The Rust-based implementation of the sudo command, known as sudo-rs, has introduced a significant change by enabling password feedback by default. This update breaks from long-standing conventions in Unix-like systems where password entry is typically hidden.
Historically, the sudo command in Unix-like operating systems conceals user passwords during entry for security reasons, displaying no visual feedback such as asterisks. However, the sudo-rs project, a rewrite of sudo in the Rust programming language, has deviated from this norm. According to Phoronix, sudo-rs now provides password feedback by default, allowing users to see characters like asterisks as they type their passwords.
This change aims to improve user experience while maintaining security, as the feedback does not reveal the actual password characters. Sudo-rs, developed as part of efforts to modernize core Unix tools with Rust's safety features, continues to evolve. The update highlights ongoing discussions in the open-source community about balancing usability and security in command-line tools.
No specific release date or version number is detailed in the available information, but the shift represents a notable departure from traditional sudo behavior.