Stop Using chmod 777: Understanding Linux File Permissions
Giving everyone full permission is usually a sign that we are fixing the symptom instead of understanding the actual problem. Let's take a look at how Linux file permissions really work. The Three Permission Types Every file and directory in Linux has three basic permissions: Permission Symbol Value Meaning Read r 4 View contents Write w 2 Modify contents Execute x 1 Execute/access The numeric values are used when setting permissions with chmod.
- ▪Giving everyone full permission is usually a sign that we are fixing the symptom instead of understanding the actual problem.
- ▪Let's take a look at how Linux file permissions really work.
- ▪The Three Permission Types Every file and directory in Linux has three basic permissions: Permission Symbol Value Meaning Read r 4 View contents Write w 2 Modify contents Execute x 1 Execute/access The numeric values are used when setting p
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| Original publisher | DEV Community |
| Canonical URL | https://dev.to/kai-wen-the-parrot/stop-using-chmod-777-understanding-linux-file-permissions-1630 |
| Publication time | Mon, 27 Jul 2026 04:30:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-07-27T04:44:28.256Z |
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
try { if(localStorage) { let currentUser = localStorage.getItem('current_user'); if (currentUser) { currentUser = JSON.parse(currentUser); if (currentUser.id === 4045609) { document.getElementById('article-show-container').classList.add('current-user-is-article-author'); } } } } catch (e) { console.error(e); } kai wen ng Posted on Jul 27 Stop Using chmod 777: Understanding Linux File Permissions #linux #devops #management #tooling Are you one of those people who runs: chmod 777 -R /folder Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode every time you encounter a Linux permission issue? I am. 😂 It works. The error disappears. Problem solved... right? Not exactly. Giving everyone full permission is usually a sign that we are fixing the symptom instead of understanding the actual problem.
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