paths for searching executables

Question

My old xournal is 0.4.5, which is /usr/bin/xournal. I just installed a new version 0.4.8 by compiling from source to /usr/local/bin/xournal.

When I call xournal directly from the terminal, it is the old version.

$ xournal

When I call /usr/local/bin/xournal, it is the new version.

$ /usr/local/bin/xournal

My PATH puts /usr/local/bin before /usr/bin, so why doesn't calling xournal call /usr/local/bin/xournal but /usr/bin/xournal?

$ echo $PATH
”/usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games”

Thanks.

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 21 '14 at 23:11

2

If you just installed it it's likely that your shell has cached the old path. Use:

hash -r

to clear the command hash table and then try running the command again.

answered Jul 21 '14 at 23:11

Michael Homer

thanks. by default, how often does it automatically rehash, without manually hashing? – Tim Jul 21 '14 at 23:17
The hash table lasts for the lifetime of your shell session, and is regenerated when you start a new shell. – Michael Homer Jul 21 '14 at 23:19
Does which also search in some database or hashed results? – Tim Jul 22 '14 at 00:19
In some shells (not Bash), which is a builtin that uses the shell's hash table. The rest of the time it always searches $PATH. – Michael Homer Jul 22 '14 at 00:31
where is the hashed relocation stored? – Tim Jul 22 '14 at 00:32
In memory. You can look at the current table with just hash. type x will tell you whether x is currently hashed or not. – Michael Homer Jul 22 '14 at 00:47

1 Answers1