.. envvar:: HOME

The user's home directory. On linux, :envvar:`~ <HOME>` is shorthand for :envvar:`HOME`.

The list of directories that is added to Python's standard search list when

importing packages and modules

Setting Environment Variables in Linux

To list the current value of :envvar:`PYTHONPATH`, which may be empty, try::

The procedure for setting environment variables in depends on what your default

shell is. BASH seems to be the most common, but CSH is also common. You

should be able to determine which by running at the command prompt::

BASH/KSH

To create a new environment variable::

To prepend to an existing environment variable::

The search order may be important to you, do you want `~/bin` to be searched

first or last? To append to an existing environment variable::

To make your changes available in the future, add the commands to your

`~/.bashrc` file.

CSH/TCSH

To create a new environment variable::

To prepend to an existing environment variable::

The search order may be important to you, do you want `~/bin` to be searched

first or last? To append to an existing environment variable::

Setting Environment Variables in Windows

Go to the Windows start menu, select `Control Panel`, then select the `System`

icon, click the `Advanced` tab, and select the `Environment Variables`

button. You can edit or add to the `user variables`.