Hi Andrew, Using other distros, like Ubuntu and Raspbian, I would get tired of typing sudo in front of everything, so I would just do sudo su and become root for everything, so I wouldn't have to constantly be reminded that as a regular user, I can't do something, and I had been told that installing things as root will cause problems. I was told that if I install things as root, that another package may not have permissions to use something I installed as root. Thanks.
Glenn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew M.A. Cater" <amaca...@einval.com> To: <debian-accessibil...@lists.debian.org> Cc: <debian-user@lists.debian.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 1:28 PM Subject: Root, sudo and installing packages [WAS Re: user is not in the suder's file] [Follow-up suggested to the mailing list at debian-user@lists.debian.org] On Wed, Feb 05, 2025 at 11:50:44AM -0600, K0LNY ?? wrote: > Hi Andrew, > How is Debian different with regard to apparently there not being a > problem > installing things as root? > I know that there are issues if some packages are installed with root > privileges on other systems. > Thanks. > > Glenn Hi Glenn, I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean here. Root can do most things: sudo is effectively allowing an unprivileged user to "become" root for a few commands (and a few minutes - there's a time out and then you may have to put a password in again). Installing a Debian .deb package effectively requires super user powers. You should always be careful when installing packages that you know what you are installing. Similarly, Debian packages from Debian are preferred as easier to deal with within the system if there are no third party packages. Packages not produced by Debian and sourced from third parties may create problems. See also: https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian If you are not sure of Linux commands and Debian administratin - you might try installing the package debian-handbook This is a handbook outlining various aspects of system administration on a Debian system based round the needs of a fictional factory. The standard package provides an html structure in /usr/share/doc/debian-handbook Hope this helps, Andrew Cater (amaca...@debian.org)
