Running a program from the command line on Raspberry Pi is straightforward once you know the correct command and path. This works for both compiled executables and scripts.

Running a Program in the Current Directory

If your program is in the current directory and not in your $PATH, you must prefix it with ./:

• Make it executable first:

This tells the shell to execute the file located in the current directory (.).

Running a Program from Anywhere

If you want to run it without ./, place it in a directory included in your $PATH (e.g., /usr/local/bin or ~/bin):

Ensure ~/bin exists; if not, create it:

Log out and back in (or run source ~/.profile) so that ~/bin is added to your $PATH.

Launching Installed Applications

For installed programs, simply type their name:

If unsure of the command name, use:

to find its location.

Launching GUI Applications from Terminal

For graphical programs, run: