How do I add a command to .profile?

Question

I would like the command

PROMPT_COMMAND=echo

to be executed every time I open bash. I've been told that this command can be read from ~/.profile, however, I do not know how to put it there.

Open the file and add the command. The file is .bash_profile (runs at login) or .bashrc (for each time you open a terminal) — Cfreak, Oct 24 '13 at 16:42

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 24 '13 at 19:21

3

echo 'PROMPT_COMMAND=echo' >> ~/.profile

answered Oct 24 '13 at 19:21

Iron Savior

Ah, I did not realise it was as simple as using `>>`! – User 17670 Oct 25 '13 at 11:17

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 24 '13 at 16:43

1

If you are on mac, you have to add it to

~/.bash_profile

If on linux, it'll go in

~/.bashrc

answered Oct 24 '13 at 16:43

Siddhartha

1

That's not quite right. .bash_profile and .bashrc are both linux. .profile is mac. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/415403/whats-the-difference-between-bashrc-bash-profile-and-environment more info: http://www.joshstaiger.org/archives/2005/07/bash_profile_vs.html – Aaron Oct 24 '13 at 16:45
2

Bash uses the same files on every OS, and uses both of these files for different purposes. – Random832 Oct 24 '13 at 16:45
3

More specifically, the Mac `Terminal` application starts a login shell by default, while most Linux-based terminal emulators start a non-login shell by default, hence the difference. – chepner Oct 24 '13 at 16:46

2 Answers2