After installed Arch Linux 10 key common tasks

Table of Contents

Setting Up Arch Linux (Keep update)
#

Once you have Arch Linux installed, there are a few key tasks you should complete to optimize your experience. Let’s walk through them:

As a Arch linux user, installing package is a optinonal task, but it is the common task that you might want to do. Here’re some common tasks that you might want to do after installing Arch Linux :)

1. Activate Multilib Repositories
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Enhance your Arch Linux system’s versatility by enabling the multilib repositories, which provide support for running both 32-bit and 64-bit applications. Follow these steps to activate multilib repositories:

Open your terminal application.
Type the following command and press Enter to open the pacman.conf file in the vim text editor:
```
sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
```
In the text editor, navigate to the [multilib] section. It should look similar to this:
```
[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
```
Remove the # character at the beginning of the [multilib] line to uncomment it.
Save the changes you made by pressing Ctrl + O, then press Enter. Exit the text editor by pressing Ctrl + X.
To update the package database and synchronize the multilib repositories for the first time, execute the following command:

sudo pacman -Sy

By completing these steps, you’ve successfully activated the multilib repositories on your Arch Linux system. This enables you to run a wider range of applications and ensures better compatibility.

2. Optimize Package Mirrors with Reflector
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Using the original mirrorlist is not the best approach. Since this is not a file location close to your location, however using Reflector you can download these packages directly using the location of the country you want. Here is step:

Run the following command to install reflector:

sudo pacman -S reflector

getting the lastest 10 mirrors based on your country.

sudo reflector --verbose --country <your_country> -l 10 --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist --protocol https

--protocol https: Specifies to use HTTPS protocol for fetching mirror information.
--country <your_country_code>: Replace <your_country_code> with the code of your country (e.g., us for the United States, ca for Canada).
--verbose: Enables verbose output to see the log of the process.
-l 10: Retrieves the latest 10 mirrors based on specified criteria.
--sort rate: Sorts the mirrors by download rate (speed).
--save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist: Saves the optimized mirrorlist to the specified path.

sudo pacman -Sy

By running this command, you’ll efficiently optimize your mirrorlist, ensuring faster and more reliable package downloads and update the package database and synchronize the mirrorlist for the first time.

3. Enhance Visual Experience
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Elevate your Arch Linux environment with captivating visual enhancements. Follow these simple steps to breathe life into your interface:

3.2 Enable “Candy” Animation with `ILoveCandy`
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Enhance your download progress visualization with the playful “Candy” animation, reminiscent of a snake eating your progress bar. Follow these steps to enable it:

Open your terminal and type the following command, then press Enter:
```
sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
```
Inside the text editor, navigate to the [options] section.
Uncomment this flag to enable the “Candy” Animation:
```
ILoveCandy
```
Save the file by pressing Ctrl + S, then exit the text editor by pressing Ctrl + X.
Your process bar will now display the engaging “Candy” animation!

3.3 Infuse Vibrancy with “Color”
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Enhance the clarity of your verbose information by enabling colorful output with the “Color” setting. Say goodbye to plain black and white text:

Open your terminal application.
Type the following command and press Enter:
```
sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
```
In the text editor, locate the [options] section.
Uncomment this flag to enable colorful output:
```
Color
```
Save the file by pressing Ctrl + S, then exit the text editor by pressing Ctrl + X.

3.4 Clearer Verbose Information with “VerbosePkgLists”
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Make your package information crystal clear by enabling “VerbosePkgLists.” This option separates each package onto its own line, displaying both the old and new versions distinctly:

Open your terminal and type the following command, then press Enter:
```
sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
```
Inside the text editor, locate the [options] section.
Uncomment this flag to enable VerbosePkgLists output:
```
VerbosePkgLists
```
Save the file by pressing Ctrl + S, then exit the text editor by pressing Ctrl + X.

4. Multi-threaded Package Downloads with `ParallelDownload`
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Optimize your package downloads by utilizing multiple threads with ParallelDownload. Instead of downloading one file at a time, you can specify the number of concurrent downloads to speed up the process:

Open your terminal and type the following command, then press Enter:
```
sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
```
Inside the text editor, locate the [options] section.
Add the following line to enable ParallelDownload with, for example, 5 concurrent downloads:
```
ParallelDownload 5
```
Save the file by pressing Ctrl + S, then exit the text editor by pressing Ctrl + X.

Now you can enjoy faster downloads with the ability to retrieve multiple files simultaneously!

5. Install Game Drivers (AMDGPU Users)
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For those using AMDGPU, elevate your gaming potential. Execute:

sudo pacman -Sy
sudo pacman -S lib32-mesa mesa \
lib32-vulkan-radeon vulkan-radeon \
amdvlk \
xf86-video-amdgpu

6. Gnome Users: Enhance Browsing Experience
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For Gnome users, elevate your browsing capabilities with the gnome-browser-connector. Install it using:

sudo pacman -S gnome-browser-connector

Once installed, you’ll be able to effortlessly install extensions from https://extensions.gnome.org/.

By completing these tasks, you’ll optimize your Arch Linux environment, enriching your experience and unleashing its full potential. Enjoy your enhanced system!

7. Customize Your GNOME Environment
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Arch Linux offers a default GNOME environment that’s visually appealing, but you still can customize it to reflect your unique style and preferences.

8: Install Yay AUR Helper
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Simplifying software management on Arch Linux is the yay package manager, designed to streamline the acquisition and organization of software from the Arch User Repository (AUR)—a vibrant hub of community-contributed packages. Depending on your preference for customization and speed.

Install Git and Essential Development Tools:

Start by laying a solid foundation with essential development tools from the base and base-devel package groups. If these are not present, you can install them with the command:
```
sudo pacman -S git base base-devel
```
Installing yay for Customization:

If you’re inclined towards customization and don’t mind investing a bit more time, consider building yay from source. Begin by cloning the yay repository from the Arch User Repository (AUR) using:
```
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
```
Navigate to the cloned yay folder:
```
cd yay
```
Build and install yay with the following commands:
```
makepkg -si
```
Respond to prompts and grant necessary permissions during installation.
Start Using yay:
```
yay -S <package-name>
```

9. Install Your Daily Software
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With your Arch Linux system set up and customized, it’s time to install some essential software that you use on a daily basis. Install the Firefox web browser and VLC media player using the yay AUR helper.

Install Firefox
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To install Firefox, use the following command:

sudo pacman -S firefox

Install VLC
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To install VLC media player, use the following command:

sudo pacman -S vlc

With Firefox and VLC installed, you now have access to a web browser and media player, allowing you to browse the web and enjoy multimedia content on your Arch Linux system.

10. Install Firewall (UFW)
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When it comes to securing your system, a firewall plays a crucial role in controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic. While Arch Linux doesn’t come with a pre-installed firewall, you can easily set up the Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW) to manage network access.

Install UFW
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open a terminal and enter the following command:

sudo pacman -S ufw

Enable UFW
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After installing UFW, enable it with the following command:

sudo ufw enable

Once UFW is enabled, you can start managing your firewall rules to enhance the security of your Arch Linux system. Don’t forget to configure UFW rules to allow necessary network services while blocking unauthorized access.

Conclusion
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By following these steps, you’ve covered some of the most essential tasks to set up and optimize your Arch Linux system for daily use. Whether you’re browsing the web, enjoying multimedia, or ensuring network security, you’re well-equipped to make the most out of your Arch Linux experience.