View source for Arch Linux

{{Short description|Rolling release Linux distribution}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Arch Linux
| logo = {{Dark mode switch|[[File:Arch Linux logo with light text.svg|300px]]|[[File:Archlinux-logo-standard-version.svg|300px]]|logo}}
| 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 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 = [[x86-64]]<br>{{Collapsible list|title=Unofficial:|[[P6 (microarchitecture)|i686]]{{Efn|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> Formerly official until November 2017.<ref name="i686-unsupported" />}}|[[ARM architecture|ARM]] ([[ARM architecture family#VFP|armhf]] and [[AArch64]]){{Efn|Maintained by the [[Arch Linux ARM]] project.}}|[[Loongson#LoongArch|LoongArch]]{{Efn|Maintained by the Loong Arch Linux project.<ref>{{cite web| language=zh| url=https://loongarchlinux.org| title=Loong Arch Linux| access-date=2024-01-14| website=Loong Arch Linux}}</ref>}}|[[PowerPC]]{{Efn|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]]{{Efn|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]], [[cachyOS]], [[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> The newest snapshot as of December 8, 2025, is 2025.12.01, featuring Linux kernel 6.17.9.

[[#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> Also, the [[Arch User Repository]] (AUR), which is the community-driven [[software 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|website=Linux Journal|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>

== History ==
Inspired by [[CRUX]], another minimalist distribution, Judd Vinet began 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 |first=Ladislav |last=Bodnar |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=30 October 2019}}</ref>

Originally only for [[IA-32]] ([[32-bit computing|32-bit]] [[x86]]) [[central processing unit|CPUs]], the first [[x86-64]] installation standard [[ISO 9660|ISO]] image was released in April 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/official-arch64-install-cd-available/ |date=12 April 2006 |first=Jason |last=Chu |title=Official Arch64 install cd available |website=Arch Linux |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 began 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 |website=archive.archlinux.org |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>{{Better source needed|date=September 2025}}

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 |first=Bartłomiej |last=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 |first=Bartłomiej |last=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=22 April 2023 |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 |first=Aaron |last=Griffin |date=24 February 2020 |title=The Future of the Arch Linux Project Leader |url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/the-future-of-the-arch-linux-project-leader/ |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=Arch Linux |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 |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/DeveloperWiki:Project_Leader |access-date=24 June 2020 |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 |date=2 March 2021 |first=Michael |last=Larabel |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=21 November 2021 |website=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 |first=Allan |last=McRae |title=Provide a x86_64_v3 microarchitecture level port |url=https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/rfcs/-/merge_requests/2 |access-date=21 November 2021 |website=gitlab.archlinux.org |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 |date=1 April 2021 |first=Giancarlo |last=Razzolini |title=Installation medium with installer |url=https://archlinux.org/news/installation-medium-with-installer/ |access-date=1 February 2022 |website=Arch Linux |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 |first=Allan |last=McRae |title=Update News for pacman-6.0.1 release |url=https://gitlab.archlinux.org/pacman/pacman/-/commit/d5e2c0a5512413c8a37437e4b5fe9350121a5963 |access-date=3 March 2022 |website=gitlab.archlinux.org |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 |date=2 February 2022 |first=Morten |last=Linderud |title=Debug packages and debuginfod |url=https://archlinux.org/news/debug-packages-and-debuginfod/ |access-date=31 March 2022 |website=Arch Linux |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 mailing list |access-date=30 September 2024 |last=Polyak |first=Levente |date=27 September 2024 |title=Arch Linux and Valve Collaboration |url=https://lists.archlinux.org/archives/list/arch-dev-public@lists.archlinux.org/thread/RIZSKIBDSLY4S5J2E2STNP5DH4XZGJMR/ |mailing-list=arch-dev-public |archive-date=29 September 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>

On 14 August 2025, the Arch User Repository, the Arch Linux Forums and the Arch Linux website were hit by a [[distributed denial-of-service]] attack.<ref> {{cite mailing list |access-date=23 August 2025 |language=en |last=Rankin |first=David C |date=14 August 2025 |title=AUR web site down? Can't reach aur.archlinux.org? |url=https://lists.archlinux.org/archives/list/arch-general@lists.archlinux.org/thread/HEYIMRDNZD2F5UYCH5VAZLBBRJNWFSO5/ |mailing-list=arch-general}}</ref> As a result of the attack web services became temporarily unavailable and downloads from the AUR were severely slowed down or impossible.<ref> {{cite web |last=Heusel |first=Christian |date=21 August 2025 |title=Recent service outages |url=https://archlinux.org/news/recent-services-outages/ |website=Arch Linux |access-date=2 September 2025}} </ref><ref> {{cite mailing list |last=Spyropoulos |first=Leonidas |date=16 August 2025 |title=Arch Linux services unavailable |url=https://lists.archlinux.org/archives/list/arch-general@lists.archlinux.org/thread/EU4NXRX6DDJAACOWIRZNU4S5KVXEUI72/ |mailing-list=arch-general |access-date=2 September 2025}} </ref><ref> {{cite web |last=Arghire |first=Ionut |date=25 August 2025 |title=Arch Linux Project Responding to Week-Long DDoS Attack |url=https://www.securityweek.com/arch-linux-project-responding-to-week-long-ddos-attack/ |publisher=Security Week |access-date=2 September 2025}} </ref> 

=== Repository security ===
Until Pacman version 4.0.0,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://git.archlinux.org/pacman.git/tree/NEWS?id=d3d3b861ac2c4ce63c306e00395945bfa3c1b6c6 |title=index : pacman.git |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=deviated}}</ref> Arch Linux's package manager lacked support for signed packages.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mikael |date=1 September 2026 |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 |website=Allan McRae |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 news |last1=Bisson |first1=Gaetan |date=4 June 2012 |url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/having-pacman-verify-packages/ |title=Having pacman verify packages |website=Arch Linux |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 |first=Pierre |last=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>

== Design and principles ==
[[File:Arch Linux bootup screenshot.png|thumb|Arch Linux booting]]
Arch is largely based on [[Package manager|binary packages]]. Packages target [[x86-64]] [[microprocessor]]s to assist performance on modern hardware. A [[ports collection|ports]]/[[ebuild]]-like system is also provided for automated source [[Compiler|compilation]], known as the Arch build system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3133030/5-reasons-to-opt-for-a-linux-rolling-distro-vs-a-standard-release.html|title=5 reasons to opt for a Linux rolling distro vs. a standard release|last1=Campbell|first1=Alex|last2=Hacker|first2=Tech|date=2 November 2016|website=PCWorld|language=en|access-date=12 May 2019|last3=PT|first3=PCWorld|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726084923/https://www.pcworld.com/article/3133030/5-reasons-to-opt-for-a-linux-rolling-distro-vs-a-standard-release.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Arch Linux focuses on simplicity of design, meaning that the main focus involves creating an environment that is straightforward and relatively easy for the user to understand directly, rather than providing polished point-and-click style management tools {{ndash}} the package manager, for example, does not have an official graphical front-end. This is largely achieved by encouraging the use of succinctly commented, clean configuration files that are arranged for quick access and editing.<ref name="TheArchWay">{{cite web |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/The_Arch_Way |title=The Arch Way |website=ArchWiki |date=9 October 2009 |access-date=18 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418034916/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/The_Arch_Way |archive-date=18 April 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> This has earned it a reputation as a distribution for "advanced users" who are willing to use the [[command-line interface]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/uk/best/best-linux-distros|title=Best Linux distros of 2020: for beginners and advanced users|last1=Williams|first1=rew|last2=April 2020|first2=Brian Turner 16|website=TechRadar|language=en|access-date=2020-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421233802/https://www.techradar.com/uk/best/best-linux-distros|archive-date=21 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Relying on complex tools to manage and build your system is going to hurt the end-users. &#91;...&#93; "If you try to hide the complexity of the system, you'll end up with a more complex system". Layers of abstraction that serve to hide internals are never a good thing. Instead, the internals should be designed in a way such that they need no hiding.|Aaron Griffin<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/43302|title=FS#43302 - [pacman] provide workaround for removing --asroot from makepkg|website=arch linux|access-date=2020-07-04|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704081751/https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/43302|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

=== Logo ===
The current Arch Linux logo was designed by Thayer Williams<ref>{{Cite web|last=Willard|first=Travis|title=Arch Linux - News: Logo Contest Results (and Winner!)|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/logo-contest-results-and-winner/|date=22 December 2007|access-date=2020-10-04|website=www.archlinux.org|archive-date=18 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318032817/https://archlinux.org/news/logo-contest-results-and-winner/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Thayer|date=2007|title=Arch Linux logo submission|url=https://pkgbuild.com/~jelle/logo-contest/thayer/1-archer.png|access-date=4 October 2020|website=pkgbuild.com|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217141517/https://pkgbuild.com/~jelle/logo-contest/thayer/1-archer.png|url-status=live}}</ref> in 2007 as part of a contest to replace the previous logo.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Willard|first=Travis|title=Arch Linux - News: Arch Linux Logo Competition|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/arch-linux-logo-competition/|date=24 October 2007|access-date=2020-10-04|website=www.archlinux.org|archive-date=18 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318032828/https://archlinux.org/news/arch-linux-logo-competition/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Installation ==
[[File:Pacstrap screenshot.png|thumb|Screenshot of pacstrap during installation]]
The Arch Linux website supplies [[ISO image]]s that may be burned to a [[Live CD|CD]] or [[Live USB|USB]] drive. Installation can be accomplished manually by following the instructions on the Arch Wiki, or automatically through the use of the included "archinstall" script.<ref>{{Cite web |title=archinstall - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Archinstall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413015920/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Archinstall |archive-date=13 April 2021 |access-date=2021-04-12 |website=wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nestor |first=Marius |date=2021-04-11 |title=Latest Arch Linux ISO Release Comes with the ArchInstall CLI Guided Installer |url=https://9to5linux.com/latest-arch-linux-iso-release-comes-with-the-archinstall-cli-guided-installer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223152041/https://9to5linux.com/latest-arch-linux-iso-release-comes-with-the-archinstall-cli-guided-installer |archive-date=23 February 2022 |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=9to5Linux |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-06 |title=Arch Linux Now Comes With Easier to Use Guided Installer |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/arch-linux-now-comes-with-easier-to-use-guided-installer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223152041/https://www.makeuseof.com/arch-linux-now-comes-with-easier-to-use-guided-installer/ |archive-date=23 February 2022 |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=MUO |language=en-US}}</ref> Another command line utility that comes bundled with the installation media, "pacstrap" may be used to install the base system.<ref name="2012.07.15"/> Installation of additional packages which are not part of the base system can be done with either pacstrap, Pacman after booting (or [[chroot]]ing) into the new installation, or by specifying packages within the guided archinstall script.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman#Installing_packages|title=pacman - ArchWiki|website=wiki.archlinux.org|access-date=2019-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818132159/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman#Installing_packages|archive-date=18 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/General_recommendations|title=General recommendations - ArchWiki|website=wiki.archlinux.org|access-date=2019-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921125548/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/General_recommendations|archive-date=21 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=pacman/>
[[File:Archinstall, Minimal.png|thumb|An example configuration for the guided "archinstall" script.]]
[[File:Arch Linux Minimal Neofetch Output.png|thumb|[[Neofetch]] output of an Arch Linux installation]]
An alternative to using CD or USB images for installation is to use the static version of the package manager Pacman, from within another Linux-based operating system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Install_From_Existing_Linux |title=Install From Existing Linux |website=ArchWiki |date=21 November 2009 |access-date=5 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126020343/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Install_from_Existing_Linux |archive-date=26 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The user can [[mount (Unix)|mount]] their newly formatted [[Disk partitioning|drive partition]], and use pacstrap (or Pacman with the appropriate [[Command-line argument|command-line switch]]) to install base and additional packages with the mountpoint of the destination device as the [[Root directory|root]] for its operations. This method is useful when installing Arch Linux onto USB flash drives, or onto a temporarily mounted device which belongs to another system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Install Arch Linux on a removable medium - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Install_Arch_Linux_on_a_removable_medium#Installation |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=wiki.archlinux.org |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826170610/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Install_Arch_Linux_on_a_removable_medium#Installation |url-status=live}}</ref>

Depending on the selected installation type, further actions may need to be taken before the new system is ready for use. Notable configuration includes the installation of a [[Booting|bootloader]], configuring the system with a [[hostname]], network connection, language settings, and graphical user interface.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_guide|title=Installation guide - ArchWiki|website=wiki.archlinux.org|access-date=2019-09-13|archive-date=8 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908234254/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_guide|url-status=live}}</ref>

Arch Linux does not schedule releases for specific dates, nor does it provide traditional releases, but instead uses a [[rolling release]] model. Packages in the main repositories are updated often, with new updates being pushed far quicker when compared to [[long-term support]] (LTS) distributions. This style of package management allows systems to remain updated easily.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvd-guides.com/dvdguides/index.php/linux-reviews/212-arch-linux-review |title=Arch Linux Review |publisher=DVD-Guides.com |date=2007 |access-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914035109/https://www.dvd-guides.com/dvdguides/index.php/linux-reviews/212-arch-linux-review |archive-date=14 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Occasionally, manual interventions are needed for certain updates, with instructions posted on the news section of the Arch Linux website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/|title=News|website=archlinux.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815131414/https://www.archlinux.org/news/|archive-date=15 August 2018|access-date=15 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Package management==

===Pacman{{anchor|Pacman}}===
[[File:Example of pacman in Arch Linux screenshot.png|thumb|Example of pacman usage]]
All packages are managed through pacman, a [[package manager]] written specifically for Arch Linux.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.osnews.com/story/10047 |title=Arch Linux: Why It Rocks |author=Eugenia Loli |publisher=OSNews |date=21 March 2005 |access-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930134246/https://www.osnews.com/story/10047 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pacman handles package installation, upgrades, downgrades, removal and features automatic dependency resolution.<ref name="Pacman-Arch-Wiki">{{cite web |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman |title=pacman |website=ArchWiki |date=6 August 2017 |access-date=20 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818132159/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman |archive-date=18 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The packages for Arch Linux are obtained from the Arch Linux package tree and are compiled for the x86-64 architecture.

Pacman typically uses binary packages with a <code>.tar.zst</code> extension<ref>
{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Arch-Linux-Pacman-Zstd-Near|title=Arch Linux Nears Roll-Out Of Zstd Compressed Packages For Faster Pacman Installs - Phoronix|website=www.phoronix.com|access-date=2019-10-31|archive-date=18 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318032712/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Arch-Linux-Pacman-Zstd-Near|url-status=live}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite web|url=https://lists.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev-public/2019-March/029520.html|title=[arch-dev-public] RFC: (devtools) Changing default compression method to zstd|last=Broda|first=Robin|date=March 24, 2019|access-date=2019-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021234422/https://lists.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev-public/2019-March/029520.html|archive-date=21 October 2019|url-status=live}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite web|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/required-update-to-recent-libarchive/|title=Arch Linux - News: Required update to recent libarchive|website=www.archlinux.org|access-date=2019-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021234424/https://www.archlinux.org/news/required-update-to-recent-libarchive/|archive-date=21 October 2019|url-status=live}}
</ref> (for [[Zstandard|zstd]] compression), with <code>.pkg</code> placed before this to indicate that it is a Pacman package (giving <code>.pkg.tar.zst</code>);<ref name="Pacman-Arch-Wiki"/>
though other compression formats are also valid, such as <code>.pkg.tar.xz</code>.<ref>[https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/makepkg.conf.5.html#_options "Pacman: Configuration options for makepkg"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120134132/https://archlinux.org/pacman/makepkg.conf.5.html#_options |date=20 January 2021}}.
2021.</ref>

Packages can be installed via <code>pacman -S {{var|package name}}</code>, and <code>pacman -Syu</code> can be used to perform a full system upgrade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archlinux.org/pacman/pacman.8.html|title=Man pages of Pacman|website=archlinux.org|access-date=2022-07-06|archive-date=22 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622221154/https://archlinux.org/pacman/pacman.8.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As well as Arch Linux, Pacman is also used for installing packages under [[MSYS2]] (a fork of [[Cygwin]]) on Windows.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Package Management – MSYS2|url=https://www.msys2.org/docs/package-management/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=www.msys2.org|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101004322/https://www.msys2.org/docs/package-management/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Repositories===
The following official binary repositories exist:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Official_Repositories |title=Official Repositories |website=ArchWiki |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118092608/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Official_Repositories |archive-date=18 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*''core'', which contains all the packages needed to set up a base system. Packages in this repository include kernel packages and shell languages.
*''extra'', which holds packages unneeded for the base system, including desktop environments and programs.
*''multilib'', a centralized repository for x86-64 users to more readily support [[32-bit computing|32-bit]] applications in a [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] environment. Packages in this repository include [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. 
Also, ''testing'' repositories exist which include binary package candidates for other repositories. Currently, the following testing repositories exist:
*''core-testing'', with packages for ''core''.
*''extra-testing'', with packages for ''extra''.
*''multilib-testing'', with packages for ''multilib''.
The ''core-staging'' and ''extra-staging'' repositories are used for some rebuilds to avoid broken packages in ''testing''. The developers recommend not using these repositories for any reason, stating that any system updating from them will "unquestionably break."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official repositories - ArchWiki|url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Official_repositories#Staging_repositories|access-date=2022-02-01|website=wiki.archlinux.org|archive-date=11 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111044308/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Official_repositories#Staging_repositories|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are also two other repositories that include the newest version of certain desktop environments.
*''gnome-unstable'', which contains packages of a new version of the software from [[GNOME]] before being released into ''testing''.
*''kde-unstable'', which contains packages of a new version of [[KDE]] software before being released into ''testing.''
The ''unstable'' repository was dropped in July 2008 and most of the packages moved to other repositories.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archlinux.org/static/magazine/2008/newsletter-2008-Aug-04.html |title=Arch Linux Newsletter 08-04-2008 |website=Arch Linux |date=4 August 2008 |access-date=19 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603175852/https://www.archlinux.org/static/magazine/2008/newsletter-2008-Aug-04.html |archive-date=3 June 2013}}</ref> The ''community'' repository was merged with ''extra'' in May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larabel |first=Michael |date=2023-05-16 |title=Arch Linux Prepares For Repository Changes, Discontinuing SVN Access |url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Arch-Linux-Discontinues-SVN |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=[[Phoronix]] |archive-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524212743/https://www.phoronix.com/news/Arch-Linux-Discontinues-SVN |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=van der Waa |first=Jelle |date=2023-05-15 |title=Git migration announcement |url=https://archlinux.org/news/git-migration-announcement/ |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Arch Linux |archive-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524175827/https://archlinux.org/news/git-migration-announcement/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to the official repositories, there are a number of unofficial user repositories.

The most well-known unofficial repository is the [[#AUR|Arch User Repository]], or AUR, hosted on the Arch Linux site. The AUR does not host binary packages but instead a collection of build scripts known as [[#PKGBUILD|PKGBUILDs]]. PKGBUILD scripts are executed by the <code>makepkg</code> command, which downloads the necessary files from the software's repository and builds them using the Arch build system.

The Arch Linux repositories contain both [[Free and open-source software|libre]] and [[Proprietary software|nonfree]] software, and the default Arch Linux kernel contains [[Proprietary device driver|nonfree proprietary blobs]], hence the distribution is not endorsed by the GNU project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html#Arch |title=Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |publisher=[[GNU Project]] |access-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424061731/https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html#Arch |archive-date=24 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The linux-libre kernel can be installed from the AUR or by enabling [[Parabola GNU/Linux-libre|Parabola's]] repositories.

==={{Anchor|ABS|PKGBUILD}}Arch build system (ABS)===
The Arch build system (ABS) is a [[ports collection|ports]]-like source packaging system that compiles source tarballs into binary packages, which are installed via Pacman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Build_System |title=Arch Build System |website=ArchWiki |access-date=19 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117115225/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Build_System |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Arch build system provides a directory tree of [[shell script]]s, called ''PKGBUILDs'', that enable any and all official Arch packages to be customized and compiled. Rebuilding the entire system using modified [[CFLAGS|compiler flags]] is also supported by the Arch build system. The Arch build system <code>makepkg</code> tool can be used to create custom <code>pkg.tar.zst</code> packages from third-party sources. The resulting packages are also installable and trackable via Pacman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Makepkg |title=Makepkg |website=ArchWiki |access-date=15 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126193508/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Makepkg |archive-date=26 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Arch Linux - News: Now using Zstandard instead of xz for package compression|url=https://www.archlinux.org/news/now-using-zstandard-instead-of-xz-for-package-compression/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.archlinux.org|archive-date=18 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318032814/https://archlinux.org/news/now-using-zstandard-instead-of-xz-for-package-compression/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==={{Anchor|AUR}}Arch User Repository (AUR)===
In addition to the repositories, the Arch User Repository (AUR) provides user-made PKGBUILD scripts for packages not included within the main repositories. These PKGBUILD scripts simplify building from source by explicitly listing and checking for dependencies and configuring the install to match the Arch architecture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aur.archlinux.org/ |title=AUR (en) - Home |website=AUR |access-date=5 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103061025/https://aur.archlinux.org/ |archive-date=3 November 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Arch User Repository helper programs can further streamline the downloading of PKGBUILD scripts and associated building process. 

However, this comes at the cost of executing PKGBUILDs not validated by a trusted person; as a result, Arch developers have stated that the utilities for automatic finding, downloading and executing of PKGBUILDs will never be included in the official repositories.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hardware.no/artikler/aaron_griffin_english/49507/3 |title=Arch Linux: Popular KISS distro – Interview – Part II |author=Robin Heggelund Hansen |date=25 March 2008 |publisher=Hardware.no |access-date=19 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402152123/https://www.hardware.no/artikler/aaron_griffin_english/49507/3 |archive-date=2 April 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Instances of malware have been discovered in the past such as on 19 July 2025 when a modified Firefox build was actually a [[Remote access trojan|RAT]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux AUR Packages For Firefox & Other Browsers Removed For Containing Malware |url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/Arch-Linux-Malicious-AURs |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=www.phoronix.com |language=en}}</ref> thus AUR packages should be installed with great care and Arch Linux directs users to avoid AUR helpers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUR helpers - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/AUR_helpers |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref>

Users can create packages compatible with Pacman using the Arch build system and custom PKGBUILD scripts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.linode.com/using-linux/package-management#sph_using-the-arch-build-system-abs |title=Using the Arch Build System |publisher=library.linode.com |date=8 September 2011 |access-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927171153/https://library.linode.com/using-linux/package-management#sph_using-the-arch-build-system-abs |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> This functionality has helped support the Arch User Repository, which consists of user contributed packages to supplement the official repositories.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linuxdistroreview.com/arch-linux |title=Arch Linux |publisher=linuxdistroreview.com |author=Bo Milanovich |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221120510/https://www.linuxdistroreview.com/arch-linux |archive-date=21 February 2012}}</ref>

The Arch User Repository provides the community with packages that are not included in the main repositories. Reasons for exclusion from the main repositories include:
*Licensing issues: software that cannot be redistributed, but is free to use, can be included in the Arch User Repository since all that is hosted by the Arch Linux website is a shell script that downloads the actual software from elsewhere. Examples include proprietary [[freeware]] such as [[Google Earth]] and [[Spotify]].
*Modified official packages: the Arch User Repository also contains many variations on the official packaging as well as beta versions of software that is contained within the repositories as stable releases.
*Popularity of the software: rarely used programs have not been added to the official repositories (yet).
*Betas or "nightly" versions of software which are very new and thus unstable. Examples include the "firefox-nightly" package, which gives new daily builds of the [[Firefox]] web browser.

PKGBUILDs for any software can be contributed by ordinary users.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch User Repository - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_User_Repository |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=wiki.archlinux.org |quote=In the AUR, users are able to contribute their own package builds[.] |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714060913/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_User_Repository |url-status=live}}</ref> Any PKGBUILD that has 10 or more votes or more than 1% usage from [https://pkgstats.archlinux.de/packages pkgstats] can be promoted into the ''extra'' repository.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUR Trusted User guidelines - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/AUR_Trusted_User_guidelines#Rules_for_packages_entering_the_extra_repository |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=wiki.archlinux.org |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711123754/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/AUR_Trusted_User_guidelines#Rules_for_packages_entering_the_extra_repository |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Reproducible builds===
Arch Linux is working on making all official packages [[Reproducible builds|reproducible]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ArchWiki - Reproducible builds |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Reproducible_builds |access-date=26 April 2023 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423053930/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Reproducible_Builds |url-status=live}}</ref> This means that when a package is rebuilt in a different environment it should be bit-by-bit identical. This allows users and researchers to verify the integrity of the packages found in the official repository. The status of this effort can be monitored on the dedicated [https://reproducible.archlinux.org/ status page].

== Derivatives and other products ==
{{See also|List of Linux distributions#Arch Linux-based}}
{{anchor|Derivatives}}<!--previous title-->The Arch Linux wiki maintains its own list of Arch-based distributions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch-based distributions - ArchWiki |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch-based_distributions |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=wiki.archlinux.org |archive-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103165030/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch-based_distributions |url-status=live}}</ref>

There are several projects working on porting the Arch Linux ideas and tools to other kernels, including [[PacBSD]] (formerly ArchBSD) and [[Arch Hurd]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archhurd.org |title=Arch Hurd |publisher=Arch Hurd |access-date=25 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326001005/https://www.archhurd.org/ |archive-date=26 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> which are based on the [[FreeBSD]] and [[GNU Hurd]] kernels, respectively. There is also the [[Arch Linux ARM]] project, which aims to port Arch Linux to [[ARM architecture|ARM]]-based devices, including the [[Raspberry Pi]], as well as the Arch Linux 32 project, which continued support for systems with 32-bit only CPUs after the mainline Arch Linux project dropped support for the architecture in November 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archlinuxarm.org/ |title=Arch Linux ARM |publisher=Arch Linux ARM |access-date=25 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328021825/https://archlinuxarm.org/ |archive-date=28 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://archlinux32.org/ |title=Arch Linux 32 |publisher=Arch Linux 32 |access-date=22 October 2020 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126232521/https://archlinux32.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref>.

[[SteamOS]] 3.0, the version of SteamOS used in the [[Steam Deck]] by [[Valve Corporation|Valve]], is based on Arch Linux.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Duckett|first=Chris|title=Steam Deck is an AMD-powered handheld PC from Valve that runs KDE on Arch Linux|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/steam-deck-is-an-amd-powered-handheld-pc-from-valve-that-runs-kde-on-arch-linux/|access-date=2021-07-18|website=ZDNet|language=en|archive-date=16 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216094409/https://www.zdnet.com/article/steam-deck-is-an-amd-powered-handheld-pc-from-valve-that-runs-kde-on-arch-linux/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author1=Prasad|date=2021-07-15|title=Valve Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC that runs SteamOS|work=GSMArena|url=https://gsmarena.com/valve_steam_deck_is_a_handheld_gaming_pc_that_runs_steamos-news-50073.php|access-date=2021-07-19|quote=The Steam Deck runs on Valve's SteamOS 3.0. This is primarily based on Arch Linux and uses the compatibility layer Proton to run games designed for Windows|archive-date=18 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718194912/https://www.gsmarena.com/valve_steam_deck_is_a_handheld_gaming_pc_that_runs_steamos-news-50073.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

CachyOS is a Linux distribution based on Arch Linux that is being developed for [[gaming on Linux]], among other things.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CachyOS — Blazingly Fast OS based on Arch Linux |url=https://cachyos.org/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=cachyos.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Nathan |date=2025-11-19 |title=Screw it, I'm installing Linux |url=https://www.theverge.com/tech/823337/switching-linux-gaming-desktop-cachyos |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Reception ==
[[OSNews]] reviewed Arch Linux in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/2264/|title=Introduction to Arch Linux – OSnews|website=www.osnews.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512145539/https://www.osnews.com/story/2264/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> OSNews also has five later reviews about Arch Linux.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/4827/|title=Arch Linux: A Better Distribution – OSnews|website=www.osnews.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512145607/https://www.osnews.com/story/4827/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/5971/|title=Arch Linux: An End To My Distro Shuffle? – OSnews|website=www.osnews.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512145558/https://www.osnews.com/story/5971/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/9540/|title=A Week in the Life of an Arch Linux Newbie – OSnews|website=www.osnews.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512145538/https://www.osnews.com/story/9540/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/10047/|title=Arch Linux: Why It Rocks – OSnews|website=www.osnews.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512145545/https://www.osnews.com/story/10047/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/15075/|title=Watching the Evolution of Arch Linux – OSnews|website=www.osnews.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512145541/https://www.osnews.com/story/15075/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[LWN.net]] wrote a review about Arch Linux in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Bodnar |first1=Ladislav |url=https://lwn.net/Articles/121784/|title=Arch Linux for Power Users [LWN.net]|website=lwn.net|date=2 February 2005 |access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512145538/https://lwn.net/Articles/121784/|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> LWN.net also has two later reviews about Arch Linux.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jelic |first1=Ivan |url=https://lwn.net/Articles/378030/|title=Rolling with Arch Linux [LWN.net]|website=lwn.net|date=10 March 2010 |access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207060638/https://lwn.net/Articles/378030/|archive-date=7 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Corbet |first1=Jonathan |url=https://lwn.net/Articles/637341/|title=The grumpy editor's Arch Linux experience [LWN.net]|website=lwn.net|date=April 2015 |access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115104016/https://lwn.net/Articles/637341/|archive-date=15 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tux Machines reviewed Arch Linux in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |author1=srlinuxx |date=20 April 2007 |url=https://www.tuxmachines.org/node/15527 |title=Fallen Under the Spell of Arch Voodoo |work=Tux Machines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620181013/https://www.tuxmachines.org/node/15527 |archive-date=20 June 2018|access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref>

Chris Smart from DistroWatch Weekly wrote a review about Arch Linux in January 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Smart|first1=Chris|date=19 January 2009 |url=https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20090119#feature|title=Arch Linux in review|work=Distrowatch.com|issue=286|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180740/https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20090119#feature|archive-date=20 June 2018|access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> DistroWatch Weekly reviewed Arch Linux again in September 2009 and in December 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20090914#feature|title=A distro odyssey, part 2 - the Arch way|website=distrowatch.com|access-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180908/https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20090914#feature|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20151221#arch|title=Arch Linux|website=distrowatch.com|access-date=12 May 2019|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>

The [[Linux kernel]] developer and maintainer [[Greg Kroah-Hartman|Greg Kroah-Hartman (GKH)]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=blob;f=MAINTAINERS|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113061444/https://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=blob;f=MAINTAINERS|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-13|title=git.kernel.org - linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git/blob - MAINT…|date=2013-01-13|website=archive.is|access-date=2019-10-30}}</ref> has stated that he uses Arch Linux and that it "works really really well". He has also praised the [https://wiki.archlinux.org/ Arch Wiki], the distribution's [[rolling release]] model, and the feedback loop with the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDrRvrh16ws&t=1574s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/sDrRvrh16ws |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Let's Talk To Linux Kernel Developer Greg Kroah-Hartman - Open Source Summit, 2019|website=[[YouTube]] |date=2019-09-10|access-date=2019-09-17|quote=[Arch developers'] idea of a constantly rolling, forward-moving system is the way to go. It's neutral, it's community-based, it has everything I need. It works really really well [...] Their Wiki is amazing. The documentation -- it's like one of the best resources out there these days. If you look up any userspace program and how to configure it and use it. Actually, the systemd Arch Wiki pages are one of the most amazing resources out there. [...] One of the main policies of Arch, or philosophies, is you stay as close to the upstream as possible. And as a developer, I want that. They're really good in feedback to the community. Because I want that testing -- I want to make sure that things are fixed. And if it is broken, I learn about it quickly and I fix it and push the stuff out. So that's actually a really good feedback loop.}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In a 2023 DistroWatch poll, about half of the responders maintained that they were running either Arch (17%) or an Arch derivative (30%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD. |url=https://distrowatch.com/polls.php?poll=390 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=distrowatch.com |archive-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131211959/https://distrowatch.com/polls.php?poll=390 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2025, Arch also enjoys the third highest average rating of any Linux distribution on DistroWatch with a rating of 9.18, with only two higher rated distributions ([[Artix Linux]] and [[BigLinux]]) also being Arch derivatives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD. |url=https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=ranking&sort=average100 |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=distrowatch.com}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Comparison of Linux distributions]]
* [[List of Linux distributions]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Arch Linux}}
{{Wikidata property |1=P3454 |2=P4162 |3=P12873}}
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Linux}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.github.com/archlinux/ Arch Linux] on [[GitHub]]
* {{Libera.Chat|archlinux}} on [[Libera Chat]] ({{Libera.Chat|archlinuxarm}}, {{Libera.Chat|archlinux32}})

{{Linux distributions}}
{{Software in the Public Interest}}

[[Category:IA-32 Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Rolling release Linux distributions]]
[[Category:X86-64 Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Independent Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Pacman-based Linux distributions]]