Clean Your Path

Note: This is a Windows tip!

Each time you install new software, especially nerdy, developer stuff, it tends to add itself to your system PATH. For single .exe programs (e.g. curl or git) I find this wasteful so I've devised a cunning plan. Let's say you install curl.exe in C:\some\folder\curl

1. Remove the folder from your system path
2. Create a curl.cmd text file in C:\windows\system32
3. Edit this text file and add the following: C:\some\folder\curl\curl.exe %*

Now, open a DOS window and run curl google.com - it works! How?

• %* passes all parameters on to curl.exe
• C:\windows\system32 is always on your system path

I recommend doing this for all your favorite command line programs and even your favorite editor. My new favorite is Scripted!