Is there any module that let (selected) users (/roles?) see the Administration pages in read-only mode?
Interesting requirement.

Presumably you could assign the relevant admin permissions to the role, e.g "access administration pages", "administer site configuration" etc..

After that, you could prevent changing any settings with a hook_form_alter, adding the $form['#validate'] handler to form_set_error for non-admin users / users of that role. You could also possibly hide the submit button with a suitable #access check e.g #access =&gt; user_access('special permission'); on the button itself.

e.g

/**
 * Implements hook_form_alter
 */
function MODULE_form_alter(&amp;$form, &amp;$form_state, $form_id) {
  $form['#validate'][] = 'MODULE_readonly_admin_access';
}

/**
 * Custom validate callback
 */
function MODULE_readonly_admin_access(&amp;$form, &amp;$form_state) {
  if (path_is_admin(current_path()) &amp;&amp; !user_access('admin write access')) {
    form_set_error(NULL, t('Operating in read-only mode.'));
  }
}


It would definitely need a lot of careful testing to ensure no loopholes (e.g services API access, #limit_validation_errors cases) - make sure all bases are covered.