Ubuntu - Giving Users Adminastrative Privileges

If you just want to allow a user to run commands with sudo, all you need to do is add them to the sudo group as shown below:

sudo adduser [USER] sudo

The Sudoers File

Another way to add them, is to edit the /etc/sudoers file. One must use the visudo tool as shown below to prevent errors being made which could possibly "brick" your system.

sudo visudo -f /etc/sudoers

Find the line below:

root    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

and then add your user directly below it.

[USER]    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

Passwordless Sudo

If you want the user to be able to use sudo without having to enter a password, such as for automated installation scripts (not recommended), then you can edit the sudoers file as shown above, but enter the following line at the bottom of the file:

[USER] ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL

References

• Ask Ubuntu - Execute sudo without Password?