Re: Bug#739657: gnuhealth-server: fails to install: gnuhealth-server.postinst: sudo: not found

[Karsten Hilbert <Karsten.Hilbert@gmx.net>]

On Sun, Feb 23, 2014 at 11:00:14PM +0100, Emilien Klein wrote:

> > You should use su in your scripts.
> 
> OK, but why?
> What I'm missing so far is an explanation on why we shouldn't use sudo for
> this use-case.

I have heard the following argument from among Debian Devs:

su is included with any installation (unless
forcefully removed) while sudo is optional

However, I don't feel depending on sudo is
the End of The World.

Also, your characterization

> Following the Unix philosophy of using a collection of specialized small
> tools that do one thing best, when performing an action as another user it
> seems to be the correct thing to use a tool that "execute a command as
> another user" rather than one whose primary goal is "change user ID or
> become superuser"

seems fairly succinct.

Karsten
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