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Date: Fri, 31 May 2013 07:11:58 -0400
From: Dave Angel <davea@davea.name>
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To: python-list@python.org
Subject: Re: Create a file in /etc/ as a non-root user
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On 05/31/2013 05:27 AM, Luca Cerone wrote:
>> fd = open('/etc/file','w')
>>
>> fd.write('jpdas')
>>
>> fd.close()
>>
>>
> Hi Bibhu, that is not a Python problem, but a permission one.
> You should configure the permissions so that you have write access to the folder.
> However unless you know what you are doing it is discouraged to save your
> file in the /etc/ folder.
>
> I don't know if on Mac the commands are the same, but in Unix systems (that I guess Mac is) you can manage permissions with chmod.
>

That directory is protected from users for a reason.  You defeat that 
and risk the system.

Bibhu:  for that reason I'd suggest simply telling your users to run 
your script as root.  If they trust you, and it breaks something, at 
least they know why they were doing it.

    sudo  python  riskyscript.py




-- 
DaveA