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Pansmanser
Asked: 2022-06-14 02:07:22 +0800 CST

Use of hidden file in system path

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In 20.04 I used .bashrc to include a hidden folder in my system path: /home/robert/.local/...

Since upgrading to 22.04, it appears that the system no longer searches this folder. Has this changed in 22.04? Can I restore it? enter image description here

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3 Answers

  1. This has not changed in 22.04. As in Ubuntu 20.04, executable will be searched in any directory that you include in the PATH environmental variable.

    If you have some problem - which you did not actually explain - then rest assured that the cause will not be what you currently asked. Also hidden paths can be included and will work. For example, also Ubuntu 22.04 automatically will include ~/.bin and/or ~/.local/bin in the PATH if these exist.

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  2. Best Answer

    As per the image added to your question, I assume the "hidden" directory in question is /home/robert/.local/share/applications. As this is at the end of your path, if anything in that directory also exists in other directories (like /usr/bin or even /usr/robert/bin), then the .local directory will be shadowed for those and the ones earlier in the path will be preferentially run.

    If, for instance, you are trying to run an executable named thing, you can use either of these commands:

    type -a thing
which -a thing

    and you may find it lists both executables, although only the first one in the path would be run.

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  3. I'm assuming that you got a clear ~/home directory with the upgrade, hence you asking about the Ubuntu versions. And I honestly don't know what the version has because I maintain my own ~/home.

    Can you simply add:

    export PATH=~/.local/bin:$PATH

    at the end of your .bashrc? (Replace bin with whatever folder you want, and include multiple folders separated by colons.)

    One last thought: if you did keep your .bashrc, perhaps you were relying on defaults in `/etc' and that file got moved or changed somehow. That would explain the change.

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