Unix bash alias not working after start screen

Question

Hi I am having a problem with setting alias in mac after I start the screen command, I have alias for working with git, like

commit=git commit

they work as I expect when I start my terminal (iTerm2), but then sometimes I use screen to have simultaneous instances in remotes servers and virtual machines I work with. After this the alias disappear(command not found).

Does anyone know why or how solve it?

Are you still running the same shell, e.g., is your shell `bash` both outside and inside screen? — Eric Renouf, Mar 18 '16 at 18:20
I'm assuming you mean you have `alias commit='git commit'`? What file is that defined in? — Etan Reisner, Mar 18 '16 at 18:23

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 18 '16 at 18:37

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To make the alias work, you must use the alias command. For example, to create an alias in Bash you do:

$ alias commit="git commit"

This works temporarily ie.: in your current shell. In order to make it "stick", you must put it in your ~/.bashrc. That will make it be sourced to all instances of Bash you'll invoke during your terminal session.

When you start screen, it starts a separate Bash too, so you'll be covered.

You write something about VMs. If you need this alias to work there, you must make ~/.bashrc on these VMs to have the same aliases. But that's the other story. You should already know how to achieve what you want.

answered Mar 18 '16 at 18:37

Wojciech Adam Koszek

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yes I know what you mean, I wanted to be quick, my alias are in .bash_profile, which has higher priority that .bashrc – Roger Rodriguez Texido Mar 18 '16 at 18:53
The problems with ``.bash_profile`` and ``.bashrc`` I typically debug by putting ``echo I_AM_IN_BASH_RC`` printout and figuring out whether this ``echo`` gets executed when you start ``screen``. If you don't see it, your file is simply not sourced somehow. – Wojciech Adam Koszek Mar 18 '16 at 19:03
Thanks, I thought both of them we're being loaded, but just .bashrc was, I put my alias there and it's working fine. Thank you. – Roger Rodriguez Texido Mar 18 '16 at 19:52

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:07

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You need to make sure your aliases are defined in ~/.bashrc to ensure they get included in all logins. You can test this out: edit your ~/.bashrc to include this line:

echo "bashrc"

And then edit your ~/.bash_profile to include this line:

echo "bash_profile"

You'll see when you start screen that only "bashrc" is displayed.

See this question for much more detail on the subject.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:07

Community

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answered Mar 18 '16 at 19:03

miken32

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Yes you are right, only the bashrc is run when I start screen, thanks you! – Roger Rodriguez Texido Mar 18 '16 at 19:51

Unix bash alias not working after start screen

2 Answers2