How to properly set PHP environment variable to run commands in Git Bash

Question

There are a few similar questions as this throughout the site, but none of them are giving me the answer I\'m looking for.

What I\'m trying to do is install Composer

Answer 1

If you prefer to have it all in the unixy context of your bash cmd window:

1. Open the bash window and you find by default you're in the root directory

   $ pwd
   /
   

2. change to your user directory

   $ cd ~
   $ pwd
   /c/Users/nickw
   

3. create a .bash_profile file or append to an existing one (use single quotes or $PATH will get interpolated)

   $ echo 'PATH=$PATH:/i/wamp64/bin/php/php5.6.19' >> .bash_profile
   

4. check the file has the entry

   $ cat .bash_profile
   PATH=$PATH:/i/wamp64/bin/php/php5.6.19
   

5. close the bash window and open a new one to check

   $ php --version
   PHP 5.6.19 (cli) (built: Mar  2 2016 20:09:42)
   Copyright (c) 1997-2016 The PHP Group
   Zend Engine v2.6.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2016 Zend Technologies