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.profile

If the file .profile file exists in your home directory, it is used when you log into a computer to:

• Define any required environment variables such as $PATH (see Shell and Environment Variables, section 3.5, page ).
• Start any standard non-X-based applications.

This file is also used whenever you log into a computer via ssh (in addition to logging into the console).

Some shells use different filenames. For example, C-shell uses the file .login.