--When you change .bashrc, or any other file that affects bash settings, you need to either re-read it ("source") or logout/login again.

> [ -f /etc/profile ] && . /etc/profile

Pseudocode:
" If exists file /etc/profile THEN source /etc/profile " -- The "&&" means "only execute the following if the preceding command has not thrown an error". Similarly, "||" means "only execute the following if the preceding HAS thrown an error/is False."

--This syntax confused the heck out of me on UNIX back in the day as well, until I read O'Reilly's excellent BASH reference, and found out the "." is shorthand for the "source" command.

' man bash '
" /source "

Quote Originally Posted by finferflu
I'm sorry to ask such a simple question, but I am really confused.

I'm trying to make some aliases permanent, but I can't find the file where to write them.

I'm using Knoppix 4.0 HD installation. When write something in my ~/.bashrc file, nothing happens, and by the way, this is what my .bashrc file says (and also what /etc/bash.bashrc says):

Code:
# /etc/bash.bashrc
[ -f /etc/profile ] && . /etc/profile
To be honest I don't really undestand what it means. I remember I managed to create some permanent aliases using the file that makes aliases for all the users, but I forgot where it is..

If anybody could kindly help me I would be grateful. In this way I could finally get the knowledge I was looking for, since I read guides over guides, without any satisfactory explanation. Any suggestion about a good guide would be appreciated as well.

Thank you for your help.