echo $PATH results in /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/bin:/bin:/bin:/bin:/bin:

History: I had installed Selenium (java_home was already taking care of and working). Now I was installing Android Studio(mac) and needed to adjust the env for Java_home. First I typed:

• set Android_home
• export Android_home=/Library/Android/Home
• echo Android_home

then:

• nano .bash_profile

Adding Android_home.

• export Android_home=/Users/<username>/Library/Android/sdk
• export PATH=$PATH:$Android_home/tools
• export PATH=$PATH:$Android_home/tools/bin
• export PATH=$PATH:$Android_home/platform-tools

Lastly: $ source .bash_profile

Then closed everything, reopened the terminal. The terminal instantly was running this one particular line (infinite-wise).

-bash: export: 'PATH/bin': not a valid identifier

After a short while, it changes to

--bash: export: 'PATH/bin': not a valid identifier

--bash: /usr/libexec/java_home: Argument list too long

Thank you for taking the time to read my question. [this is my first question ever. Apologies for newbee mistakes. ]

.bash_profile [Opened text editor, pressed Command + Shift + > to show hidden files.]

Export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)
PATH="/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.7/bin:${PATH}"
export PATH

export MONGO_PATH=/usr/local/mongodb
export PATH=$PATH:$MONGO PATH/bin
export Android_home=/Users/<username>/Library/Android/sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$Android_home/tools
export PATH=$PATH:$Android_home/tools/bin
export PATH=$PATH:$Android_home/platform-tools
source .bash_profile

Update: To isolate the problem further I commented everything out in bash_profile except one, Java:

• export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
• export JAVA_HOME=/usr/libexec/java_home
• export JAVA_HOME=/usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.8

Now run echo $PATH Result: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_181.jdk/Contents/Home/bin:/ over and over gain

another example: I commented everything out in bash_profile except one:

• export PATH=$PATH:/bin

save > close terminal > re-open > check the change with

• echo $PATH

all the terminal shows is this repetition/loop

• /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/bin:/bin:/bin:/bin:/bin:/bin:/bin:/bin:....

one more observation

In the very beginning, when I open the terminal, something is running in the background which prevents me from typing something into the terminal. I need to press control + c to stop it. Couldn't find out what process this is.

Is it possible that the .bash_profile or etc/paths is in conflict with .profile ?

In.profileis only one PATH:

(export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH)

The most likely cause is you have problems with exports in your .bashrc or .bash_profile eg, export PATH=PATH/bin which should be export PATH=$PATH:/bin.
In order to change this outside of the Terminal, you can use Command+Shift+. to toggle hidden files in finder to allow you to edit with TextEdit or another editor.