, you might consider: