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Configuring the /etc/skel directory allows you to define default files and environment settings for every new user account. When you create a user with the -m flag, all contents of /etc/skel are copied into the new home directory—making it easy to enforce policies, defaults, and customizations.

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Table of Common Skeleton Files

FilePurposeDescription
.bashrcShell configurationDefines aliases, functions, and environment variables for interactive shells.
.bash_profileLogin shell startupExports user-specific environment variables and initializes the login shell.
READMEOnboarding notice or policy documentDisplays a default message or policy for every new user.

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1. Adding a Default README for All New Users

To inform new users about your site policy or housekeeping rules, place a README file in /etc/skel: 
sudo vim /etc/skel/README
Add your message, for example: 
Please don’t run CPU-intensive processes between 8 am and 10 pm.
Save and exit. Every future user will see this notice in their home directory.
Files in /etc/skel are only applied when a home directory is created (e.g., via useradd -m). Existing users are unaffected.

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2. Testing with a New User

Create a new user named trinity and verify that the README was copied: 
sudo useradd -m trinity
ls -a /home/trinity
# .  ..  .bash_logout  .bash_profile  .bashrc  README
Confirm the contents: 
cat /home/trinity/README
# Please don’t run CPU-intensive processes between 8 am and 10 pm.

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3. Setting Up a Custom PATH for One User

If trinity needs access to tools in /opt/bin, prepend that directory to her PATH. Edit her .bashrc: 
sudo vim /home/trinity/.bashrc
Add or modify the PATH line: 
PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:/opt/bin:$PATH"
Save and exit. For immediate effect, have Trinity run: 
source ~/.bashrc
echo $PATH
# /home/trinity/.local/bin:/home/trinity/bin:/opt/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:...
specialtool  # runs /opt/bin/specialtool
Always ensure each entry is separated by a colon (:) and that $PATH remains at the end.

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4. Customizing the Default .bashrc for All New Users

To apply the same PATH change (or any other environment tweaks) site-wide, modify the skeleton .bashrc: 
sudo vim /etc/skel/.bashrc
Insert your custom lines—such as the PATH definition—then save. Now, every new account created on this system will inherit these settings automatically.
Be careful when editing /etc/skel/.bashrc. Errors in this file may prevent newly created users from logging in correctly.
Now you’re ready to manage default user environments using /etc/skel. Practice by adding more config files or policies to streamline onboarding for every new account!

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