How to Create Environment Variables in Linux

Dagu — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:39:00 +0000

This tutorial is still about creating environment variables, just like my last tutorial. But now I create environment variable in Linux, not Windows.

To create or edit environment variable in linux is very easy. You may create or edit environment variable from terminal.

The syntax is: export VAR_NAME=var_content

For example:

export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/sun-java6

Yes, very easy right? If you want to append content to an existing variable, you can’t use command above. Command above will create a new variable, not append it. To append content, you may use command below.

The syntax is: export VAR_NAME=$VAR_NAME:var_content

For example:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/lib/jvm/sun-java6/bin

or, if you have created JAVA_HOME variable, you may use command below:

export PATH=$PATH:$JAVA_HOME/bin

Easy right?

Note:
To define a variable, you don’t need ‘$‘ character. But when you use it (for example when you append variable content), don’t forget ‘$‘ character.

How to Create Environment Variables in Windows

Dagu — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:08:48 +0000

If you are Windows user and need to create environment variables (some programming language need to set environment variables to run well), here is the step by step. Note that this tutorial is based on Windows XP.

1) Right click icon My Computer and choose Properties. You can find My Computer in Windows Explorer, or in Start Menu.

2) Click Tab Advanced. In this tab you will find Environment Variables Button below. Click that button.

Environment Variables Windows XP

3) There are two options. User Variables and System Variables. Click New button to create a new variable or Edit button to edit existing variable.

System Variables

4) You’re done!