Arch Linux

Rolling release distribution focused on simplicity and user control.

Quick Start

# Update system
sudo pacman -Syu

# Install AUR helper
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git && cd yay && makepkg -si

# Essential packages
sudo pacman -S base-devel git neovim htop btop fastfetch

# Enable multilib (32-bit support)
# Uncomment [multilib] in /etc/pacman.conf
sudo pacman -Syu

Documentation Index

Getting Started

Page Description

Installation Guide

Complete Arch installation walkthrough

System Configuration

Locale, users, hostname, fstab

Boot Management

systemd-boot, GRUB, mkinitcpio

Package Management

Page Description

Pacman Reference

Package manager commands and tips

AUR & Helpers

Arch User Repository and yay/paru

Mirror Configuration

Reflector and mirror optimization

System Maintenance

Updates, cleanup, troubleshooting

System Administration

Page Description

Kernel Management

Multiple kernels, DKMS, parameters

Networking

NetworkManager, iwd, VPN

Power Management

TLP, battery, suspend/hibernate

Security Hardening

LUKS encryption, Btrfs, SSH hardening, secrets

Desktop Environment

Page Description

Desktop Setup

Hyprland, Sway, KDE, GNOME

Essential Tools

Terminal utilities and applications

Post-Install Essentials

First Steps

# Create user (if not done during install)
useradd -m -G wheel username
passwd username

# Enable sudo
EDITOR=nvim visudo
# Uncomment: %wheel ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

# Update system
sudo pacman -Syu

# Install AUR helper
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay && makepkg -si

Enable Multilib

Edit /etc/pacman.conf and uncomment:

[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

Then sync:

sudo pacman -Syu

Optimize Pacman

# /etc/pacman.conf [options] section
Color
VerbosePkgLists
ParallelDownloads = 5
ILoveCandy

Quick Maintenance

# Full system update
sudo pacman -Syu

# Update AUR packages too
yay -Syu

# Clean package cache (keep last 2 versions)
sudo paccache -rk2

# Remove orphaned packages
sudo pacman -Rns $(pacman -Qtdq) 2>/dev/null || echo "No orphans"

# Check for .pacnew files
sudo find /etc -name "*.pacnew"

# Check failed services
systemctl --failed

# Check recent errors
journalctl -p 3 -xb

Common Tasks

Package Management

# Search packages
pacman -Ss keyword
yay -Ss keyword        # Include AUR

# Install package
sudo pacman -S package
yay -S aur-package     # From AUR

# Remove package and dependencies
sudo pacman -Rns package

# Find what owns a file
pacman -Qo /usr/bin/binary

# List explicitly installed
pacman -Qe

# List AUR packages
pacman -Qm

System Information

# System fetch
fastfetch

# Resource usage
btop

# Disk usage
ncdu /

# Kernel version
uname -r

# Boot time
systemd-analyze
systemd-analyze blame

See Also