Hi,
for 20 years I have used chmod 755, 644, 777 ...,
and each time I had to think the number in binary
mode to understand if that bit was up or down.
Some years ago, I have discovered, there was from ever,
but I did not know, a way more clear to use chmod:
chmod a+rx file // in the examples above.
You can think the command in "relative mode" instead absolute.
When you say chmod 755, you give the permissions
indipendentely from the previous; many times this is useful.
Other times you want add or revoke permissions for someone.
The syntax is
chmod {what} +|- {what}
{what} can be a combination of
u=user(owner), g=group, o=other, or simply a=all
+|- : + to add, - to revoke
{what} can be a combination of r,w,x
EG:
chmod ug+x file.exe
add executable bit to owner and group. Or
chmod a-w *
protects all file for modify for everyone (also owner)
B Y E