Arch
From Linux & Open Source @ NUS
Contents |
Introduction
From http://www.archlinux.org/about/:
"To summarize: Arch Linux is a versatile, and simple distribution designed to fit the needs of the competent Linux® user. It is both powerful and easy to manage, making it an ideal distro for servers and workstations. Take it in any direction you like. If you share this vision of what a GNU/Linux distribution should be, then you are welcomed and encouraged to use it freely, get involved, and contribute to the community."
I still don't understand, is it for me?
This is a good read, alongside the rest of the linked articles at the wiki.
A number of things to take note:
- A BSD-style init equates to simpler administration; there is no confusing symlinking between runlevel directories. There is just one global configuration file (rc.conf), one directory for init scripts (rc.d), and another for the (optional) configuration of those scripts (conf.d).
- Rolling-release and bleeding-edge here means there are no official ways of falling back to older versions of packages. However, there are workarounds.
- There are no -dev and confusingly-named package headaches. Arch Linux stays true to its KISS philosophy, in that package "foobar" means software "foobar". Yes, including headers. You get what upstream software developers want you to get - that is all there is to it, there isn't anymore.
- Use of manpages is highly encouraged, and advised before asking for support. Same applies for logs and post-installation messages of packages, aside from the usual documentation at the wiki.
- There is no support for "USE flags" or anything similar. This is to keep PKGBUILDs as simple as possible, hence "easier to write". There are no separate functions for common actions unlike in Gentoo ebuilds, although there is support for split-packaging. The packaging process is far less time-consuming than Debian, Fedora or Gentoo's.
Getting Started
See above; the ArchWiki is all that one should need to get going. The obvious first read for a new user is the "Beginners Guide".
Regional Mirrors
See here for a listing. Generally, Australia's AARNet and Pacific Internet are considered "failsafe". Nearer mirrors like the one in Indonesia and Vietnam can be problematic due to DNS issues, or may be out-of-date. Same applies for unofficial mirrors, like the one in Malaysia.
