What is sudo nautilus ? What does it do ? When do i use it?

Question

Newbie here. I had to install adobe flash plugin and add it to firefox. I followed instructions of a youtube video and did that successfully. In one of the step it asked me to enter the command:

sudo nautlius.

I was wondering what does this particular step does and where else can I use it again?

Solution

nautilus is a file manager in Ubuntu.

sudo is declaring that you are a root (it is something like an adminstrator in Windows).

So, when you type the command sudo nautilus , you are entering the file manager as a root. Being root gives you some extra abilities that normal user doesn't have.

Comments

[doug]

"I was wondering what does this particular step does and where else can I use it again?" It creates potential issues & you should never use it again. Read the link in above comment or use at worst sudo -H nautilus

[Rinzwind]

In addention to this and the question: When do i use it? .... never.

[phil294]

@Rinzwind why? If you prefer moving files with a graphical user interface instead of via the terminal, this is absolutely the way to go. Am I entering any risks (apart from the danger of me, deleting root files accidentally) by doing so? If not, what's the issue?

[phil294]

wait, I actually found a good answer to it already: askubuntu.com/a/11766/378854 . So we're not having an actual security risk here, it is more about messing up your home directory.

[Rinzwind]

@Blauhirn simple: nautilus is a file manager for a -user- so should be used as a user. A user has nothing to edit outside his home and it blocks editing anything a user should not edit. There are some files that need a specific user name and editing it as "root" will change the file to "root" and lock you out of your desktop if you log off.

[Szczepan]

And that is why nautilus with root privileges should be run with gksudo, not sudo. As written HERE, gksudo prevents from changing owner of files, that were modified.