Arch Linux

11 May 2009 at 17:38 by Matias Korhonen

Arch linux is a lightweight and highly flexible distribution that is in many ways similar to Gentoo.

Arch logo

Introduction

Arch Linux (commonly referred to as just Arch) is a distribution that aims to be as lightweight and flexible as possible. Arch Linux is based on a rolling release system that means that packages are updated on a case by case basis. This means that you do not have to wait six months for your system to include the newest kernel, or the newest version of the kernel.

Arch saw its initial release in 2002 and is available for x86 and x86-64 architectures. At the time of writing it was 12th on the DistroWatch 6 month Page Hit Ranking.

The Arch Way

The Arch Way refers to five principles that are commonly simplified as KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid).

Simplicity

Simplicity is the most important principle behind the development of Arch, however, this does not necessarily mean that Arch will be simpler to use or setup than other Linux distributions. This is because simplicity is used to describe not only the user experience, but also the technical setup.

Arch Linux defines simplicity as a lightweight base structure without unnecessary additions, modifications, or complications, that allows an individual user to shape the system according to their own needs. In short; an elegant, minimalist approach.

Code-correctness over convenience

Arch Linux only employs the minimum of Arch specific patches to upstream packages and tries to remain as close to the original source as possible. This also means that Arch employs only the bare minimum of abstraction layers required which makes the system far more easy to configure than some of its competitors.

Simplicity, code-elegance, and minimalism shall always remain the reigning priorities of Arch development.

Openness

The development process of Arch is very open and it has a highly active community. An example of this is the AUR (*A*rch *U*ser *R*epository) where anyone may submit new packages. Once a package gains enough votes it can be moved into the community repository.

Arch Linux uses simple tools, that are selected or built with openness of the sources and their output in mind.

User-centric

Arch does not so much try to be “user-friendly” as it tries to by “user-centric”. This means that users have full control over their system, over how it is configure, and what packages are installed. Of course the user is aided in this by a simple set of maintenance tools which are designed to allow the user maximum control over the system.

Arch Linux targets and accommodates competent GNU/Linux users by giving them complete control and responsibility over the system.

Freedom

A newly installed Arch Linux only has the bare minimum of components. From there a user may decide to install their window manager of choice (e.g. GNOME, KDE, Openbox, etc.) or none at all.

By keeping the system simple, Arch Linux provides the freedom to make any choice about the system.

As Judd Vinet, the founder of the Arch Linux project said: “[Arch Linux] is what you make it.”

Arch vs. Others

For a comprehensive list of comparisons, please see the Arch Compared To Other Distros article on the Arch Linux Wiki.

Installation

The installation of Arch is not quite as simple as it is for many so-called “normal” distributions; it requires far more configuration and decision making from the user.

Absolute necessities for the installation process (at least for beginners) are the Beginners’ guide and the Official Install Guide which are available on the Arch Linux Wiki. These two guides offer excellent documentation on the installation process and will guide you to a fully functional desktop.

Luckily for Arch users, the Arch Linux Wiki has excellent documentation for almost everything that needs to be configured on a normal system. If you run into any problem you can always receive help at the Arch Linux Forums, which host an active community.

The installation process is not as daunting as it may seem, however don’t try it if you feel unsure or haven’t used Linux before. You should be fairly familiar with basic usage of the Linux command line. If you feel unsure but still wish to give it a try, someone at HHLinuxClub would be happy to give you the required assistance.

More Information & Sources