[KLUG Members] why need executable absolute path?

[Bruce Smith]

> > I have to type
> > /home/somedir/somefile
> > Why is that?
> 
> Because "/home/somedir/" is not in your $PATH.

BTW, I think this is a GOOD thing.  I started with Unix back in the DOS
days, and DOS "ass-umed" MANY things.  It assumed your current directory
was in your path, it assumed if you copied a file to "prn" (without the
color) you were coping to the raw printer device, same for other
"special file names".  And those ass-umptions could get you into big
trouble.

When I started learning Unix I noticed that Unix assumed nothing.  If
the file is not in your path, then you can't run it without a specifying
a path name on the command line.  It makes you copy to device files if
you need the raw device.  MUCH more consistent, IMO.

--------------------------------------------
Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
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