How do you append to environment variable in Upstart?

Question

I put the following in my /etc/init/myjob.conf file but it doesn't seem to work

env PATH=$PATH:/mnt/data/src
env PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:/mnt/progs/link

Is it possible to somehow append to an environmental variable.

Solution 1

export PATH=~/bin:"$PATH"

You should add this in ~/.bashrc file to work at every user session.

You should restart to see it working or try . .bashrc command to work without restart.

Solution 2

You can't append variables inside an upstart script, you need to use an external file and source it inside a script section:

create a /etc/default/myjob file with content like:

env PATH=$PATH:/mnt/data/src
env PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:/mnt/progs/link
export PATH
export PYTHONPATH

then in /etc/init/myjob.conf source it where you need it

script 
    . /etc/default/myjob
    exec command
end script

while this would look unnecessary complicated it is actually correct because an init script file is supposed to change between packages version while /etc/default/appname are configuration files and aren't overwritten by default

Solution 3

You add them as env VAR=foo in your upstart config file:

http://upstart.ubuntu.com/cookbook/#environment-variables

Comments

[edwin]

What do you mean by "it doesn't seem to work"? If you explain to us what you are trying to do, we might be able to help you better.

[kominato]

What does this have to do with upstart and why is it accepted?