The basics of
ARCH LINUX
by Benjamin Kaiser
+BenjaminKaiser on Google Plus
@benkaiser on Github
What is Arch?
- Rolling Release (with monthly snapshots)
- Minimalistic (providing a sound base install)
- User-centric (users have all control)
Why is it awesome?
Rolling Release
Build it Yourself
Community
Community
The ArchWiki is a rich source of information for guides of installing software, configuring software and using software.
The Arch forums are full of very knowledgeable people. Please read the Forum Etiquette guidelines before posting.
The Arch User Repository is all user submitted!
COMPARED TO OTHER DISTROS
Packages are closer to upstream than any other major distro.
Compared to Gentoo, packages are provided as binaries (rather than compiled from source) .
No graphical installer, and the base contains only core packages. Essentially you 'build' your system by selecting what packages you want from scratch.
The Arch Way and Arch Compared to Other Distros are useful for finding out if Arch is for you.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Experienced Linux users (not afraid of the terminal)
Friends and relatives of the above
People wishing to expand their understanding of Linux and
Elitists
There are certain GUI installer derivatives to make the install process easier. This is highly advised against.
PACMAN & AUR
| Arch | Ubuntu |
|---|---|
pacman -Syu |
apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade |
packer sublime-text-dev |
add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/sublime-text-3 apt-get update apt-get install sublime-text-installer |
AUR stands for Arch User Repository. It is where users can submit their own packages through PKGBUILDs. These can be binary, source, proprietary, open, etc. There is a voting and commenting system to help identify trusted packages.
10763 packages in the official repos
46860 packages in the AUR (with 19677 updated in the last year)
every application you could need
every application you could need
What is PACKER?
Packer is an AUR helper that helps you install packages from the AUR easily.
There are many more
Without an AUR helper, you have to take AUR package installing into your own hands.
All AUR helpers are in the AUR, so to install one you must go through the process manually. However if you get lazy here is a script I created to install Packer.
FINDING an ARCH PACKAGE
Google (DuckDuckGo, etc) '<package name> arch linux'
Find a link to either aur.archlinux.org or archlinux.org/packages
Alternatively run:
packer -Ss <package name>
Packer will search AUR and the official repos
MIrrors
Optus, iiNet, Swinburne University, AARNET,
UberGlobal and Intercom
=
Fast updating for official packages:
sudo pacman -Sy :: Synchronizing package databases... core 106.9 KiB 260K/s 00:00 [#################################################] 100% extra 1531.1 KiB 349K/s 00:04 [#################################################] 100% community 2.1 MiB 370K/s 00:06 [#################################################] 100% multilib 112.1 KiB 344K/s 00:00 [#################################################] 100%
INSTALLATION
Basic Install
- Boot from installation medium
- Partition disks
- Mount partitions
- Install base
- Configure system
- Install boot loader
- Reboot
POST-INSTALL
Following install you may wish to do the following:
- Set up users
- Install xorg+drivers+desktop environment
- Install all the applications you know and love
AUR sorted votes descending is a good place to find packages
DEMO
ARCH LINUX
By Benjamin Kaiser
ARCH LINUX
- 2,946
