Beginners' Guide - Preface

Preface

Everything you ever wanted to know about Arch, but were afraid to ask

Welcome. This document will guide you through the process of installing and configuring Arch Linux; a simple, agile and lightweight GNU/Linux distribution, and UNIX-like operating system. Arch Linux requires a certain level of intimate knowledge of its configuration and of UNIX-like system methodology, and for this reason, extra explanatory information is included. This guide is aimed at new Arch users, but strives to serve as a strong reference and informative base for all.

Arch Linux distribution highlights:

* Simple, UNIX-like design and philosophy

* Independently Developed Community distro built from scratch and targeted at competent GNU/Linux users

* All packages compiled for i686/x86-64

* Highly customizable system assembled by the user from the ground up

* BSD-style init scripts, featuring one centralized configuration file

* mkinitcpio: a simple and dynamic initramfs creator

* Rolling Release model

* Pacman package manager: is written in C, and is fast, lightweight and agile, with a very modest memory footprint

* ABS: The Arch Build System, a ports-like package building system, makes it simple to create your own easily-installable Arch packages from source, to use and/or share with the community on the AUR

* AUR: The Arch User Repository, offering many thousands of build scripts for Arch user-provided software packages

DON'T PANIC !

The Arch Linux system is assembled by the user, from the shell, using basic command line tools. This is The Arch Way. Unlike the more rigid structures of other distributions and installers, there are no default environments nor configurations chosen for you. From the command line, you will add packages from the Arch repositories using the pacman tool via your internet connection and manually configure your installation by editing text files until your system is customized to your requirements. You will also manually add non-root user(s) and manage groups and permissions. This method allows for maximum flexibility, choice, and system resource control from the base up.

Arch Linux is aimed at competent GNU/Linux users who desire minimal 'code separation' from their machine.

License

Arch Linux, pacman, documentation, and scripts are copyright ©2002-2007 by Judd Vinet, ©2007-2009 by Aaron Griffin and are licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2.

The Arch Way

The design principles behind Arch are aimed at keeping it simple.

'Simple', in this context, shall mean 'without unnecessary additions, modifications, or complications'. In short; an elegant, minimalist approach.

Some thoughts to keep in mind as you consider simplicity:

* " 'Simple' is defined from a technical standpoint, not a usability standpoint. It is better to be technically elegant with a higher learning curve, than to be easy to use and technically [inferior]." -Aaron Griffin

* Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem or "Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily." -Occam's razor. The term razor refers to the act of shaving away unnecessary complications to arrive at the simplest explanation, method or theory.

* "The extraordinary part of [my method] lies in its simplicity..The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity." - Bruce Lee

About This Guide

The Arch wiki is an excellent resource and should be consulted for issues first. IRC (freenode #archlinux), and the forums are also available if the answer cannot be found elsewhere.

Note: Following this guide closely is essential in order to successfully install a properly configured Arch Linux system, so please read it thoroughly. It is strongly recommended you read each section completely before carrying out the tasks contained.

Since GNU/Linux Distributions are fundamentally 'modular' by design, the guide is logically divided into 4 main components of a desktop UNIX-like operating system:

Part I: Installing the Base system

Part II: Configure&Update the New Arch Linux base system

Part III: Installing X and configuring ALSA

Part IV: Installing a Desktop Environment

Welcome to Arch!

Enjoy the installation; take your time and have fun!

Now, let's get started...