Adding Paths to $PATH:

Here's a breakdown of how to add paths to your $PATH variable, illustrating both the standard export method and using the inline command eval.

1. Using export:

**Adding a single path:
** export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH

  • This appends the directory ~/.npm-global/bin to the beginning of the $PATH variable.

**Adding multiple paths:
** export PATH=~/.local/bin:/usr/local/bin:$PATH

  • This adds two paths, ~/.local/bin and /usr/local/bin, to the beginning of $PATH.

Important Notes:

  • Order matters: The order of paths in $PATH is significant. When you run a command, your shell searches for the executable in the directories listed in $PATH from left to right. Therefore, adding a path to the beginning (like we did above) ensures that it's checked first.

  • Temporary vs. Permanent: The export command only sets the $PATH variable for the current shell session. To make the change permanent, you'll need to add it to your shell's configuration file:

    • Bash: Add the export line to your .bashrc or .profile file.

    • Zsh: Add it to your .zshrc file.

2. Using eval and inline commands:

The eval command evaluates a string as a command. This is helpful for dynamically building path modifications. The author recommends against this as this could cause arbitrary code execution.

**Example:
** eval 'export PATH=$PATH:$(echo "/path/to/your/bin")'

    • This line uses echo to generate the path string dynamically (good for variable-based paths).

    • It then uses eval to evaluate the entire string as a command, effectively adding the path to $PATH.