But sadly, Yay isnt installed by default.
We show you how to install and use this must-have Arch Linux tool.
Arch Linux, the Bare-Bones Distro
Arch Linuxis a widely known and highly regarded Linux distribution.
Arch Linux is a strictly bare-bones distribution.
Unlike most distros, it doesnt come preloaded with a collection of typical applications.
When you install Arch Linux, youre installing a minimalist take on Linux.
Thats a great way to set your rig up because theres absolutely no bloatware.
The only applications installed are the ones youve considered and decided you want.
And that bare-bones philosophy is taken seriously.
You dont even get a graphical desktop environment.
If you want one, you install it yourself, using the Arch Linux package manager, pacman.
Thats all fine in theory, but heres the conundrum.
It can neither search through it nor download anything from it.
Its a community-driven resource, hosting over 85,000 software packages.
Or at least, it hosts something called package build files, or PKGBUILDs.
A PKGBUILD is a shell script that the Arch Linux makepkg tool can read.
makepkg follows the instructions in the PKGBUILD file to create the program on your system.
It then calls on pacman to roll out the system from the archive file.
The AUR is a wonderful resource if you use it with care.
You dont need an AUR helper to use the AUR.
Theres a fairly straightforward but long-winded manual process you could use to install software from the AUR.
But if youre installing a lot of applications, youll soon want a way to streamline that process.
Thats why tools like Yay were developed.
We can circumvent thiscatch-22by installing Yay manually.
It only takes a moment to check whether these packages are present.
If you get an glitch notice instead of a version number, that package isnt installed.
The first step is to clone the Git source code repository to your machine.
Once Yay has been installed, you’ve got the option to delete the yay directory.
We need to change into the newly created directory and call makepkg to build Yay for us.
The -s (sync dependencies) option will have a go at find and install any missing dependencies.
The -i (install) option installs the package for us once it has been compiled.
Youll be prompted with a few Y/n questions, and you may need to slide in your password.
you’re able to use it to install, uninstall, and search for applications.
We’ll plant the Signal desktop messenger.
Uninstalling Applications With Yay
Uninstalling is just as easy.
You’re asked to confirm the uninstallation, and then Yay does the rest.
Lets implement the NordVPN binary.
The results of the search are presented as a numbered list.
To install it, throw in 2 and hit Enter.
The next two prompts can be answered with the Enter key.
When you see Packages to CleanBuild?
and Diffs to show?, just hit Enter.
When youre prompted with Proceed with installation?
[Y/n], youll notice the Y in the prompt is in uppercase.
That means it is the default action, so you’re able to just hit Enter to continue.
After more scrolling screen output, the installation is completed, and youre returned to the command prompt.
With Yay installed, using this enormous collection of applications is as easy as using pacman.
