Setting the Enviornment variables

[JungleMonkey]

Can someone explain to me how to modify the enviroment variables? More directly, I want to modify the environment by adding a variable. Plus, I would like the variable to remain even after I re-boot.

Here is what I am doing currently.
at the terminal prompt I define the variable
foo="-I/opt/gtk"
export foo.

Is there a way where this variable is stored in the environment settings without me explicitly typing these instructions each time?

 

[sleipnir214]

Sure. Except your metaphor is wrong. Since Linux is a multiuser OS, environment variables are set on a per-user basis. So you really want the environment variables to survive a logoff/logon cycle.

If you're running, for example, bash, add the lines to your .bashrc file.

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[donkeyhote]

You can set / change environment variables to have global effect by adding your 'export'to /etc/.profile

The line should look like

export THISVAR=ANYTHINGULIKE

This can be set at lower levels for example for users in their own 'home directory' create a .profile
and do the same sort of thing

If using BASH you should use .bash_profile in a users home directory

Re - Logon to see the effect
Issue the command SET to see what variables are set or
Issue - echo $THISVAR (from the 'example' above don't forget the dollar!