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Asked: 2024-09-27T10:32:18+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to set an environment variable permanently in Ubuntu?

I’m trying to set an environment variable permanently in Ubuntu, and I’m honestly feeling a bit lost. I’ve done some research, but there are so many different ways to go about it, and I’m not entirely sure what the best approach is.

So, here’s the thing: I want to create an environment variable for a project I’m working on—it’s something related to a Python application I’m developing. I need the variable to be available every time I log in, not just for the current session. Initially, I thought about just exporting it in my terminal, but I know that only lasts until I close the terminal window. That’s not gonna cut it when I want the variable available throughout my work.

I’ve come across a few suggestions on various forums, like editing the `.bashrc` or `.profile` files, but I’m hesitant because I’m not sure if I’m going to mess something up. I’ve also read about using `/etc/environment`, but that seems scary because I don’t want to accidentally break anything system-wide. I’ve never really dived deep into shell scripting or Linux configuration, so this whole thing is a bit intimidating for me.

Could someone break down the steps I need to follow in a way that even a newbie like me can understand? Maybe share a simple example of what a typical environment variable looks like in the context of `bash`? I would really appreciate knowing what to add, where to put it, and if I need to restart anything for the changes to take effect. It would be great if someone could share their experiences or point out any common pitfalls I should watch out for.

Thanks in advance for any help with this! It feels like one of those small things that could end up saving me a lot of headaches in the future.

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    2 Answers



    1. Setting Environment Variables in Ubuntu

      How to Set Environment Variables Permanently in Ubuntu

      Setting an environment variable permanently in Ubuntu can be a bit confusing at first, but don’t worry! I’ll guide you through the steps.

      Method 1: Using `.bashrc`

      The `.bashrc` file is a script that runs every time you open a new terminal session. This method is perfect if you’re using Bash (which is the default shell for most distributions).

      Steps to Add an Environment Variable:

      1. Open your terminal.
      2. Type the following command to edit the `.bashrc` file:
        3. nano ~/.bashrc
      3. Scroll to the bottom of the file and add your environment variable in the format:
        4. export VARIABLE_NAME="value"
      4. For example, if you’re setting a variable for your Python project:
        5. export MY_PROJECT_PATH="/path/to/your/project"
      5. After adding the line, save the file. In nano, you can do this by pressing CTRL + O, then Enter, and then CTRL + X to exit.
      6. To apply the changes, run:
        7. source ~/.bashrc
      7. Now your variable is set! You can check it with:
        8. echo $MY_PROJECT_PATH

      Method 2: Using `.profile`

      If you want the variable to be available not only in terminal sessions but also in GUI applications, you can add it to the `.profile` file.

      Steps:

      1. Again, open the terminal.
      2. Edit the `.profile` file:
        3. nano ~/.profile
      3. As before, add your variable at the end:
        4. export MY_PROJECT_PATH="/path/to/your/project"
      4. Save and exit.
      5. Log out and back in, or run:
        6. source ~/.profile

      Common Pitfalls to Avoid

      • Be careful with syntax! If you misspell anything or forget the quotation marks, it might cause issues.
      • Avoid using spaces around the `=` sign—for example, use export VAR="value" not export VAR = "value".
      • Only add variables that need to be set globally; keep it simple to avoid clutter.

      What About `/etc/environment`?

      This is used for globally setting variables available to all users and applications. It’s safer if you know exactly what you’re doing, but since you’re just starting, I’d recommend sticking with either `.bashrc` or `.profile`.

      Remember, once you’ve set your variable, you can always check it with echo $VARIABLE_NAME. If you ever need to change or remove it, just go back to the respective file and edit your entry.

      Hopefully, this clarifies things for you! Good luck with your Python project!


    2. “`html

      To set an environment variable permanently in Ubuntu, a common and effective approach is to add it to your `~/.bashrc` file, which is executed every time a new terminal session is started. Open your terminal and run the command nano ~/.bashrc to edit the file. Scroll to the bottom, and add a line in the format export VARIABLE_NAME="value", replacing VARIABLE_NAME with your desired variable name and value with the corresponding value for your Python application. For instance, if you’re setting an environment variable for a database URL, you might write export DATABASE_URL="http://localhost:5432". Once you’ve added the line, save the file by pressing CTRL + X, then Y, and ENTER.

      After making changes to the `.bashrc` file, you’ll need to reload it to apply the new settings without restarting your terminal. You can do this by running source ~/.bashrc in the terminal. This command loads the new configurations for the current session. If you want to ensure that your new environment variable is available system-wide or for graphical applications as well, you could also add it to the `~/.profile` file or create a new file in `/etc/profile.d/`, but modifying the `.bashrc` is usually sufficient for most personal projects. A common pitfall to avoid is making sure there are no spaces around the equals sign in your export statement, as this will lead to errors.

      “`

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