ArchLinux
| Arch Linux | |
 The average Arch Linux user. | |
| OS family | Linux |
| Kernel Type | PopCorn |
| Latest release | 23 years ago |
| lead developing Noob | Some nerd |
“I use Arch by the way.”
– Literally anyone who uses ArchLinux
Arch Linux is an open source rolling release Linux distribution. The target audience is people who think using a simple operating system is stupid when you can download an over complicated barebones OS. If you're unsure whether someone uses Arch Linux, they probably don't, as they would have told you by now. Arch Linux meant to be minimal and is meant to be confirmed by the user to add only what they need. This makes Arch very hard to use and why people say, “I use arch by the way.”
History[edit | edit source]
“Have I mentioned, I use Arch?”
– Anyone who uses ArchLinux
Some nerd decided that having the computer come with features was impractical. So he decided you should choose only what you need (he was just being really lazy) so your computer could run faster. This set off the events that led up to cringe memes and people screaming, “I USE ARCH BY THE WAY!”
Installation[edit | edit source]
“Just wanted to mention that I use Arch”
– People who use Arch Linux
Installing Arch is much harder than installing windows or Mac. First you need to obtain ISO images from the official website, erase your drives of any lesser Linux distribution and mount partitions appropriately. Then, run the most important command of your life:
pacstrap -K /mnt base linux linux-firmware neofetch fastfetch screenfetch uwufetch hyfetch scrot
Then, you realize you Arch Linux is beyond your comprehension, admit defeat, and reinstall an inferior Linux distribution.
What Isn't Arch Linux[edit | edit source]
“Hello everyone. Before we begin I just wanted to say, I use Arch”
– The users of Arch Linux
Many people believe using an Arch derivative is the same as using Arch. This is wrong. If you have installed Manjaro, doesn't mean you get to say "i use arch btw". Only people who have installed Arch Linux manually may utter the sacred motto (looking at you, archinstall users).
To reduce confusion, here is a short, non-conclusive list of Arch-based distributions which do not give you permission to say "I use arch btw".
- Manjaro
- CachyOS
- SteamOS
- Asahi Linux
However, there are some Arch-based Linux distributions which are deserving enough to be granted the privelage of speaking the precious words. These include:
Package manager[edit | edit source]
“Execuse me, but have I mentioned I use Arch?”
– All Arch Linux users
Unlike modern computers who take out the fun of manually installing packages, ArchLinux offers an over complicated package manager called Pacman. On normal OS like Mac or Windows, you simply click on the file and it installs but on Arch you need to open up the terminal and start writing code. This is Arch after all, not some lesser distribution like Ubuntu. You’re mature enough to not need a GUI simplified so much a 2 year old could use it with fluency. Pacman offers speed, control and confusion from the meaningless code you are inputting into the terminal. And the best part is, the only tutorials you can find are from 2007 and are completely meaningless in the modern era.
Some of the few users migrating from the Debian that manage to get pacman to work, have been surprised by its speed. This is due to the fact that pacman has been stripped of anything that would make it easy to use. The Arch philosophy is simple: Who needs them features when you can do everything manually and suffer? The joy of being an ArchLinux user!
Now, to actually install applications, you will need to use the terminal. Once you open the terminal, then you need to run these specific commands:
sudo pacman -Syu
The “-S” or "Sync" command. It gets a binary package straight from the Arch Linux positories, bypassing the "compiling from source" which slows down the installation process that lesser distributions use. Basically, brings the application into existence.
sudo pacman -R (package_name)
This will scan for all the latest updates and brings your software up to date since you were too lazy to update your system.
sudo pacman -Rs (package_name)
The “Rs” means that the system deletes every excess byte because even one left over byte means 6-7 less applications for you.
Updates[edit | edit source]
“You use a Macintosh? *scoffs* You simple-minded fool. I use Arch”
– People who use ArchLinux
Somehow, ArchLinux uses a “rolling release” system which automatically installs the latest updates onto your computer. Unfortunately the updates suck and there is no way to prevent updates from automatically installed onto your computer. Sometimes the software gives up leading to manually installing updates yourself. After a year of using Arch, users become one with the operating system and now identify as a certified nerd.
The aftermath[edit | edit source]
“I use Arch and I can compress Rsync without using scp user@remote:/source/file.txt /local/path/ remotely using a VirtualBox Windows Vista virtual machine, running the command line only version of Tinycore, using the oldest known version of HyperV virtual machine with only 2 bytes of RAM, downloaded off of a shady website, while doing my taxes, finding out the meaning of life faster than 104 philosophers locked in a room for 67 years, with my eyes closed and my arms tied behind my back”
– Every ArchLinux user to ever exist on the planet of Earth
After mastering ArchLinux and transcending the ladder to the top of the ArchLinux society. You have finally joined the ranks of people who have obtained the right to say, “I use Arch by the way.” The quote you excessively brag about only for people to simply not care. You may be wondering, “why is it so hard?” Well reader, the reason for that question is that ArchLinux has to be exclusive to tech nerds who are more scared of showers than the threat of global nuclear war. Unfortunately there are some more problems with that too. For one ArchLinux is open source meaning that anyone with a computer can download it. So people who want to show off just download it on a VM and use the unfairly earned quote all the time.