Re: /etc/alternatives feedback for presentation
On Mon 13 Aug 2018 at 09:08:28 (-0400), Greg Wooledge wrote:
> On Sat, Aug 11, 2018 at 05:28:37PM -0500, Ryan Nowakowski wrote:
> > For example if I set the EDITOR env var how does
> > that interact with update-alternatives when I run visudo?
>
> The VISUAL or EDITOR variable takes precedence, if one of them is set.
> If neither one is set, then visudo uses its compiled-in default, which
> on Debian happens to be '/usr/bin/editor'.
>
> The problem is that sometimes, sudo will strip environment variables,
> and sometimes, it will not. So, on any given computer with any given
> sudoers configuration, you can't actually know in advance whether
> "sudo visudo" will use VISUAL/EDITOR or not.
>
> Isn't Unix *fun*?
>
> Of course, if you simply use "su", then VISUAL/EDITOR will be preserved
> in the environment (because "su" does not strip environment variables),
> so "su" followed by "visudo" should work fine.
>
> But, wait! Debian has decided to CHANGE HOW SU WORKS in testing, so
> after stretch, who knows how things will work?!
>
> Some people claim you should muscle-memorize "su -" which strips the
> environment in order to give you a usable PATH variable. If you follow
> THIS advice, then "su -" will strip VISUAL/EDITOR from the environment,
> and then your VISUAL/EDITOR variables won't work when you type visudo.
> So, I can't imagine why you would want to do that. Losing all your
> qualify-of-life environment variables is far too high a price to pay to
> get a working PATH variable after su.
>
> The other alternatives are:
>
> 1) Stay on stretch.
> 2) Edit /etc/login.defs to restore a functional su command (without needing
> to use "su -").
> 3) Put /usr/sbin and /sbin in your ordinary account's PATH.
>
> *Fun*!
Why is
Put some "qualify-of-life environment variables" into /root/.bashrc
not in your list?
Cheers,
David.
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