how easy is it to install arch?

berryjam , 6 days ago

The wiki holds your hand through it so it’s pretty easy.

gaylord_fartmaster , 6 days ago

I had done a few easier Linux installs on Raspberry Pis and VMs in the past, but when I decided I wanted to try using Linux as my daily driver on my desktop (dual-booted with Windows at the time) I decided to go with a manual Arch install using a guide and I would 100% recommend it if you’re trying to pick up Linux knowledge. It’s really not a difficult process to just follow step-by-step, but I looked up each command as they came up in the guide so I could try to understand what I was doing and why.

I don’t know what packages archinstall includes because I’ve never used it, but really the biggest thing for me learning was booting into a barebones Arch install. Looking into the different options for components and getting everything I needed setup and configured how I wanted was invaluable.

That being said, now that I know how, is that how I would choose to install it? Nah, I use the CachyOS installer now, but if I wanted stock Arch I’d probably use archinstall.

ssm , 6 days ago

It’s as easy as following any set of instructions. Whether or not you actually understand what the instructions are doing is an entirely different story. If you actually want to learn how to operate a posix system, doing a bunch of command line installs of Linux isn’t going to help you with that. What will help is living in something with excellent documentation like OpenBSD, with minimal reliance on external tooling. Once you have the skills, they’ll transfer anywhere.

bitfucker , 6 days ago

Easy or not depends vary wildly. But the usual task is

• partition the drive
• format the drive
• mount the drive
• install the base system

That is the bare minimum, but we need to do more configuration to be able to boot. Hence the next task is configuring the following

• fstab
• timezone, hostname, and networking
• boot loader (I just use the EFI directly nowadays)

That is it. Everything else is usually work specific. Like, if you wanted arch to be a server, you usually didn’t install a GUI. For workstation and gaming, you need more steps but it will vary depending on hardware. The archwiki covers a good deal of hardware from laptop to desktop and their quirks.

Max_P , 6 days ago

It’ll depend a lot on your experience. I can just install Arch without reading the wiki at all in about 5 minutes for something fairly vanilla. If you’re comfortable with Linux then following the wiki won’t be too hard, took me maybe 2-3 hours on my first install before I had my DE and everything all set up (12 years ago). If you’ve never used Linux before and take the deep dive then it could take hours and days depending on how fast you can absorb all that information.

“Easy” is very subjective, there’s stuff that’s so dumbed down for the sake of “easy” that it makes my life harder when I need to do more complex stuff. I know people for whom linear algebra in 11 dimensions is easy for them to do and solve. Easy is relative to your own personal experience level and what you’re trying to accomplish.

Install it in a VM as a test run, you’ll see by yourself.

bloodfart , 7 days ago

It’s easy if you have a second computer or phone or something and can read and plan first.

It’s hard if you want to just click click click through.

spittingimage , 7 days ago

I’m a perma-noob and I was able to do it. Had to re-do a couple of steps because I interpreted instructions that were meant to be literal, but the wiki pages are very comprehensive. I just had to pay attention to the details.

737 , 7 days ago

if you know your way around a Linux system, it’s really quite easy.

bjoern_tantau , 7 days ago

Watching other people on YouTube do it you should know what you want and have some knowledge about your PC.

collagenial , 7 days ago

In general, I would say it’s not hard, but it’s not easy.

When I did it, I had some moderate Linux experience but I was by no means an expert. I did a few practice runs on a VM and made myself a runbook before I completed the install on my real computer. This allowed me to get a real sense for what I was doing and what each step did, exactly. When I ran into differences on my actual computer, the time I spent researching and doing it on the VM helped me to overcome any confusion and complete the install successfully. The wiki has all the information you need.

So, from beginning to end, I spent a weekend on it, including the few dry runs I did on the VM and configuring my system after the actual install was complete. If you’re not already quite familiar with Linux, I think it’s wise to do it this way because you build in time to learn, as opposed to just getting a working system as quickly as possible.

neidu2 , 7 days ago

Pretty easy. It’s not so much using intuition as it is reading step-by-step instructions. If you can use a cook book, you can install arch.

Source: I use once installed arch, btw

whostosay , 7 days ago

Add a pinch of salt l, and a smidgen of sugar later

neidu2 , 7 days ago

Serve after breaking your dependencies to taste

rostselmasch , 7 days ago

I did it few times between 2008 and 2010 when I was way younger. Idk how I did it, but after two times I was used to it and learned also a lot. Today I don’t have the nerves to install arch without archinstall or anarchy. The wiki helped me a lot. The wiki gives an excellent guide to install arch and to set up everything you need. It is well written enough, that no deep Linux knowledge is needed

The archlinux wiki is great for everything. I used it when I had Fedora, Debian or sometimes if I used OpenBSD.

krolden , 7 days ago

The reason to follow the archwiki install instructions is because it teaches you how to do a lot more than just install the OS. This will help you a lot down the line and not just with arch.

dinckelman , 7 days ago

If you have reading comprehension of, at least, an 8th-grader, you’ll do just fine. The instructions are all there

MajorMajormajormajor , 7 days ago

at most, an 8th-grader

Phew, looks like my 6th grade education is finally paying off!

treadful , 7 days ago

As a very long time Arch user I wouldn’t say “easy” like everyone else seems to. I absolutely would not suggest it for a first distro for someone, which is what I would classify as the “easy” level.

But if you’re comfortable with using Linux, the terminal, and being able to follow written documentation you’ll be able to do it just fine maybe with a little frustration the first time. If you’re installing to a laptop, make sure to look up your model on the wiki first.