Should I entrust root privileges to someone else?

Buddy, putting it this way: giving someone root access to your server is pretty much like handing them both the password and the key to your home safe.

root is the highest authority in the system, the "creator god." Having it means one can do anything on the server, without any restrictions.

Specifically, someone with root access can:

See everything: All files, code, customer data, contracts, financial information on your server... if it's stored there, they can see it and copy it.
Change everything: They can modify your website code, replace your payment QR codes, or even secretly delete your core data.
Delete everything: A single rm -rf / (a very dangerous command) can wipe out the entire system. From deleting the database to running away, it's technically feasible.
Kick you out: They can change your password, locking you out of the server forever. Essentially, the server becomes "theirs."
Do whatever they want without a trace: An expert with root access can modify system logs to erase all traces of their activity, making it impossible for you to find out what they did.

I know that in startups, trust, agility, and rapid iteration are highly valued. Sometimes, for convenience, the root password is directly given to a tech lead or core engineer to get the job done quickly. This situation is all too common.

However, this is a huge hidden danger. It's not about distrusting the engineer's character; it's a matter of process and security management.

What's the correct approach?

You should follow something called the "Principle of Least Privilege." Simply put, it means "grant only the permissions needed, nothing more."

You can do this:

Give them a regular account: First, create a personal account for this engineer.
Use sudo for authorization: sudo is a great tool. You can think of it as a "temporary authorization" mechanism. You can precisely configure it so they can only use sudo to perform tasks within their job scope that require root privileges. For example, you can authorize them to restart web services or install software, but not to touch database files or modify user passwords.
Implement operational auditing: A huge advantage of using sudo is that every privileged operation they perform is logged. Who, at what time, executed what command using sudo – it's all crystal clear. This serves as both oversight and protection. If the server ever runs into issues, you can quickly trace back which operation by whom caused it, preventing mutual suspicion and blame games.

To summarize:

As a rule, never directly share the root account and password.

Trust your colleagues, but manage permissions with professional tools and processes. This has nothing to do with personal character; it's an essential step for a company to become formalized and professional. It protects both the company's core assets and your engineers (if something goes wrong, logs can help them prove their innocence and avoid being scapegoated).

If someone insists on needing root access, you need to sit down and have a serious conversation with them. Make them clearly explain what they need to do and why existing permissions or sudo cannot satisfy their requirements. If their reasons are insufficient, then you'll need to reconsider.