Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Arch Linux
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== History == Inspired by [[CRUX]], another minimalist distribution, Judd Vinet started the Arch Linux project in March 2002. The name was chosen because Vinet liked the word's meaning of "the principal," as in "arch-enemy".<ref name="pronunciation-of-archlinux" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=interview-arch|title=Interview with Judd Vinet|website=distrowatch.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908082016/https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=interview-arch|archive-date=8 September 2017|access-date=2019-10-30}}</ref> Originally only for [[32-bit x86]] CPUs, the first [[x86 64]] installation ISO was released in April 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/official-arch64-install-cd-available/|title=Arch Linux - News: Official Arch64 install cd available|website=www.archlinux.org|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141428/https://www.archlinux.org/news/official-arch64-install-cd-available/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Vinet led Arch Linux until 1 October 2007, when he stepped down due to lack of time, transferring control of the project to Aaron Griffin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=38024 |title=Arch Leadership |author=apeiro (Judd Vinet) |website=Arch Linux Forums |date=1 October 2007 |access-date=19 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809031930/https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=38024 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The migration to [[systemd]] as its [[init]] system started in August 2012,<ref>{{cite mailing list|url=https://lists.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev-public/2012-August/023389.html|title=Migration to systemd|date=14 August 2012|mailing-list=arch-dev-public|access-date=24 September 2020|last=Gaudreault|first=Stéphane|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020112140/https://lists.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev-public/2012-August/023389.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and it became the default on new installations in October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/systemd-is-now-the-default-on-new-installations/|title=systemd is now the default on new installations|last=Bächler|first=Thomas|date=13 October 2012|access-date=24 September 2020|archive-date=15 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015231822/https://www.archlinux.org/news/systemd-is-now-the-default-on-new-installations/|url-status=live}}</ref> It replaced the [[SysV-style init]] system, used since the distribution's inception.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.archlinux.org/iso/0.1/|title=Archlinux installer 0.1|access-date=24 September 2020|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021431/https://archive.archlinux.org/iso/0.1/|url-status=live}}</ref> The end of [[P6 (microarchitecture)|i686]] support was announced in January 2017, with the February 2017 ISO being the last one including i686<ref name="i686-deprecation">{{cite web |url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/phasing-out-i686-support/ |title=Phasing out i686 support |author=Bartłomiej Piotrowski |date=25 January 2017 |website=Arch Linux |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127233055/https://www.archlinux.org/news/phasing-out-i686-support/ |archive-date=27 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and making the architecture unsupported in November 2017.<ref name="i686-unsupported">{{cite web |url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/the-end-of-i686-support/ |title=The end of i686 support |author=Bartłomiej Piotrowski |date=8 November 2017 |website=Arch Linux |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108151619/https://www.archlinux.org/news/the-end-of-i686-support/ |archive-date=8 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then, the community derivative Arch Linux 32<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux 32 |url=https://archlinux32.org/ |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=archlinux32.org |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126232521/https://archlinux32.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> can be used for i686 hardware. On 24 February 2020, Aaron Griffin announced that due to his limited involvement with the project, he would, after a voting period, transfer control of the project to Levente Polyak.<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=2020-06-24|website=www.archlinux.org|archive-date=9 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509182715/https://www.archlinux.org/news/the-future-of-the-arch-linux-project-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref> This change also led to a new 2-year term period being added to the Project Leader position.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DeveloperWiki:Project Leader - ArchWiki|url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/DeveloperWiki:Project_Leader|access-date=2020-06-24|website=wiki.archlinux.org|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726075715/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/DeveloperWiki:Project_Leader|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, Arch Linux developers were thinking of porting Arch Linux packages to [[X86-64#Microarchitecture levels|x86_64-v3]], roughly correlating to the [[Haswell (microarchitecture)|Intel Haswell]] era of processors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arch Linux Developers Discuss Idea Of Providing An x86-64-v3 Port|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Arch-Linux-x86-64-v3-Port-RFC|access-date=2021-11-21|website=www.phoronix.com|language=en|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121092257/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Arch-Linux-x86-64-v3-Port-RFC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Provide a x86_64_v3 microarchitecture level port (!2) · Merge requests · Arch Linux / rfcs|url=https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/rfcs/-/merge_requests/2|access-date=2021-11-21|website=GitLab|date=2 March 2021 |language=en|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121092257/https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/rfcs/-/merge_requests/2|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2021, Arch Linux installation images began including a guided installation script by default.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arch Linux - News: Installation medium with installer|url=https://archlinux.org/news/installation-medium-with-installer/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=archlinux.org|archive-date=1 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401180737/https://archlinux.org/news/installation-medium-with-installer/|url-status=live}}</ref> In late 2021, the Arch Linux developers released Pacman 6.0, which enabled parallel downloads.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update NEWS for pacman-6.0.1 release (d5e2c0a5) · Commits · Pacman / Pacman |url=https://gitlab.archlinux.org/pacman/pacman/-/commit/d5e2c0a5512413c8a37437e4b5fe9350121a5963 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=GitLab |date=4 September 2021 |language=en |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303170429/https://gitlab.archlinux.org/pacman/pacman/-/commit/d5e2c0a5512413c8a37437e4b5fe9350121a5963 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2022, the Arch Linux developers began offering debug packages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux - News: Debug packages and debuginfod |url=https://archlinux.org/news/debug-packages-and-debuginfod/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=archlinux.org |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503113908/https://archlinux.org/news/debug-packages-and-debuginfod/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2024, [[Valve Corporation|Valve]] partnered with Arch Linux developers to support ongoing development efforts with the focus on build service infrastructure and secure signing enclave.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux and Valve Collaboration |url=https://lists.archlinux.org/archives/list/arch-dev-public@lists.archlinux.org/thread/RIZSKIBDSLY4S5J2E2STNP5DH4XZGJMR/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=lists.archlinux.org |archive-date=29 Sep 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929194140/https://lists.archlinux.org/archives/list/arch-dev-public@lists.archlinux.org/thread/RIZSKIBDSLY4S5J2E2STNP5DH4XZGJMR/ |url-status=live }}</ref> === Repository security === Until Pacman version 4.0.0,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://git.archlinux.org/pacman.git/tree/NEWS?id=d3d3b861ac2c4ce63c306e00395945bfa3c1b6c6|title=NEWS - pacman.git - The official pacman repository|website=git.archlinux.org|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124115/https://git.archlinux.org/pacman.git/tree/NEWS?id=d3d3b861ac2c4ce63c306e00395945bfa3c1b6c6|url-status=live}}</ref> Arch Linux's package manager lacked support for signed packages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/5331|title=FS#5331 : Signed packages|website=bugs.archlinux.org|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728064526/https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/5331|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Packages and metadata were not verified for authenticity by Pacman during the download-install process. Without package authentication checking, tampered-with or malicious repository mirrors could compromise the integrity of a system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.arizona.edu/stork/packagemanagersecurity/attacks-on-package-managers.html |title=Attacks on Package Managers |publisher=cs.arizona.edu |date=10 July 2008 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905075018/https://www.cs.arizona.edu/stork/packagemanagersecurity/attacks-on-package-managers.html |archive-date=5 September 2010 |url-status = dead}}</ref> Pacman 4 allowed verification of the package database and packages, but it was disabled by default. In November 2011, package signing became mandatory for new package builds, and as of March 2012, every official package is signed.<ref name="signed">{{cite web |url=https://allanmcrae.com/2011/12/pacman-package-signing-4-arch-linux/ |title=Pacman Package Signing – 4: Arch Linux |last=McRae |first=Allan |date=17 December 2011 |access-date=29 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220041620/https://allanmcrae.com/2011/12/pacman-package-signing-4-arch-linux/ |archive-date=20 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2012, package signing verification became official and is now enabled by default in the installation process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/having-pacman-verify-packages/ |title=Having pacman verify packages |author=Gaetan Bisson |website=Arch Linux |date=4 June 2012 |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144149/https://www.archlinux.org/news/having-pacman-verify-packages/ |archive-date=6 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="2012.07.15">{{cite web |url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/install-media-20120715-released/ |title=Install media 2012.07.15 released |author=Pierre Schmitz |website=Arch Linux |access-date=13 August 2012 |date=22 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212141631/https://www.archlinux.org/news/install-media-20120715-released/ |archive-date=12 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)