From ea5c1263fcb956869793572590b3d14b7e3286df Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Olivia (Zoe)" Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 20:16:18 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Add FAQ entry advising against OMZ installs for root (#35) --- FAQ.md | 10 ++++++++++ 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+) diff --git a/FAQ.md b/FAQ.md index ff0cce0..c79297d 100644 --- a/FAQ.md +++ b/FAQ.md @@ -342,3 +342,13 @@ If you want this behavior to change, set the `WORDCHARS` variable in your zshrc ```zsh WORDCHARS='_-*' ``` + +## Why shouldn't I install Oh My Zsh as root? + +If something goes wrong with your config or Oh My Zsh, you risk breaking your system without a way to get back in, at least not without spinning up a live environment or doing a clean install. While this is rare, rare it's far more likely than with an OS stock config for the root user. + +In general, it's a good idea to leave the root user's config as untouched as possible, to help avoid error recovery and security problems. This includes leaving its shell as the system default (usually bash on Linux), and not installing Oh My Zsh for the root user. + +You _can_ still install Oh My Zsh for the root user, but it isn't a good idea. + +See also: [Why is it bad to log in as root?](https://askubuntu.com/a/16179/452364)