Difference between .profile and .bash_profile on Snow Leopard

Question

I am going to set the path for mySQl on my computer (I'm running Snow Leopard) but I see different instructions online.

Some say to change the .profile file and some say to change the .bash_profile file. What is the difference?

Belongs on http://superuser.com – Paul R Jul 19 '11 at 17:26 — Paul R, Jul 19 '11 at 17:26

Paul R · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-16T09:59:24.487

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.profile works with sh or bash. However .bash_profile is bash-specific and will override .profile if present.

edited Dec 16 '13 at 09:59

answered Jul 19 '11 at 17:25

Paul R

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I believe that .bash_profile overrides .profile, and not the other way around, but I haven't tested it. – Jeff Erickson Aug 24 '11 at 13:45
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I just tested and .bash_profile does indeed appear to override .profile – catrapture Dec 16 '13 at 09:57
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Thanks both - I'll fix the answer. – Paul R Dec 16 '13 at 09:58
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when `.bashrc` file will be executed in the order? – sras Oct 08 '15 at 11:54
On Mac it never will. You need to add `source ~/.bashrc` inside your `.bash_profile`. – Kamafeather Jul 10 '19 at 11:14

score 49 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 28 '14 at 14:49

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I believe mac OS X environment checks .bash_profile, .bash_login, .profile in this order. It will run whichever is the highest in the hierarchy, so, if you have .bash_profile, it will not check .profile.

edited Aug 28 '14 at 14:49

Jorge Leitao

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answered Sep 11 '11 at 05:07

hlim

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I can confirm that. I just installed google cloud sdk which created a .bash_profile when I was using .profile for all my other variables and a lot of applications stopped to work. – Danielito Apr 17 '14 at 10:43
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I believe .bashrc should be in that list? – tscizzle Oct 10 '14 at 18:19
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@tscizzle - The mentioned list is valid for a login shell – sras Oct 12 '15 at 04:29
to make the answer complete - could you please add the role of .bashrc ? I read that there is a distinction between "login shells" and "non login interactive shells" and I don't really understand it -- but still you could add clarification - that all those .bash_xxxxx are for "login shells" (whatever they may be) and .bashrc for the others. – Motti Shneor May 07 '19 at 12:27

Difference between .profile and .bash_profile on Snow Leopard

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