AnnoyingLinux: Post about sudo prompt

Author: SebastianGrans

content/posts/2025-03-21-make-sudo-show-you-the-stars.md

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+date = '2025-03-21T23:39:58+01:00'
+draft = false
+title = 'Annoying Linux: Make Sudo Show You the Stars'
+summary = 'My issue with the `sudo` password prompt, and how to fix it.'
+tags = ["#annoyingLinux"]
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+
+I've recently switched back to Linux as my primary OS at work, after running windows for ~2 years.
+While setting up my system, I've noticed quite a few "default settings" that really annoy me.
+
+This will probably be the first blog post in a series of my annoyances. Today's topic:
+
+## The `sudo` password prompt
+
+If you run Linux, you'll have to type in your password quite a lot. That's another thing that annoys
+me, but that's for a later day. This post is about how the default settings of the `sudo` password
+prompt gives you *zero* feedback.
+
+And straight away I can hear someone shouting - *"It's more secure!"*
+
+If it's that important, then why the hell does all the display managers
+show your password as a string of asterisks when you log on to your machine?
+
+I've been using *nix flavoured OSes for almost 20 years now, and I can't believe it took me this
+long to google how to fix this. It turns out that it is very easy.
+
+## How do we fix it?
+
+Just add this to `/etc/sudoers`:
+
+```text
+Defaults    pwfeedback
+```
+
+Next time you enter your password you'll be greeted by lovely stars:
+
+```text
+[sudo] password for you: ******
+```
+
+See you in the next one!