4.2 A bin Directory for Your Programs and Scripts

If you compile programs ( 52.8 ) or write shell scripts ( 1.5 ) , it's good to put them in one directory. This can be a subdirectory of your home directory. Or, if several people want to use these programs, you could pick any other directory - as long as you have write access to it. Usually, the directory's name is something like bin -though I name mine .bin (with a leading dot) ( 1.15 ) to keep it from cluttering my ls listings.

1. For instance, to make a bin under your home directory, type:

   % 
   
   cd
   
   
   % 
   
   mkdir bin
   
   

2. Once you have a directory for storing programs, be sure that the shell can find the programs in it. Type the command echo   $PATH and look for the directory's pathname. For instance, if your directory is called /u/walt/bin , you should see:

   % 
   
   echo $PATH
   
   
   ...:/u/walt/bin:...

   If the directory isn't in your PATH , add it ( 8.7 ) .

3. Finally, if other people are sharing the directory, use a command like chmod go+rx bin ( 22.7 ) to give them access.

When you add a new program to your bin directory, if you use the C shell, you need to use the shell's rehash command. That's because the C shell doesn't search your path directly but instead uses a hash table to find the commands more quickly.