Setting Environment Vars

Using profile.d for loading environment variables

I typically use profile.d for loading Environment Variables, there are other methods but I find this easier to maintain.

Steps

  1. Use echo to output the export command, then redirect (>>) the output to a file in the profile.d directory:

    sudo sh -c 'echo "export {YOUR_VARIABLE_NAME}={your-variable-value}" >>  /etc/profile.d/{your-variable-name}.sh'
    • For the curious, here's how that breaks down:
      Command Explanation
      sudo Substitute User Do (previously "Superuser Do") - run command as a user with privileges, defaults to 'super user'
      sh In a shell (command interpreter)
      -c Use commands from the command_string (the next part, between ' and ')
      echo Output a line of text (the part between " and ")
      export Set the export attribute for variables
      >> /etc/profile.d/{your-variable-name}.sh Append Redirected Output (>>) to the specified file (/etc/profile.d/{your-variable-name}.sh)

  2. Use chmod +x to mark the new file as executable:

    ~ chmod +x /etc/profile.d/{your-variable-name}.sh

  3. Use source to load the /etc/profile.d/{your-variable-name}.sh file into the current shell (this saves us from having to logout and back in):

    ~ source /etc/profile.d/{your-variable-name}.sh

  4. Test that the variable is loaded by echoing it:

    ~ echo ${YOUR_VARIABLE_NAME}
    • You'll get a reply of {your-variable-value}

Example

In this example I create a new shell file in profile.d that exports an Environment Variable with the name TEST_API_KEY and value mykeyishere. I then make it executable, use source to load it, then echo it to make sure it's properly set.

~ sudo sh -c 'echo "export TEST_API_KEY=mykeyishere" >>  /etc/profile.d/test-key.sh' 
[sudo] password for user: _
~ sudo chmod +x /etc/profile.d/test-key.sh 
~ source /etc/profile.d/test-key.sh 
~ echo $TEST_API_KEY
mykeyishere
~_