Subject: Re: kern/1043: unlink(2) should not let superuser remove directories
To: None <netbsd-bugs@NetBSD.ORG>
From: Peter Seebach <seebs@solon.com>
List: netbsd-bugs
Date: 05/14/1995 16:30:59
Re: fsdb vs. unlink:

I don't believe it's a bug for the system to allow the superuser to do
stupid or dangerous things.  I personally think super-user should have
write access to directories or mounted drives, too.  The '#' sign is
plenty of warning that, if there is a chance you don't know what you're
doing, you shouldn't be doing it.

Maybe we should adopt a "way-cool" user id which has some, but not all,
privs.  Slow, and ugly, but it would provide a mode for most hobby
admins to do shutdown in, and leave the wizards with a proper superuser.

(Not that I'm anywhere near good enough to make much use of write access
to directories, or other arcana.  I'm content to be mystified by the whole
thing and enjoy it.)

-s