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Ask HN: How many local logins do you have on your computer?
8 points by bahmboo 22 days ago | hide | past | favorite | 15 comments
Way back when computers were a scarce resource and we had to share them. Multiple local user accounts were used for this purpose. Now I find that I never have multiple local logins (the username and password you use to access your physical hardware) except for my personal login and sometimes and admin login. Curious what others do and in what context. It makes tons of sense for a dedicated device in a work context. At home do you have a different account for say your kid? Bonus points: multiple users on a phone or tablet. I had to do that one time on Android it was interesting.


One. I still get confused when installers etc ask me whether to install for "just me" or "anyone using this computer"!

Things get a little fuzzier on Linux machines where there is both my user and a an admin "user". I treat the other as an abstraction, and type "sudo" if it won't let me do something without invoking that. Sometimes there are problems where I need to install something with sudo, then can't access it as my normal user and vice versa.


For macOS:

You: ~/Applications

Everyone: /Applications It’s that simple.


What if Everyone and You are the same set?


If your user isn't an admin, then /Applications is a good location so that apps can't change things in the background (it would require a popup to elevate privs).

Otherwise, some apps don't install as much crap when you use ~/Applications/ (looking at your Zoom, which I uninstalled and use the web version, which is super hard to find now).


On my own computers I typically have the two logins you mentioned, the user and the root account, since there's only one of me and only I use the computers. On the computer I recently had for work there were many accounts, since the sysadmins sometimes needed to SSH in. I also selectively added accounts for some of my coworkers as needed.

If I lived with any family, making non-sudoer accounts for them on at least some of the machines would seem like a pretty normal thing.


I make use of multiple user accounts for myself. Every computer has at least 3: root, personal, and work. I don't really understand why it's not more common to maintain separate work and personal logins but I do recommend it. One of the computers also has a local login for a family member, for when they want to use it.

For your bonus question: I run GrapheneOS and as of now I have 8 user accounts. This might be a bit much for most people. The idea is that my main personal and work accounts use exclusively open source apps, and any context which demands proprietary apps gets siloed off somewhere. Two of the user accounts have google services framework installed, but neither is logged in to the play store.

The reason that the phone is more complex is that I am essentially never forced to use proprietary apps on my desktops, there has always been a way to work around it. But not so on the phone.


that's an interesting approach. I use different devices for work and personal because the corporate spyware scares me.

recently they started to allow us to RDP into compliant machines so I only use the personal device.


I use a locked down kiosk user account when I’m responsible for driving slideshows or videos for events. I restrict the permissions so that if someone were to access the laptop, they can’t make any meaningful changes or pull up something inappropriate. I also change the wallpaper and account icon to match the event.

I could use a cheap throwaway laptop, but actually using my M1 MacBook saved me. One time I was running a slideshow that lead into a new years countdown, somebody decided the laptop was in their way so they unplugged the power cable and moved it. It ran on battery for 6-7 hours before I noticed and nearly had a panic attack.


It depends on the computer. Some of them have multiple local accounts because they're used by multiple people. Most of them have an account for me and for root. In most of those, actually logging in as root is disabled, though.


What's the context? I'm assuming this is in a workplace? IT or non IT?


These are my personal systems on my home network. I have a strict policy that logins aren't shared, so everyone gets their own.


Two on Macs and Linux boxes. Particularly on Mac, I’ve had it where my main account won’t fully log in enough to be able to fix things.

Sure, I could boot into single user mode (can you still even do that on a Mac?) but it’s a pain.


Two, user and root, but I live alone and don't have to share with anyone.


On a mac and I have 1 user account for myself only.


Only mine. root only via sudo




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