Quick Links
Although Arch Linux is great, its installation is a show-stopper for many people.
But now there’s a straightforward GUI-based installer for Arch.
And you already know how to use it.
The Arch Linux Catch-22
Arch Linux is a lean, mean Linux distribution.
Most people consider it the premier rolling-release distribution.
Arch arrives completely unadulterated.
There’s no bloat from unwanted packages.
There are no distribution-specific tweaks or management tools.
It’s just plain old vanilla Linux.
For some, that’s an attractive proposition.
You choose, step by detailed step, how you want your box set up.
But that’s the crux of the problem.
Or follow theArchWikivery carefully.
The standard Arch install requires you to download one of their monthly ISOs.
That boots to an Arch Linux command line prompt.
It’s easy to miss a step or to make a choice that you later realize was wrong.
And after an Arch install, wrestling with things likeWi-Fi settingsor graphics drivers is common.
Installing a working version of Arch is an achievement and something of a milestone for those who manage it.
It’s true, you do learn a lot.
The installation of a distribution is the first interaction a user has with it.
What About Arch-Based Distributions?
There are many Arch-based distributions, such asManjaro,ArcoLinux,Garuda, andEndeavourOS.
These provide graphical installation routines, often based on the well-knownCalamares installer.
They set up networking and Wi-Fi, and they set up the desktop environment of your choice.
But it’s not plain Arch Linux.
Some of the differences are large, some of them are small.
But there are differences.
Once confidence is high that the updates are safe, they’re released to their user base.
That’s a core principle of that distribution.
Manjaro provides an Arch-based rolling-release distribution with some risk management added to it.
Manjaro satisfies that particular need.
There’s a reason it is so popular.
All the other Arch-based distributions add something to the mix, in greater or lesser quantities.
Arch Linux GUI
Arch Linux GUIisn’t a distribution.
It simply provides an easy-to-use installer for Arch Linux.
Their website offers versions featuring GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, Cinnamon, and the i3 window manager.
Apart from i3, these are offered in “pure” or “themed” variants.
A pure edition is just that: untouched Arch Linux.
But, for this exercise, we want things to be as pure as the driven snow.
So we’re going to load the GNOME Pure version.
Installing Arch Linux GUI
Download the version you wish to install andmake a bootable USB drive.
Boot your setup from your USB drive.
This will boot your system from the installation media in a “Live ISO” session.
No changes are made to your gear at this stage.
Soon you’ll see a genericGNOME desktop.
The installer is tucked away with the other applications.
poke the dotted “Show Applications” icon in the dock.
The applications list appears.
smack the icon to start the installation.
The look and feel of the Calamares installer will be familiar to many.
It’s used by a great number of Linux distributions.
If you want the installer to run in a different language, select it from the drop-down menu.
Note that this doesn’t set the language of your installation of Arch.
It’s just for the Calamares screens.
Click “Next” when you’re ready to move on.
The location screen appears.
Click “Next” to move to the next screen.
you gotta select your keyboard layout and language, then click “Next.”
The partitioning options screen appears.
The usual partitioning options are available.
Make your selections and click “Next.”
Complete the form and click “Next” to display the summary screen.
When you’re happy with all the tweaks, click “Install” to start the installation process.
When the installation is complete snag the “Restore Now” checkbox and click “Done.”
your machine will reboot into your pristine installation of Arch Linux.
When you get in you’ll see the generic GNOME desktop.
Open a terminal window and throw in:
pacmanis the package manager for Arch.
Hit “Enter” to accept the default answer of “Y” to proceed with the installation.
The ArchWiki Is Your Friend
One of the best parts of using Arch Linux is theArchWiki.
It just might be the most comprehensive collection ofLinux knowledge on the web.
If you want to know anything about Arch, check out the wiki.
Related:5 Websites Every Linux User Should Bookmark
