How to launch a gnome-terminal from Python without it being root?

Asked Mar 22 '23 at 23:46

Active Mar 22 '23 at 23:46

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I am writing a python script that requires root privileges to run, and I want to launch a gnome-terminal, but when I do it launches it as root, which is a safety hazard. Is there any way I can launch the terminal as normal user in Ubuntu?

My command looks like this

os.system("gnome-terminal")

asked Mar 22 '23 at 23:46

AerialSong

Use `os.setuid()` to revert back to the original userid. – Barmar Mar 22 '23 at 23:49
How should I use that command exactly? Just before I use os.system? – AerialSong Mar 22 '23 at 23:57
I'm not sure exactly, but that sounds right. Then call it again to go back to root. – Barmar Mar 23 '23 at 00:00
You might need to use `os.seteuid()` – Barmar Mar 23 '23 at 00:00
See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/14230467/unable-to-switch-back-to-root-user-using-python/14475934#14475934 for example – Barmar Mar 23 '23 at 00:01
I tried os.setuid() just before os.system() but it didn't open a terminal. It also wouldn't let me turn back to root – AerialSong Mar 23 '23 at 00:54
Did you read the question I linked to? You have to use `seteuid()` if you want to be able to go back. – Barmar Mar 23 '23 at 00:55
I did see it, but when I use os.seteuid(), it still launches the terminal as root, which is not what I need – AerialSong Mar 23 '23 at 00:56
How are you running the script as root? If you're using `sudo`, it probably clears out environment variables that are needed to open the terminal window properly. – Barmar Mar 23 '23 at 00:57
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/252704/discussion-between-aerialsong-and-barmar). – AerialSong Mar 23 '23 at 00:57

How to launch a gnome-terminal from Python without it being root?

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