Introduction to the export Command in Linux

The export command in Linux is used to set environment variables and make them available to child processes. It is a crucial tool for configuring the shell environment and passing data to programs. In the ChromeOS Linux Environment (Crostini), export helps manage variables that affect system behavior, including paths, language settings, and application configurations.

Syntax and Usage

The basic syntax of the export command is as follows:

export [name]=[value]

• name: The name of the environment variable.
• value: The value to assign to the variable.

Common Use Cases

1. Set an environment variable:

   export VAR_NAME=value
   

   For example:

   export PATH=/custom/path:$PATH
   

2. Make a variable available to child processes:

   export VAR_NAME=value
   ./script.sh
   

3. View all exported variables:

   export -p
   

4. Unset an environment variable:

   Although export itself doesn’t provide a direct way to unset variables, you can use unset:

   unset VAR_NAME
   

Persistent Environment Variables

To make environment variables persistent across sessions, add them to your shell's configuration file (e.g., ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc):

export VAR_NAME=value

After editing the file, reload the shell configuration:

source ~/.bashrc

Special Notes for ChromeOS Linux Environment

In the ChromeOS Linux Environment, the export command behaves identically to other Linux distributions. However, it is especially useful for configuring environment variables that affect Crostini-specific applications, such as custom paths or locale settings.

For instance, to change the default language settings for an application:

export LANG=en_US.UTF-8

This ensures that the application runs with the desired language and character encoding.

Conclusion

The export command is an essential part of Linux environment management. It allows users to configure and control how applications and processes run within their environment, including the ChromeOS Linux Environment.