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I have a load of tools that are kept in the /opt directory. The tools are organised like this: /opt/toolname/tool.sh. My question is, how can I add the tools in my /opt folder to my path, so i can run them from any directory in a terminal.
I have managed to do this with some tools by creating a symlinks in /usr/bin; but with over 200 tools it is a very tedious way of doing things. is there a better way to do this?
The only correct way, is to make links in /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin as you described. Because in those folders in /opt/toolname there are normally many other files, not just executables. I would be grubby. Anyway, adding /opt/*/ to the $PATH variable would not work.
If you have a list of the full paths to those binaries, you could generate the links scriptually.
/usr/local/bin. /usr/bin is managed by package managers and it's not idea to put out-of-package links there.
There are many ways to do it:
/usr/bin (or /usr/local/bin) directory sudo cp -s /opt/toolname/tool.sh /usr/bin/[unique_Toolname]/opt/toolname/tool.sh to $PATH variable export $PATH=$PATH:/opt/toolname/$HOME/.local/share/bin instead system /usr/binYou can add the folders to your path using the following command:
export PATH=/path/to/folder:$PATH
You should include this in a shell script that will be run before you open a terminal window (such as .bash_profile in your home folder).
However, since path isn't recursive, you'll need to add each individual tool folder.
$PATHisn't recursive -- and IMO, shouldn't be, so you may be out of luck. Best advice I can add would be to write a tool that keeps your symlinks in order.