This is part of the Semicolon&Sons Code Diary - consisting of lessons learned on the job. You're in the bash category.
Last Updated: 2024-04-19
My bash install has .profile file and a .bash_profile. These are both "profile" files and they are used for
login/interactive shells. First /etc/profile gets loaded, then either .profile or .bash_profile (only one of
these: preference for later one)
That said, in general the .bash_profile should source the .profile so its commands will be included anyway
By contrast, .bashrc is executed for interactive non-login shells.
FYI Zsh runs ~/.zprofile, not ~/.profile, when it is invoked as a login shell