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In Unix, what startup and termination files do the various shells use?

Although not a comprehensive list, the following should provide you with a basic understanding of what startup and shutdown files the various Unix shells use.

Note: This information comes from the Unix FAQ, which is posted regularly to the Usenet newsgroups comp.unix.questions and comp.unix.shell. You can obtain it by FTP from rtfm.mit.edu in the /pub/usenet directory, and on the web at: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/unix-faq/faq/

csh

Some versions have systemwide .cshrc and .login files. Each version puts them in different places.

Startup (in this order): Upon termination: Others:
.cshrc (always)
.login (login shells)
.logout (login shells) .history (saves history based on "$savehist")

tcsh

Startup (in this order): Upon termination: Others:
/etc/csh.cshrc (always)
/etc/csh.login (login shells)
.tcshrc (always)
.cshrc (if no .tcshrc file is present)
.login (login shells)
.logout (login shells) .history (saves history based on "$savehist")
.cshdirs (saves directory stack)

sh

Startup (in this order): Upon termination:
/etc/profile (login shells)
.profile (login shells)
Any command or script specified using the command: trap "command" 0

ksh

Startup (in this order): Upon termination:
/etc/profile (login shells)
.profile (login shells)
$ENV (always, if it is set)
Any command or script specified using the command: trap "command" 0

bash

Startup (in this order): Upon termination: Others:
/etc/profile (login shells)
.bash_profile (login shells)
.profile (login if no .bash_profile file is present)
.bashrc (interactive non-login shells)
$ENV (non-interactive shells)
.bash_logout (login shells) .inputrc (readline initialization)

zsh

Startup (in this order): Upon termination:
.zshenv (always, unless the  -f  option is specified)
.zprofile (login shells)
.zshrc (interactive shells, unless the  -f  option is specified)
.zlogin (login shells)
.zlogout (login shells)

rc

Startup (in this order):

.rcrc (login shells)

At Indiana University, to get support for personal or departmental Linux or Unix systems, see At IU, how do I get support for Linux or Unix?

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Last modified on August 22, 2008.
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