Arch Linux is a lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.
The default installation is a minimal base system, configured by the user to only add what is purposely required.
Why use Arch?
If you are a DIY enthusiast, you’ll love Arch Linux.
I have always found Arch Linux as a DIY (Do It Yourself) operating system. From installing to managing, Arch Linux lets you handle everything. You decide which desktop environment to use, which components and services to install. This granular control gives you a minimal operating system to build upon with elements of your choice.
Better understanding of How Linux works.
With Arch Linux, you get a better understanding of how Linux works
EfI System Partition while installing, Arch Linux by creating partition and making filesystem via command line.
If you ever tried to install Arch Linux, you know the complexity that comes with it.
But that complexity also means that you’ll be forced to learn things that you probably never bother to in other distributions.
If you start to get overwhelmed, Arch Wiki is there for you. It is the most extensive and awesome community-managed documentation on the internet. Just browsing through Arch Wiki will teach you plenty of things.
Latest kernel and software with rolling release model
Arch Linux is a rolling release distribution. That means new kernel and application versions are rolled out to you as soon as they are released.
While most other Linux distributions serve you old Linux kernel versions, Arch is quick to provide you the latest kernel.
The same goes for software. If a new version of software in the Arch repositories is released, Arch users get the new versions before other users most of the time.
Everything is fresh and cutting edge in the rolling release model. You don’t have to upgrade operating system from one version to another. Just use the pacman command and you always have the latest version.
Arch User Repository aka AUR
The Arch User Repository is a community-driven repository for Linux packages developed by users. It holds a massive library of installation packages related to Arch Linux.
The most commendable part is that several packages are included in the AUR before they’re added to the official Arch repositories. This gives you access to a whole new world of software that would otherwise take time to lead you to your distro conventionally.
AUR contains the package description PKGBUILDs, which allows a user to build a package directly from the source using makepkg and install it using the package manager.
Feeling of installing arch linux
Remember the feeling when you first installed any Linux distribution even if it was installing Linux Mint? That gave you a sense of achievement. You successfully installed Linux!
If you have been using Ubuntu or Fedora or other distribution for some time and you start to get comfortable (or bored), try installing Arch Linux.
For a moderately experienced Linux user, successfully installing Arch Linux itself gives a sense of accomplishment.
This sense of successfully completing a challenge is also one of the reasons why people use Arch Linux.
No corporate involvement! Arch is created, supported and owned by community.
I would like your views on why Arch Linux is so popular and has cult status among Linux users?
