> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Manage Template User Environment
> Learn to manage the template user environment in Linux using the /etc/skel directory for consistent user configurations.
In this article, you'll learn how to manage the template user environment in Linux through the use of the /etc/skel directory. When a new user account is created, the content of /etc/skel is automatically copied into the user's home directory. This feature ensures that every user begins with a consistent set of configurations and files.
Imagine you want to inform every new user about a default policy while existing users are already familiar with it. To achieve this, you can add a custom file containing your policy message directly into /etc/skel.
Adding a custom file in /etc/skel ensures that all new users automatically receive important information without manual intervention.
## Adding a Custom README
To add a custom README in /etc/skel, follow these steps:
1. Open the README file in your preferred text editor:
```bash theme={null}
$ sudo vim /etc/skel/README
```
2. Inside the file, add the following text:
Please don't run CPU intensive processes between 8 AM and 10 PM.
3. Save the file.
Now, whenever you create a new user, the README file (along with other configuration files) will automatically be copied to the user’s home directory.
## Testing the Configuration by Creating a New User
Let's test the configuration by creating a new user named "trinity":
```bash theme={null}
$ sudo adduser trinity
```
After creating the user, you can verify that all files from /etc/skel have been copied, including hidden files such as .bashrc. List all files in Trinity’s home directory with the following command:
```bash theme={null}
$ sudo ls -a /home/trinity
. .. .bash_logout .bash_profile .bashrc README
```
Trinity can review the content of the README with:
```bash theme={null}
$ cat /home/trinity/README
```
## Understanding Environment Variables Setup
The file .bashrc in a user's home directory is responsible for setting up the shell environment. For instance, if you open Trinity's .bashrc:
```bash theme={null}
$ sudo vim /home/trinity/.bashrc
```
you might notice that the PATH variable is configured to include local binary directories. To display the current PATH, you can run:
```bash theme={null}
$ echo $PATH
/home/trinity/.local/bin:/home/trinity/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin
```
## Modifying the PATH for Future Users
If you need to modify the PATH variable for all new users, update the .bashrc template located in /etc/skel. For example, suppose you want to include an additional directory (/opt/bin) in the PATH for every new user. Open the template file with:
```bash theme={null}
$ sudo vim /etc/skel/.bashrc
```
Then, update the PATH variable as follows:
```bash theme={null}
PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:$PATH"
PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$HOME/bin:/opt/bin:$PATH"
```
Any changes made to files in /etc/skel will be automatically applied when new user accounts are created, ensuring a standardized environment for all users.
For more detailed information on managing user environments and best practices, consider exploring the [Linux Documentation Project](https://www.tldp.org/) or related [system administration guides](https://www.linux.com/).