csh script not finding executable

Question

For the current project, I need to run the GENESIS genetic algorithm program, and the professor has provided a csh script that allows us to easily pass in the fitness function as well as external initilization and template files.

The script calls the makefile to build the executable, adding the fitness function to the mix and produces an executable ga.FIT, where FIT is the name of the finess function source file.

On the machines at school runnung Ubuntu 10.04, there is no problem whatsoever running this script. However, when I try to run it on my machine, I get the following output:

./go cancer2 ex0
Note: Genesis files modified for use on USM Linux cluster
Note2: ga.cancer2 is your executable (e.g., if you need to use the debugger)
making executables ...
make: `ga.cancer2' is up to date.
make: `report' is up to date.
running ga.cancer2 ex0 ...
ga.cancer2: Command not found.

But the executable IS there! I can manually call it separately via ga.cancer2 ex0 and it runs at both the csh and bash prompts. I've verified its not a permissions issue as the equivalent of chmod 755 has been set to the executable.

Is this something specific to csh, and should I look into modifying the script for bash, or stick to remoting in to the school system?

Keith Thompson · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-11 00:20:37Z

It looks like ga.cancer2 is in your current directory. Basile's answer should work, but it's probably a better idea to modify the script so it invokes ./ga.cancer2 rather than ga.cancer2.

In general, having . in your $PATH is a potential security risk (regardless of which shell you're using). Imagine cding into a directory in which someone has planted an ls command that does something evil. If you make sure . isn't in your $PATH (and get into the habit of typing ./command to execute a command in your current directory), you avoid this risk.

Having . at the end of $PATH is less risky -- but since the most common name for a test program is test, and test will invoke /bin/test, the ./command habit is still a good one.

And Basile has a good point that csh is not the best shell for writing scripts -- but from the looks of the output, the script you're running is probably simple enough that it doesn't make much difference. Still, good habits and all that.

Basile Starynkevitch · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-10 22:45:31Z

1

Perhaps you need to add . to your $PATH.

And once you've got your exam, tell your professor about the famous C-shell considered harmful paper, and suggest him to read the Wikipedia "Considered Harmful" page.

answered Nov 10, 2011 at 22:45

Basile Starynkevitch

1

2 Comments

Keith Thompson Over a year ago

Or better, modify the script to invoke ./ga.cancer2 rather than ga.cancer2, so you don't have to add . to your $PATH.

Jason Over a year ago

@Keith, that was the solution. If you change this comment to an answer, I'll be able to accept it as the solution. @ Basile, Nice source and will check that out when crunch time is over.

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