How to securely edit configuration files as specific user

Securely edit configuration files as specific user.

Ensure that you have the SUDO_EDITOR, VISUAL or at least EDITOR environment variable defined to a preferred text editor.

[...]

# Define default editor and pager
export EDITOR="/usr/bin/vim"
export SUDO_EDITOR="$EDITOR"

[...]

Edit specific file as root.

$ sudoedit /etc/hosts

Edit specific file as zookeeper.

$ sudoedit -u zookeeper zookeeper/conf/zoo.cfg

This is way better than using sudo command as it clearly exposes your system.

$ sudo -u zookeeper vim zookeeper/conf/zoo.cfg

Simple as that.