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Why is /usr/local/ owned by root?

rated 0 times [ 16] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 15208 / 1 Year ago, sat, december 3, 2022, 10:10:14

I am wondering why directories such as /usr and /usr/local/ are owned and created by root. Usually I am logged in as a normal user and I want to store programs that I personally use in these dirs. For example the Android Studio are stored there. Whenever, I need to make an update or to make any kind of change, permission are not granted because I am not logged in as root.

The directory name "usr" already implies that (normal) user based programs are supposed to be there.

Didn't I get the concept behind this directory?

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arbaour

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1 Year ago

answered 1 Year ago amelican · Accepted Answer

There is nothing that stops you from installing and running applications locally, without sudo privileges. Locally, meaning: in your own home directory. That is how it is supposed to be.

You shouldn't have the same permissions on directories you are sharing with possible other users on your system.

About /usr

The explanation on what usr literally stands for varies from unix system resources, to user system resources. The latter however should not be interpreted as owned by users, but as serving users, opposite to serving the system. Here we read about /usr:

Secondary hierarchy for read-only user data; contains the majority of (multi-)user utilities and applications.

The bottom line is that all (modern) explanations mention that it is about "shareabble, read- only data", and: "should not be written to"