How to avoid the ./ when executing a shell script?

Question

I used to know a way to run my shell scripts just by typing there name as long as there were in my home folder or desktop. I hate having to type ./myscript.sh. I would like to be able to type just myscript.sh. How can I fix my terminal to do this?

I'm using GNOME Terminal and Ubuntu 9.04.

score 19 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 11 '09 at 02:59

19

It's a bad idea to put the current directory into your path. Move your scripts that you want to frequently run into ~/bin and then add ~/bin to your path.

To do this, add:

export PATH=$PATH:~/bin

to ~/.bash_profile.

answered Jul 11 '09 at 02:59

MikeyB

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@Lucas: It's no longer hard to find on Google :) – MikeyB Jul 11 '09 at 03:18
@MikeyB: SF saves the day again! – Kredns Jul 13 '09 at 21:39

score 6 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 11 '09 at 03:18

You can add . to the path, but as MikeyB says, it is a bad idea.

The reason it is a dangerous thing to do is that if a malicious bit of software with the same name as an executable you are running exists in the current directory, that will be run instead.

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 11 '09 at 10:24

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I put my shell scripts in /usr/local/bin, seems the best place for them? it's usually empty. Make them executable and forget the .sh extension, and you can just call them plainly.

That's on Ubuntu server.

answered Jul 11 '09 at 10:24

Matthew

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/usr/local/bin is the right place for scripts that are meant for all users. ~/bin is for scripts for that user. Of course it doesn't matter if you're the only user... – sleske Jul 23 '09 at 09:03

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 11 '09 at 08:54

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To answer the question that was asked, add your home directory and the desktop to the path.

answered Jul 11 '09 at 08:54

John Gardeniers

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+1, and the lesson is: be careful what you ask for :-) – DutchUncle Feb 24 '11 at 17:38

How to avoid the ./ when executing a shell script?

4 Answers4