Terminal only shows $?

linux ubuntu shell command-line-interface

11,476

Your new user's login shell has been set to /bin/sh, which on Ubuntu is dash. This is a shell intended to be small and fast, to run scripts efficiently. It doesn't have any interactive features. Change your shell to zsh (better) or bash (more common):

chsh -s /bin/bash

If you want to change adduser's default shell, edit /etc/adduser.conf:

DSHELL=/bin/bash

11,476

dreq

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

dreq almost 2 years
I recently set up a new user using "adduser username" on my server and noticed that when I login I get:
```
$
```
Also, with my new user there is no folder highlighting, or tab completion.

However when I login as root I get a full terminal prompt plus highlighting, completion etc.
```
root@lin01:~#
```
Anyone have any idea what I did wrong?

Edit: Solution was to type
```
chsh -s /bin/bash
```
While logged in with the $.
- Admin about 9 years
  
  For me a password was requested on execution of the command. (the user-pw). As well to mention: you need to re-login to enable the new settings (debian-jessie)
Zoredache about 13 years

-1 This doesn't answer the question, and doesn't fit the tone of the site, which is for professional system administration. I probably would have not downvoted if this question/answer had been on superuser or ubuntu.se.
cidermonkey about 13 years

Dude didn't understand the prompt, wanted a nice one. I gave him an example prompt to work with and encouraged changing it to fit his needs.
Zoredache about 13 years

But if you read deeper into the question, you will see that it was about the a newly created complete lack of the standard environment. Please remember this site is not a forum, it is a Q&A site. If you post an answer it is supposed to be an answer to the question.
Ben Pilbrow about 13 years

I think the point Zoredache is making (and I am inclined to agree) is that you didn't answer the ultimate question of Anyone have any idea what I did wrong?.
dreq about 13 years

I tride typing chsh bash and it says "bash is not a user". So i typed "chsh username --shell bash" and it said "bash is an invalid shell". but I can type "bash" and it switches to the one i want. Any thoughts?
dreq about 13 years

ok well, it turns out the correct command for me was: chsh -s /bin/bash .. thanks for pointing me in the right direction
Gilles 'SO- stop being evil' about 13 years

@kidcapital: Yes, chsh -s /bin/bash was right, I indicated the right command but messed up its syntax. Sorry.