# Load commands during irb startup

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 2, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955 "2006-08-02T03:08:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955/1 "2006-08-02T03:08:06Z")

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HI  
There are the few commands that i always run from irb.  
require ‘watir’  
…

Can i load it automatically for me to save keystrokes. I can precieve  
froms docs that i can, but not able to figure it out well

Seede

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**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955/2 "2006-08-02T03:17:45Z")

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removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote:

> 

Put it in your .irbrc

[http://www.rubycentral.com/book/irb.html](http://www.rubycentral.com/book/irb.html)

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**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955/3 "2006-08-02T03:42:58Z")

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HI  
I read that file. I am not sure how to configure it. can u provide an  
example.  
appreciate ur help

Where is my .irbrc. I cannot see it in my conf nor is there a file with  
such a name in my c:\Ruby

Seede

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955/4 "2006-08-03T12:13:17Z")

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removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote:

> HI  
> I read that file. I am not sure how to configure it. can u provide an  
> example.

You can simply put any ruby code in there including “require”  
statements.

> appreciate ur help
> 
> Where is my .irbrc. I cannot see it in my conf nor is there a file with  
> such a name in my c:\Ruby

It’s in your home directory. Since you didn’t give the OS and Ruby  
distribution I can’t be more specific here.

Regards

```
robert

```

PS: Please don’t top post.

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**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955/5 "2006-08-03T12:14:51Z")

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Hi,

On windows you must have HOME environment variable defined. Irb startup  
file  
must reside there.  
To check your HOME variable open cmd.exe and write: echo %HOME%  
To set you HOME variable: set HOME=somepath

–  
Martins

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/load-commands-during-irb-startup/100955/6 "2006-08-03T12:23:21Z")

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HI. I have a windows xp os and my ruby version is  
ruby 1.8.4 (2006-04-14) [i386-mswin32]

Ruby is installed in c:\ruby