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how easy is it to install arch? (no anarchy/archinstall)

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[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 24 points 4 months 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.

[–] bitfucker@programming.dev 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months 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.

[–] bismuthbob@sopuli.xyz 9 points 4 months ago

Easy if you go step by step and don't accidentally skip anything. Archinstall will get you to the same result with lower risk of failure, in a tenth of the amount of time spent. And unless you install operating systems for a living, it doesn't matter how you get there. Source: Installed Arch on about a dozen different devices, twice without Archinstall.

If you're looking to learn something, do Linux from Scratch instead. The process is way more granular, way more documented, and way more educational than parroting the steps of installing Arch from the wiki.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 8 points 4 months ago

Practice in a VM and see for yourself! I did that, set everything up, and ultimately decided it was more system admin detail than I wanted to take on. But as far as ease goes, it's not especially hard, there's just not much in the way of hand-holding or preset configs, and you'll likely find there's a lot of preinstalled drivers and things you take for granted.

[–] collagenial@lemmy.max-p.me 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months 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.

[–] user@lemmy.one 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)
[–] EverythingIsALot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)
[–] pukeko@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

Endeavour is an Arch flavor that has a bunch of ease of use features, like a simple(r) installer.

[–] Petter1@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

Even tho i love EndeavourOS to install my Arch, OP asked without archinstall etc. So I assume it includes EndeavourOS.

[–] thingsiplay 6 points 4 months ago
[–] GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml 5 points 4 months ago

archinstall is easy. The hard part about arch is maintaining it and keeping up to date with linux innovation. As long as you keep reading forum posts and news about linux and browse the arch wiki, there's nothing wrong with it. If you do not ever read about advances on linux, then don't use arch.

[–] Max_P@lemmy.max-p.me 5 points 4 months 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.

[–] secret300@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Just follow the wiki and you'll be fine. I did it when I was in highschool. My friend showed me Ubuntu and I used it for about a month then jumped straight to arch

well damn, im currently in highschool, so it'll probably be fine.

[–] 0x2d@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

i can do it on about 15 minutes without the wiki for a fairly basic install

and then about 30 minutes to set up sway how i want, install common software i like, etc

but for a more complex setup it will take longer and i will need to check the wiki

[–] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 1 points 4 months ago

I can do it with my eyes closed. And using the number shortcuts to navigate through the menus.

[–] bloodfart@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 months 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.

[–] RandomLegend@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 months ago
[–] 737@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 months ago

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

[–] krolden@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months 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.

[–] je_skirata@lemmy.today 3 points 4 months ago

It's easy if you can follow directions, hard if you don't have directions, impossible if you don't have directions and don't know what you're doing; archinstall is effortless.

[–] laurelraven@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A lot easier than Gentoo

Now I'm kind of wanting to go mess with Gentoo again...

[–] kylian0087@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Honesty I found gentoo more easy to install then arch. Mainly because the Gentoo handbook is soo good and is in laid out in a good order. Compare that to the arch wiki that has a ton of sub pages and redirects. Which is just a load harder to follow.

PS. This is before their was a guided installer for arch.

[–] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 2 points 4 months ago

It's better than it used to be. It might still require some basic cli skills. Especially formatting disks and mount points. And file system types. Etc.

I know manjaro makes it even easier.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 2 points 4 months ago

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

[–] Evil_incarnate@lemm.ee 2 points 4 months ago

If you can put together Lego with the instructions or IKEA furniture, you'll be fine. It took me three tries, and I learnt stuff from each mistake, so the worst that can happen is you learn.

[–] neidu2@feddit.nl 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months 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

[–] Andrzej@lemmy.myserv.one 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

It's not rocket science. You might need a wired connection to begin with though

[–] 0x2d@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

you can use iwctl

example:

list interfaces (usually wlan0)

$ ip link

enter iwctl:

$ iwctl

rescan:

$ station [interface] scan

connect:

$ station [interface] connect [ssid]

list networks:

$ station [interface] get-networks

exit:

$ exit

[–] Andrzej@lemmy.myserv.one 1 points 4 months ago

Yes, but what if you need to download additional drivers for your wireless card

[–] theshatterstone54@feddit.uk 1 points 4 months ago

Not really. This 1 minute video is all you need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zqITuprlL8

[–] uis@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Not as easy as Gentoo based on what I heard. But installing Gentoo takes quite some time.

[–] xycu@programming.dev 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Gentoo has binary packages now, so install can be quite fast.

[–] uis@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

True. It also had binary packages for huge packages like firefox and libreoffice for a very long time.

[–] cy_narrator@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 4 months ago

Cant do if you never try

[–] LadyMeow@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 months ago

Its easy, follow the steps in the wiki and you'll be fine.