Add folder to PATH

Question

How to add something to PATH ? I have added like

PATH=$PATH:/home/example
export PATH

and it works until I restart , after that when I type env in PATH there is no /home/example.

Answer 1

set it in your ~/.bash_profile or ~/.profile (depending on your bash configuration).

Its just a set of commands that run each time a new bash instance is started. That's always been my hacky way of doing it. It works, so i never sought anything better.

mizar:branches peelman$ cat ~/.bash_profile 
complete -W "$(echo `cat ~/.ssh/known_hosts | cut -f 1 -d ' ' | sed -e s/,.*//g | uniq | grep -v "\["`;)" ssh

PATH=$PATH:/opt/local/bin/:/usr/local/git/bin/:~/bin/
SVN_EDITOR=/usr/bin/nano
EDITOR=/usr/bin/nano

alias restartgrowl="killall GrowlHelperApp && open -a GrowlHelperApp"
...
mizar:branches peelman$ 

Answer 2

Add these lines to your ~/.bash_profile or ~/.bashrc.

(Guide which to use)

Answer 3

put it e.g. into .*rc in your home directory so that it runs whenever you run your favourite shell.

examples:

~/.bashrc ~/.bash_profile

for bash

~/.tcshrc

for tcsh

etc etc...

~/.profile usually get loaded every time....