Adding any current directory './' to the search path in Linux

addition, directory, linux, path

Solution

I know this is an old answer, but if anyone else stumbles across this question via Google like I did, here's a more detailed explanation.

If you want to make it so that search path contains the value of `pwd` at the time you set the search path, do:

export PATH=$PATH:$(pwd)

So, if `pwd` is `/home/me/tmp`, PATH will be set to `$PATH:/home/me/tmp`

However, If you want it so that whatever your present working directory is at the time you execute a command (ex; the value of `pwd` at any given time is in the search path), do:

export PATH=$PATH:.

So, if `pwd` is `/home/me/tmp`, PATH will be set to `$PATH:.`. If your present working directory contains a script called `foo`, then it would be fount in your PATH. If you change directories to one that does not contain `foo`, "foo" will not be found in the PATH any more.

You should note that having your present working directory in your PATH is a potential security risk, however.

Problem

How do you add any current directory './' to the search path for executables in Linux?

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