How do I export a variable to the `sh` shell?

Question

Calling export MYVAR=/path/to/whatever from .bashrc obviously works for bash but not for the sh shell. Unfortunately, the Matlab launcher seems hell-bent on using sh and not bash. As such, the simplest way to export an environment variable such that it is accessible from Matlab would be to export said variable to sh.

How can I persistently export an environment variable to sh?

@muru I think Where to declare environment variables? is not sufficiently answer the problem for the dash. — A.B., Apr 24 '15 at 08:36
@A.B. yes it is. /etc/environment and .pam_environment apply everywhere. — muru, Apr 24 '15 at 08:49
@muru, that's not obvious to everyone, though. This question has the merit of being explicit and narrower in scope. — Louis Thibault, Apr 24 '15 at 09:16
@blz I don't see a narrow scope as a merit. And the solution to lack of obviousness is to make it obvious, not post a new question. — muru, Apr 24 '15 at 09:17

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 20 '15 at 16:40

1

Perform the following steps in the current shell (tested with zsh and bash), not in dash:

Open your .profile:
```
nano ~/.profile
```
Add this line
```
ENV=$HOME/.dashrc; export ENV
```
Open .dashrc
```
nano ~/.dashrc
```
Add this line:
```
export MYVAR=/path/to/whatever
```
Finally reload .profile
```
. ~/.profile
```
or log out and then log in again.

Now start dash with:

sh

or
dash

and type

$ echo $MYVAR
/path/to/whatever

edited Aug 20 '15 at 16:40

Fabby

34,259

answered Apr 24 '15 at 07:40

A.B.

90,397

I followed the above steps, then started sh from my current shell (fish), and typed . ~/.profile, but echo $MYVAR still returns nothing. – Louis Thibault Apr 24 '15 at 07:50
first . ~/.profile, than sh – A.B. Apr 24 '15 at 07:51
I think part of the issue is that my user's default shell is fish. Reloading ~/.profile raises errors, which is unsurprising since fish is not fully bash-compliant. How should I proceed? – Louis Thibault Apr 24 '15 at 08:15
Is logout and login an option? – A.B. Apr 24 '15 at 08:16
1

Edit: I got impatient and logged out/in. Works like a charm. Thanks again! – Louis Thibault Apr 24 '15 at 08:17

How do I export a variable to the `sh` shell?

1 Answers1