Arch Linux, simplicity and highly configurable.
Arch Linux (or Arch) is a Linux distribution intended to be lightweight and simple. The design approach of the development team focuses on simplicity, elegance, code correctness and minimalism.
“Simplicity”, according to Arch, is defined as “…without unnecessary additions, modifications, or complications..” and is defined from a developer standpoint, rather than a user standpoint. Inspired by CRUX, another minimalist distribution, Judd Vinet started Arch Linux in March 2002.
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inet led the project until 1 October 2007, when he stepped down due to lack of time, transferring control of the project to Aaron Griffin. The Arch in Arch Linux is pronounced [ɑːrtʃ] in rhotic English accents or [aːtʃ] in non-rhotic accents (as in archer or parchment)
Short video on how to install Arch Linux
The Arch focus on simplicity and economy for developers means, among other things, that the main effort in assisting the user is not expended in crafting GUI configuration tools — the package manager, for example, does not have an official graphical front-end — but making well-annotated configuration files and extensive use of shell scripts.
This has earned it a reputation as a distribution for “intermediate and advanced Linux users who aren’t afraid of the command line”. An alternative to using CD or USB images for installation is to use the static version of the package manager Pacman, from within another GNU/Linux operating system.
The user can mount his or her newly formatted drive partition, and use Pacman with the appropriate command-line switch to have it use the mountpoint of the device as root for its operations.
This way the base package group and any additional packages can be installed on the newly formatted partition by having Pacman retrieve them from its mirrors.
However, there are further actions that need to be taken before the system is ready for use after this process; most notably installing a bootloader, and making various configurations to the new system.
To install arch in UEFI mode, check: Arch UEFI installation
I’ve used Arch for a long time as my main system, but as I don’t have the time to maintain it that much, I swtiched to EndeavourOS (Still Arch, but easier maintenance). Main Arch is lots of fun, sometimes lots of pain, but it’s a learning curve.
Clean installation with stable internet costs you around 10-20 minutes, it’s really not that hard anymore. When your system is running, install any desktop environment and you’re good to go. Personally I like Openbox, it works well with Arch and it’s also highly customizable.
If you do not find the package you need in the default repo’s, try to hit AUR, you will probably find all you need there.
Download Arch Linux
Create a bootable USB drive
System Requirements
– CPU: 1Ghz is recommended
– RAM: 512MB is recommended
– HDD: about 20G is recommended
– GPU: almost any
– CD-Rom drive or use a LiveUSB for installation
– Sound support, only if you want to hear something 😉
– Internet connection preferably