Stencel AcademyHow Linux Works →
Part 1 · Lesson 3 · Beginner

Permissions — the gate

Watch the kernel check if you're allowed.

In this interactive Linux lesson from Stencel Academy you don't just read — you type real commands like cat secret.txt, chmod +r secret.txt, ./deploy.sh, chmod +x deploy.sh and watch the machine respond on a live, animated map. It is part of the free How Linux Works course.

Key takeaway: Every access passes a permission gate: read, write, AND execute — keyed to user, group, other.

Before this lesson

Builds on: Reading & Writing.

What you'll practise

Terms you'll learn

permissionsrwxchmodexecute bit (+x)owner/group/othergate

Check your understanding

Your own script says 'Permission denied'. Why?
Open the interactive lesson →