title: Linux - environment variables $HOME versus $(HOME)
body: <p>Recently I had to update my JAVA environment variable in <code>.bashrc</code></p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>echo $JAVA_HOME # prints out /usr/java/...</p>
  <p>echo $(JAVA_HOME) # raises error &quot;can't find JAVA_HOME command&quot;</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>I'm worried that my make file, which uses <code>$(JAVA_HOME)</code> won't work since <code>$JAVA_HOME</code> gets recognized, but not <code>$(JAVA_HOME)</code></p>
  <p>How can I get <code>$(JAVA_HOME)</code> to equal <code>$JAVA_HOME</code>, which is currently set? Also, why does this happen?</p>
  <p>thanks</p>