Editing Arch Linux (section)

{{Short description|Rolling release Linux distribution}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Arch Linux
| logo = Archlinux-logo-standard-version.svg
| logo size = 
| logo alt = Arch Linux logo, featuring a triangular logo resembling an arch
| screenshot = Arch Linux screenshot, 12.06.2024.png
| caption = Arch Linux using the [[KDE Plasma|KDE Plasma 6]] [[desktop environment]]
| developer = Levente Polyak ([[lead developer]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arch Linux - News: The Future of the Arch Linux Project Leader|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/the-future-of-the-arch-linux-project-leader/|access-date=2021-11-22|website=archlinux.org|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225002704/https://archlinux.org/news/the-future-of-the-arch-linux-project-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| working state = Current
| source model = [[Open-source software|Open-source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2002|03|11|df=yes}}
| repo = {{URL|https://gitlab.archlinux.org}}
{{URL|https://www.github.com/archlinux}}
| marketing target = General purpose
| update model = pacman{{efn|Pacman is the official way to update Arch Linux. AUR Helpers and [[Graphical user interface|graphical]] [[app store]]s, such as Discover and [[GNOME Software]], are available}}
| package manager = pacman, libalpm (back-end)<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacman Home Page |url=https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/ |website=www.archlinux.org |access-date=9 May 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226230942/https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| supported platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[x86-64]]|[[P6 (microarchitecture)|i686]] (unofficial){{Efn|i686 support is maintained by the Arch Linux 32 project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux 32 |url=https://archlinux32.org/ |access-date=2021-06-19 |website=Arch Linux 32 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126232521/https://archlinux32.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}|[[ARM architecture|ARM]] (unofficial){{Efn|ARM support is maintained by the [[Arch Linux ARM]] project.}}|[[Loongson]] (unofficial){{Efn|Loongson support is maintained by the Arch Linux Loongson project.<ref>{{cite web| language=zh| url=https://loongarchlinux.org| title=Loong Arch Linux| access-date=2024-01-14| website=Loong Arch Linux |url-status=live }}</ref>}}|[[PowerPC]] (unofficial){{Efn|PowerPC support is maintained by the ArchPOWER project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ArchPOWER |url=https://archlinuxpower.org/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Arch POWER |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111044306/https://archlinuxpower.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}|[[RISC-V]] (unofficial){{Efn|RISC-V support is maintained by the Arch Linux RISC-V project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux RISC-V |url=https://archriscv.felixc.at/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Arch Linux RISC-V |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524081947/https://archriscv.felixc.at/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}}}
| kernel type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel]])
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
| influenced = [[SteamOS]], [[Artix Linux]], [[EndeavourOS]], [[Manjaro]], [[Garuda Linux]] and [[List of Linux distributions#Arch Linux-based|others]]
| influenced by = [[CRUX]], [[BSD]]
| ui = [[Command-line interface]] ([[Zsh]] as the default shell in [[Live CD]] or [[Live USB]] and [[Bash (Unix shell)|Bash]] as the default shell after installation)
| license = [[Free software]] ([[GNU GPL]] and other licenses)<ref>* {{Cite web|url=https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/#_copyright|title=Copyright|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Pacman Home Page|quote=Pacman is [...] and is licensed through the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.|archive-date=26 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226230942/https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/#_copyright|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://git.archlinux.org/arch-install-scripts.git/tree/COPYING|title=COPYING|website=arch-install-scripts repository|access-date=30 July 2020|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429043806/https://git.archlinux.org/arch-install-scripts.git/tree/COPYING|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://git.archlinux.org/mkinitcpio.git/about/|title=About mkinitcpio|access-date=2020-07-30|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428175638/https://git.archlinux.org/mkinitcpio.git/about/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| website = {{official URL}}
}}

'''Arch Linux''' ({{IPAc-en|ɑːr|tʃ}})<ref name="pronunciation-of-archlinux">{{cite web |url=https://osdir.com/ml/linux.arch.general/2005-08/msg00253.html |title={{sic|Pronnou|nciation|nolink=y}} of our beloved distribution's name |author=Aaron Griffin |publisher=Osdir.com |date=24 August 2005 |access-date=19 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212212342/https://osdir.com/ml/linux.arch.general/2005-08/msg00253.html |archive-date=12 February 2012 |url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch terminology - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_terminology#Arch_Linux |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221003173315/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_terminology%23Arch_Linux |archive-date=2022-10-03 |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Arch Linux Wiki |quote=Officially, the 'Arch' in "Arch Linux" is pronounced {{IPAc-en|ɑːr|tʃ}} as in an "archer"/bowman, or "arch-nemesis", and not as in "ark" or "archangel".}}</ref>{{efn|name=arch|Sometimes referred to as just '''Arch'''''{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}}} is an [[Open-source software|open source]], [[rolling release]] [[Linux distribution]]. Arch Linux is kept up-to-date by regularly updating the individual pieces of software that it comprises.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lwn.net/Articles/378030/ |title=Rolling with Arch Linux |author=Ivan Jelic |website=LWN.net |date=10 March 2010 |access-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020144209/https://lwn.net/Articles/378030/ |archive-date=20 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Arch Linux is intentionally minimal, and is meant to be configured by the user during installation so they may add only what they require.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arch Linux Wiki homepage |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_Linux |website=wiki.archlinux.org |access-date=6 July 2022 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426210736/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_Linux |url-status=live }}</ref>

Arch Linux provides monthly "snapshots" which are used as [[Optical disc image|installation media]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installation guide - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide#Acquire_an_installation_image |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux - Downloads |url=https://archlinux.org/download/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=archlinux.org}}</ref>

[[#Pacman|Pacman]], a [[package manager]] written specifically for Arch Linux, is used to install, remove and update software packages.<ref name=pacman>{{Cite web|url=https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/|title=Pacman Home Page|website=www.archlinux.org|access-date=2019-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226230942/https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/|archive-date=26 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the [[Arch User Repository]] (AUR), which is the community-driven repository for Arch Linux provides packages not included in the official repositories and alternative versions of packages; AUR packages can be downloaded and built manually, or installed through an AUR 'helper'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch User Repository - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_User_Repository |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AUR helpers - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/AUR_helpers |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref>

Arch Linux has comprehensive documentation in the form of a community-run [[wiki]] known as the ArchWiki.<ref name="distrowatch_review">{{cite web |url=https://www.distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20151221#arch |title=Arch Linux - Feature Story |access-date=17 January 2016 |date=21 December 2015 |last=Smith |first=Jesse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912151725/https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20151221#arch |archive-date=12 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ostatic.com/blog/debian-project-lead-snappy-and-mir-bad-ideas |title=Debian Project Lead: Snappy and Mir Bad Ideas |date=17 July 2015 |publisher=OStatic |first=Susan |last=Linton |access-date=4 February 2017 |quote=One of the first questions wondered if McGovern was jealous of anything from any other distro. To that he answered Arch's wiki calling it "an absolutely amazing resource" that he himself uses. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204171751/https://ostatic.com/blog/debian-project-lead-snappy-and-mir-bad-ideas |archive-date=4 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/arch-way|title=The Arch Way {{!}} Linux Journal|website=www.linuxjournal.com|access-date=2019-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030234557/https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/arch-way|archive-date=30 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>