On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM Andrew M.A. Cater <amaca...@einval.com> wrote: > > [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: > > 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. > > 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).
I should probably sit this one out since I am missing context, but ... With respect to other operating systems, like Solaris, root is a role, not a user. See <https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E36784_01/html/E37123/rbactask-21.html> And when SELinux is in effect, like Fedora or Red Hat, root is just another user to contain. Or OP could be discussing running config, make and make install as root. Then, the objects and artifacts cannot be cleaned in his home directory because they are owned by root. > 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 Jeff
