Pathcheck: simple windows PATH utility

Pathcheck gives you easy access to the PATH state from your command line. It allows you to run commands from path even if they aren't loaded in your current session.

Features

• Audit - Scan your PATH for duplicates, invalid entries, and potential security issues
• Which - Locate executables across both system and user PATH entries
• Cast - Execute commands directly from PATH, even when they're not available in your current shell
• Diff - Compare registry PATH entries against your active shell environment
• Unique - List all unique PATH entries in machine-readable format

Installation

Download the latest release from the releases page, or build from source:

go build -o pathcheck.exe

Usage

pathcheck <command> [args]

Commands

audit

Performs a comprehensive scan of your PATH configuration:

• Identifies duplicate entries between system and user PATH
• Detects invalid or non-existent directories
• Flags potential security risks (like system directories in user PATH)
• Provides summary statistics and recommendations

pathcheck audit

which

Searches for an executable across all PATH entries and displays its location:

pathcheck which python

cast

Runs a command from PATH, even if it hasn't been loaded into your current shell session. Useful after installing new software without restarting your terminal:

pathcheck cast node --version

If multiple matches exist, you'll be prompted to select which one to execute.

diff

Compares the PATH entries stored in the Windows registry against what's currently active in your shell. Helps identify:

• Entries that require a shell restart to take effect
• Dynamically added entries that aren't persisted
• Environment variables that couldn't be resolved

pathcheck diff

unique

Outputs all unique PATH entries, one per line. Useful for scripting or further processing:

pathcheck unique

Why Pathcheck?

Windows PATH management can be frustrating. Changes to PATH in the registry don't immediately affect running shells, and tracking down which version of a tool is actually being used can be tedious. Pathcheck bridges this gap by giving you direct access to both the registry state and your current environment.

Built with Go

Contributing

If you feel like something is missing either open an issue or fork it, make your changes and create a PR.

License

[Add your license here]