#30458: Better PATH setup ---------------------------------+------------------------------------------ Reporter: ydeedido@… | Owner: macports-tickets@… Type: enhancement | Status: closed Priority: Normal | Milestone: Component: base | Version: 2.0.0 Resolution: wontfix | Keywords: Port: | ---------------------------------+------------------------------------------ Changes (by ryandesign@…): * status: new => closed * component: ports => base * milestone: MacPorts 2.0.1 => * keywords: install uninstall => * resolution: => wontfix Old description:

There must be a reason for doing things the way they are but I prefer to add the path to the /etc/paths.d directory (instead of modifying the user profile which only works for that user). Since macports is installed under /opt/include which is not a user specific directory, would it not be better to make the PATH environment work for all users? (I often login as root)

Anyway, the suggestion is to create a file called 99_MacPorts under /etc/paths.d which only contains two lines: /opt/local/bin /opt/local/sbin When one wants to un-install MacPorts, simply delete that file.

I like to name all my files under /etc/paths.d with a number so the paths get added by numerical order. In my case 99_MacPorts is parsed last and thus the path is appended at the end of my PATH variable though I seem to understand some people like it first? Then name it 01_MacPorts.

Anyway, just a suggestion.. unless I'm missing something.

New description: There must be a reason for doing things the way they are but I prefer to add the path to the /etc/paths.d directory (instead of modifying the user profile which only works for that user). Since macports is installed under /opt/include which is not a user specific directory, would it not be better to make the PATH environment work for all users? (I often login as root) Anyway, the suggestion is to create a file called 99_MacPorts under /etc/paths.d which only contains two lines: {{{ /opt/local/bin /opt/local/sbin }}} When one wants to un-install MacPorts, simply delete that file. I like to name all my files under /etc/paths.d with a number so the paths get added by numerical order. In my case 99_MacPorts is parsed last and thus the path is appended at the end of my PATH variable though I seem to understand some people like it first? Then name it 01_MacPorts. Anyway, just a suggestion.. unless I'm missing something. -- Comment: This was debated years ago and found to be unsuitable because a path in /etc/paths.d ''appends'' to the existing list of paths, whereas to achieve the functionality our users expect, we want to ''prepend'' to the path. -- Ticket URL: <https://trac.macports.org/ticket/30458#comment:1> MacPorts <http://www.macports.org/> Ports system for Mac OS