Manage template user environment

The skeleton directory /etc/skel provides the blueprint for every new user account on a Linux system. By placing files here, you ensure they are automatically copied into each new home directory—ideal for default configuration files, welcome notices, or policy reminders.

Add a Custom Welcome Notice

To display a standard reminder or welcome message for all new users, create a file in /etc/skel:

sudo vim /etc/skel/README

Insert your message, for example:

Please don’t run CPU-intensive processes between 8 AM and 10 PM.

Save and exit.

Verify Replication with a New User

Create a test user (e.g., trinity) to confirm the welcome notice appears:

sudo adduser trinity

List all files, including hidden ones:

ls -a /home/trinity

Expected output:

.               .bash_logout  .profile
..              .bashrc       README

Display the notice:

cat /home/trinity/README

Customize the PATH for an Individual User

If a specific user needs a custom directory like /opt/bin in their PATH, update their ~/.bashrc:

sudo vim /home/trinity/.bashrc

Find the existing PATH line and prepend your directory:

PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:/opt/bin:$PATH"

Save and close. When the user opens a new shell session, /opt/bin will be included:

echo $PATH

Example:

/home/trinity/.local/bin:/home/trinity/bin:/opt/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin

Now specialtool in /opt/bin runs directly:

specialtool

Apply Default PATH Changes for All New Users

To make the custom PATH part of every future account, modify the skeleton .bashrc:

sudo vim /etc/skel/.bashrc

Add your directory:

PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:/opt/bin:$PATH"

Every user created after this change inherits the updated PATH automatically.

Common Files in /etc/skel

References

• man skel - Linux manual
• adduser command
• Bash Reference Manual