Store frequently used commands in Linux

Question

I use some Linux commands more frequently like going to a specific directory, grep for some text etc. I assigned a variable for each command and kept them in a script file and I run the script file every time when I login to my Linux box so that I can use the variables instead of typing lengthy commands.

Is it possible that I can make sure that my script file runs everytime when I login to my Linux box so that I need not run it everytime?

Is there an alternate way of storing my frequently used commands so that they will be available when I open my Linux box?

possible duplicate of [How do you run a script on login in \*nix?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/97137/how-do-you-run-a-script-on-login-in-nix) — Andreas Fester, Apr 03 '13 at 11:21
If the commands are frequently used, chances are those would be in the shell history. Press `Ctrl-R` and start typing out a few characters of the command you want to execute. This would bring up the last command including the specified character(s). Pressing `Ctrl-R` again brings up the next anterior command. — devnull, Apr 03 '13 at 12:14

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:20

2

If you are using bash (probably are), add it to your .bashrc. You will find it in your home directory.

Other shells have corresponding startup scripts.

answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:20

Bart Friederichs

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score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:30

Adding commands to .bashrc for a non-login shell, or to .bash_profile for login shells (assuming, of course, that you're using bash).

From the bash manual entry:

When bash is invoked as an interactive login shell, or as a non-interactive shell with the --login option, it first reads and executes commands from the file /etc/profile, if that file exists. After reading that file, it looks for ~/.bash_profile, ~/.bash_login, and ~/.profile, in that order, and reads and executes commands from the first one that exists and is readable. The --noprofile option may be used when the shell is started to inhibit this behavior.

When a login shell exits, bash reads and executes commands from the file ~/.bash_logout, if it exists.

When an interactive shell that is not a login shell is started, bash reads and executes commands from ~/.bashrc, if that file exists. This may be inhibited by using the --norc option. The --rcfile file option will force bash to read and execute commands from file instead of ~/.bashrc.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:21

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You have to put your script into your .bashrc file, it is in your home directory

nano ~/.bashrc

It only works when you are using bash.

answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:21

Eun

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:21

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What is about alias?

You can store them in the ~/.bashrc, when I am right.

answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:21

fvosberg

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 11:58

You can use a .bashrc file but this script is executed when you open an interactive Bash shell. That is every time you connect to a server with a terminal (if Bash is your default shell) or open another shell that opens an interactive shell (like su - $USER).

If you work locally with X-Window GUI on Linux (Unix) the script will be executed every time you open a terminal program (like Konsole in KDE or gnome-terminal). It maybe not what you expected. In this case you can hack a .xinit script or use your display manager or desktop environment way to execute a script upon start. It is hard to tell how because it is specific to your environment (Linux/ Unix distribution or desktop environment (KDE, GNOME, ...) ) .

Store frequently used commands in Linux

5 Answers5