Sudo

Sudo (superuser do) is a prominent command-line utility for Unix-like operating systems that allows users to run programs with the security privileges of another user, typically the superuser. Originally conceived in the early 1980s, it has become a fundamental security component of nearly every Linux distribution and macOS.

Unlike traditional commercial products, Sudo is developed as open-source software. While it was originally created by Bob Coggeshall and Cliff Spencer at the State University of New York at Buffalo, it has been maintained and significantly expanded for decades by Todd C. Miller. The project is managed under an ISC-style open-source license, allowing for global contribution and distribution. It is currently maintained under the auspices of the Sudo Project, with continuous updates from a worldwide community of developers.