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Change Your PATH

A common problem you'll run into when installing programs via the terminal is that after installing, you try to run the program and get an error like this:

$ my-new-program
-bash: my-new-program: command not found

Nine times out of ten, it's because the program is installed in a directory that's not in your PATH variable. Oftentimes when you install a program using the CLI, it will print a message during the installation process that tells you where the executable was installed. Don't let your eyes glaze over when your terminal prints important messages! Sometimes you just gotta rtfm.

To add a directory to your PATH without overwriting all of the existing directories, use the export command and reference the existing PATH variable:

export PATH="$PATH:/some/new/directory"

The $PATH part is a reference to the existing PATH variable. The : separates the existing directories from the new directory that you're adding.

Assignment

The worldbanc/private/bin directory has some handy scripts. Let's add it to your PATH so that your shell can find them by name from anywhere, without typing out the full path each time.

Add the $HOME/worldbanc/private/bin directory to the end of your PATH.
Confirm it worked by printing your PATH again. You should see worldbanc/private/bin tacked onto the end of the list. Your shell will now look there for commands too.
Ensure you're in your home directory: cd ~
Run genids.sh from your home directory. It should work without needing to type the full filepath because that script's directory is now in your PATH!

Submit the shell checks.

This change only lasts for your current shell session. In Part Two, once you're on your own
machine, you'll learn how to make a PATH change permanent.