macos - How should I set the PATH variable on my Mac so the Hombrew-installed tools are found?

Trying to set up Homebrew on a new Mac (on previous Macs I would install packages from source).

The first package I tried to install was Git:

$ brew install git

Installation went OK, but which git still shows the one in /usr/bin/git that came along with Lion (I think?). And not the one in /usr/local/bin/git that was just installed.

$ echo $PATH
/Users/meltemi/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p290@rails31/bin:/Users/meltemi/.rvm/gems/ruby-1.9.2-p290@global/bin:/Users/meltemi/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.9.2-p290/bin:/Users/michael/.rvm/bin:/usr/local/mysql/bin:/opt/subversion/bin:/Developer/Additions/checker/:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/X11/bin

As you can see /usr/bin defaults to before /usr/local/bin in the $PATH

So, I'm confused! I thought the point of HomeBrew (and something the creators seem to brag about) was that you don't have to mess with the $PATH variable!?!

So, what did I do wrong?

Answer

I found this related post to be very helpful. Instead of changing the $PATH variable, it just has you simply edit your /etc/paths file.

Homebrew wants me to amend my PATH; no clue how

As soon as I followed the directions and put /usr/local/bin above /usr/bin, my issues were resolved.

1. On OS X, open Terminal


2. Type the command: sudo vi /etc/paths


3. Enter your password if you're asked for it


4. You will see a list of paths. Edit them so that /usr/local/bin path is entered above the /usr/bin path


5. *Save and quit


6. Restart Terminal

Here's what mine looks like after I did that:

/usr/local/bin
/usr/bin
/bin
/usr/sbin
/sbin

*To save and quit type a colon (:), then type wq (to write and quit at the same time), followed by Enter.

You can also open the /etc/paths file in a graphical text editor and edit it that way.

Credit to fengd
over at Stack Overflow for his answer over there.