CHMOD: Tool for Open Source Administration (Page 1 of 5 )
CHMOD (chmod) is a UNIX oriented command that means “Changing Mode.” It lets you change the mode (hence the name) of the file, or directory(ies) depending on how the chmod command is used. When I say “changing mode,” I mean giving the file a different permission scheme, respectively
read,
write, and
execute. This command, by the way, is one of the most useful and most used commands in Linux.
UNIX/Linux vs. MS Windows
Before getting into syntax and the whys of the whole chmod command, I want to get one thing straight. Changing modes do not exist to this extent in MS Windows. There is a similar model that Windows uses in its Management and Active Directory services, using users and groups. In UNIX/Linux it’s quite a bit different though. chmod is not used in MS Windows. In MS Windows, the attrib command is used, and is (again) quite different from chmod.
Another point I would like to make is, as much as I am a proud MS Windows user, the UNIX/Linux commands that are offered are far more powerful than those offered by MS Windows. There are more options in UNIX/Linux. For example, switches are case sensitive, so you can have even more switches than in MS Windows, as MS Windows is not case sensitive. This is just a minor comparison and contrast between UNIX/Linux and MS Windows.
The main reason I’m not comparing the Mac is because I really haven’t had much experience with it. I'm also not comparing it because the Mac uses Darwin Linux. This is simply a different flavor of Linux (BSD), so most of the UNIX/Linux commands will more than likely work with a Mac.
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