Linux distros are known for their simplicity and ease of use, but Arch Linux challenges this notion by letting users choose everything while keeping the functionality intact. For beginners, this power of choice might make Arch Linux even more daunting, but for advanced Linux users, it's icing on the cake.
Arch Linux is very popular amongst Linux users due to several reasons. In this article, let us take a look at Arch Linux and who benefits the most from using it.
What Is Arch Linux?
Arch Linux is a free and open-source Linux distro that gives you immense customizability and control over your machine. Arch's lightweight and minimalistic nature is the prime reason for its rising popularity in the tech community.
The x86-64 centric Linux distro adheres to the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid). As the name suggests, Arch believes in making the operating system a clean slate that leaves every decision to the user. You won't find any significant distribution-specific changes in Arch, making the transition seamless from any other Linux distro.
Advantages of Arch Linux
Here are a few advantages you get with Arch Linux:
1. Arch Is Highly Customizable
Arch is popularly known as a DIY (Do It Yourself) operating system as you can customize every intricate detail yourself. The OS offers you complete control of its functionality right from the time of loading the ISO image to installation completion.
Arch doesn't come with its own native desktop environment or window manager. To ease matters and put the control in the hands of the user, you get to decide everything, right from the desktop environment to the components you want on your machine.
For this very reason, the DIY approach is a handy feature, which makes Arch extremely lightweight and accessible, since it does not come with any pre-installed bloatware.
2. Arch Is Cutting-Edge
Arch updates are a treat for every user who loves to try new features as soon as they release. Arch follows a rolling release model that makes updating your operating system more straightforward than ever.
You can use the following command to update your distro to the latest version:
pacman -syu
The updates are easy to install and include all the latest features that come with the newest release.
3. The Arch User Repository (AUR)
The Arch User Repository is a community-driven repository for Linux packages developed by users. It holds a massive library of installation packages related to Arch Linux.
The most commendable part is that several packages are included in the AUR before they're added to the official Arch repositories. This gives you access to a whole new world of software that would otherwise take time to lead you to your distro conventionally.
AUR contains the package description PKGBUILDs, which allows a user to build a package directly from the source using makepkg and install it using the package manager.
4. The Holy Arch Wiki
The Arch Wiki is the documentation for Arch Linux. It helps you find everything you need to know about the distro and related issues. Arch Linux is one of the most well-documented Linux distros available. You can find information regarding recent changes, the latest Arch news, statistics, requests, and much more.
5. Arch Acts as a Bridge
Remember pacman (the Arch Linux package manager)?
Pacman's functionality is as unique as its name. The package manager is versatile enough to support the installation of packages from the Arch repository and binaries compiled from the source using makepkg.
Pacman makes Arch a bridge between the distros that let you install packages from their repository and the distros that let you compile binaries from the source. This way, you enjoy the best of both worlds, without having to compromise on flexibility or the ease of access.
6. Improve Your Understanding of Linux
Arch provides you with an authentic Linux experience. You get to learn new things about Linux while going about your day-to-day tasks. You should definitely try configuring the network manually using the network manager, as the interface is a great Linux lesson in itself.
The installation, as a whole, is very different from other distros. You don't get GUI support during installation; you only get to interact with your distro via the command line. The overall software experience rarely features a GUI, which will simply push you towards adopting the Linux command line for running your daily commands.
Simple tasks like display management, chroot, and network management are a few great ways to improve your Linux knowledge. Don't worry; if you ever get stuck using Arch, the Arch Wiki will come to your rescue instantly.
Please note that there are GUI installers available for Arch, but you should not consider them, especially if you want to experience Linux in its truest elementary form.
Is Arch Suitable for Beginners?
As a beginner, you want to don your training hat until you are confident enough to venture out on your own. Starting with Arch is equivalent to riding a bull at the rodeo while being an amateur rodeo.
Arch makes no assumptions and offers no pre-defined choices at the time of installation. This is an excellent feature for a proficient Linux user, as it opens a whole set of new horizons for customization. The same bit becomes a menace for a newbie, as simple tasks like installing the distro, become painstakingly tricky.
If you still want to try Arch as a beginner, make sure you install it inside a virtual machine first. You can install Arch as your daily driver, only when you are absolutely confident about using it.
You can also experience Arch using a simpler Arch-based distro like Manjaro or ArcoLinux. Manjaro mainly focuses on user-friendliness, which makes it a perfect working environment for beginners. It comes with a variety of pre-installed software to help users in their day-to-day activities.
Who Should Use Arch Linux?
Arch is highly technical at its core, making it an apt distro for users who can completely utilize it. Experts and power users benefit the most from Arch, given its DIY nature.
An expert user can customize Arch according to their needs and benefit from the active Arch community. Pacman and AUR are one-of-a-kind features that you only find in Arch and other Arch-based Linux distros.
The BlackArch repository is one such repository that you can add to Arch Linux. It comes with a plethora of security tools that are great for cybersecurity-related tasks. The repository is famous among cybersecurity professionals, considering its wide array of tools ideal for penetration testers and security researchers.
Utilizing Arch Linux to Its Fullest
Now that you know what Arch Linux is all about, who can use it, and what kind of features are available, feel free to explore its nuances.
Arch is great for users who have a prior experience with Linux. If you are a power user, you should definitely try Arch and customize it as per your needs.