Basic Arch Linux commands

Posted: April 27th, 2010 | Keywords: ,

After having been in Ubuntu for so long, it was a slight surprise to me that installing Arch Linux would require me to learn a different way to install programs. I mean, it shouldn’t have been a real surprise, they are different systems, but anyway…

So in Debian I had the easy to use apt-get install [program name] and after a brief poking about on the internets, I found the basic package management commands for the Arch system. The program that Arch uses for package management is pacman. Who would have guessed… Here’s some of the more important commands:

  • pacman --sync --refresh or pacman -Sy refreshes the local repository list by downloading the full list(s)
  • pacman --sync --search [name] or pacman --Ss [name] looks for the package of [name] in the local repository and display any that match
  • pacman --sync --info [name] or pacman -Si [name] shows information about the program [name] by looking in the local repository
  • pacman --query --info [name] or pacman -Qi [name] will display information about program [name] if it is installed
  • pacman --sync [name] or pacman -S [name] downloads and installs the program [name] and all dependencies required
  • pacman --query or pacman -Q lists the packages installed on the computer. Adding a programs name at the end, e.g., pacman -Q [name] will show the program [name] if it is installed
  • pacman --query --list [name] or pacman -Ql lists the files contained in the [name] package
  • pacman --query --owns /path/to/file or pacman -Qo /path/to/file displays the name and version of the package which contains the file referenced

    • The list of repositories that Arch will check when you update/refresh is located in /etc/pacman.d somewhere.

    Alright, that’s a simple intro. I’ll play around in Arch for a while to see if I like it, but the experience so far has been fun.

    Update: Try these ones here as well:

  • pacman -Syu Installs all updates, which does take a while but is a good idea

    • Here’s how to install XFCE, the reasonably lightweight window manager: pacman -S xfce4 but you should have a look at this list of packages (xfce requires xorg):
    gtk-xfce-engine – The Xfce-GTK graphics engine
    libxfce4mcs – Settings management support for Xfce.
    libxfce4util – Non-GUI functions for Xfce
    libxfcegui4 – GTK widgets for Xfce
    orage – Xfce Calendar
    thunar – File manager
    xfce-mcs-manager – Settings manager.
    xfce-mcs-plugins – Plugins for settings manager
    xfce-utils – startxfce4 script, run dialog, etc.
    xfce4-appfinder – Application finder
    xfce4-icon-theme – Icon theme
    xfce4-iconbox – Simple application management, similar to taskbar.
    xfce4-mixer – Volume control plugin for the panel
    xfce4-panel – Xfce Panel
    xfce4-session – Session management
    xfce4-systray – System tray plugin for the panel
    xfce4-toys – Small toys for Xfce
    xfce4-trigger-launcher – Trigger launcher panel plugin
    xfdesktop – Allows desktop wallpaper, icons, and menus
    xfprint – The Xfce Print package
    xfwm4 – Xfce Window Manager
    xfwm4-themes – Themes for Xfce Window Manager

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