Skip to main content
In this article, you’ll learn how to manage the template user environment in Linux through the use of the /etc/skel directory. When a new user account is created, the content of /etc/skel is automatically copied into the user’s home directory. This feature ensures that every user begins with a consistent set of configurations and files. Imagine you want to inform every new user about a default policy while existing users are already familiar with it. To achieve this, you can add a custom file containing your policy message directly into /etc/skel.
Adding a custom file in /etc/skel ensures that all new users automatically receive important information without manual intervention.

​
Adding a Custom README

To add a custom README in /etc/skel, follow these steps:
  1. Open the README file in your preferred text editor: 
    $ sudo vim /etc/skel/README
  2. Inside the file, add the following text: Please don’t run CPU intensive processes between 8 AM and 10 PM.
  3. Save the file.
Now, whenever you create a new user, the README file (along with other configuration files) will automatically be copied to the user’s home directory.

​
Testing the Configuration by Creating a New User

Let’s test the configuration by creating a new user named “trinity”: 
$ sudo adduser trinity
After creating the user, you can verify that all files from /etc/skel have been copied, including hidden files such as .bashrc. List all files in Trinity’s home directory with the following command: 
$ sudo ls -a /home/trinity
.  ..  .bash_logout  .bash_profile  .bashrc  README
Trinity can review the content of the README with: 
$ cat /home/trinity/README

​
Understanding Environment Variables Setup

The file .bashrc in a user’s home directory is responsible for setting up the shell environment. For instance, if you open Trinity’s .bashrc: 
$ sudo vim /home/trinity/.bashrc
you might notice that the PATH variable is configured to include local binary directories. To display the current PATH, you can run: 
$ echo $PATH
/home/trinity/.local/bin:/home/trinity/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin

​
Modifying the PATH for Future Users

If you need to modify the PATH variable for all new users, update the .bashrc template located in /etc/skel. For example, suppose you want to include an additional directory (/opt/bin) in the PATH for every new user. Open the template file with: 
$ sudo vim /etc/skel/.bashrc
Then, update the PATH variable as follows: 
PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:$PATH"
PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:/opt/bin:$PATH"
Any changes made to files in /etc/skel will be automatically applied when new user accounts are created, ensuring a standardized environment for all users. For more detailed information on managing user environments and best practices, consider exploring the Linux Documentation Project or related system administration guides.

Watch Video

Practice Lab