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,
You do not need to do sudo su, you can just type su.
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.
This is wrong, you need root privileges to install packages on Debian.
I was told that if I install things as root, that another package may not
have permissions to use something I installed as root.
Certain programs are prevented from being run as root. For example web browsers because of security vulnerabilities but there is no issue with installing the package as root.
Thanks.
Glenn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew M.A. Cater" <amacater@einval.com>
To: <debian-accessibility@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
(amacater@debian.org)