The Arch Linux Experience
In my opinion, Arch Linux is not a good choice for people unfamiliar with GNU/Linux operating systems. They amount of decision-making involved in setting up even the basic bare-bones system would be most likely overwhelming for people conditioned to having an OS already installed when buying a computer. But if you have a computer you can work on installing Arch in a spirit of adventure, with no time pressure, and you want the opportunity to tinker and assemble an operating system according to your customized needs and preferences, then Arch may indeed be for you.
Here is an introduction to the Arch Philosophy, followed by essential Arch Linux links. Links to comments and experiences setting up and running Arch by SBLinux authors can be found in the Arch submenu in the main drop-down menu in the navigation panel at your left.
Excerpts from “The Arch Way”
The following four principles comprise what is commonly referred to as the Arch Way, or the Arch Philosophy, best summarized by the acronym KISS for Keep It Simple, Stupid.
* 1 Simple
* 2 Open
* 3 User-centric
* 4 Free
Arch Linux defines simplicity as a lightweight base structure without unnecessary additions, modifications, or complications, that allows an individual user to shape the system according to their own needs. In short; an elegant, minimalist approach.
Openness goes hand in hand with simplicity, and is also one of the guiding principles of Arch Linux development.
Arch Linux uses simple tools, that are selected or built with openness of the sources and their output in mind.
The open nature of Arch Linux also implies a fairly steep learning curve, but experienced Arch Linux users tend to find the other more closed systems much more difficult to control.
Whereas many GNU/Linux distributions attempt to be more “user-friendly,” Arch Linux has always been, and will always remain “user-centric”.
Arch Linux makes the user the center of the system by giving them full, and only full, control over the system.
Arch Linux users fully manage the system on their own. The system itself will offer little assistance, except for a simple set of maintenance tools that are designed to perfectly relay the user's commands to the system.
Another guiding principle of Arch Linux development is freedom of choice. The users are not only permitted to make all decisions concerning system configuration, but also get to choose what their system will be.
By keeping the system simple, Arch Linux provides the freedom to make any choice about the system.
As Judd Vinet, the founder of the Arch Linux project said: “It (Arch Linux) is what you make it.”
The complete document elaborates these four points much more thoroughly, and you are encouraged to right-click and open a new tab or window to view it in it's fulness:
Arch Linux Website Links
Happily, the Arch Linux website is designed very well, giving easy access to al essential areas from the menu bar on the front page. So the first link is all you really need. But I will include others in order to stress their usefulness. Once you know what you're looking for, you'll be able to find it without my help.
After your Core installation:
Thanks for these suggested links go to [in alphabetic order]: Adrian, Farcry, Ninian
I included a link to the Network Config page, but my own network was configured quite adequately during my Core system installation. Not everyone has a simple and common ethernet controller, however, so some of you may need to do more work.
Internet Explorer?