# Retrieve the username

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/retrieve-the-username/195697>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [September 28, 2010, 11:36am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/retrieve-the-username/195697 "2010-09-28T11:36:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![arihan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@arihan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arihan)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 11:36am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/retrieve-the-username/195697/1 "2010-09-28T11:36:17Z")

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Dear All,

How would I get the username in mac through ruby

like in windows I am using ENV[‘USERNAME’]

ENV[‘USERNAME’]- it gives nil in mac system

cheers  
A

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**Author:** ![arihan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@arihan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arihan)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 11:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/retrieve-the-username/195697/2 "2010-09-28T11:56:38Z")

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On a mac running OS X the username is in ENV[‘USER’]

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**Author:** ![arihan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@arihan](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arihan)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/retrieve-the-username/195697/3 "2010-09-28T11:57:52Z")

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Peter H. wrote:

> On a mac running OS X the username is in ENV[‘USER’]

Cheers Peter. Thanks