GNU Linux how to install arch (with btrfs and without frustration) + minimalistic latest MATE Desktop

28.Jul.2025

Want maximum software minimalism? 😀 Debian or Arch might be the OS.

but unlike Debian Arch is no easy straight forward install, there are lengthy guides or frustrating outdated (?) youtube howtos

unlike Debian Arch tries to push the very latest versions of programs, so this means very latest security updates but this also means betatesting X-D

so here is that howto that worked in 2025-07:

download that thing iso https://archlinux.org/download/#download-mirrors
right after booting from arch iso (it’s kind of a live CD per default)

pacman -Sy archinstall; # install setup tool (on DE keyboard using US layout "-" is on "ß" key)
archinstall; # run it, it's ascii graphical and okay to use :D thanks
# also DE keyboard using US layout: Y and Z are mixed up
# make sure to also configure networking, or there will be no networking X-D


keyboard layout

partitioning

use space to select harddisk

ext4 is default btrfs is more advanced :D

when btrfs was selected

it comes with compression per default :D

overview before format


DONT FORGET NETWORK CONFIG OR THERE WILL BE NO NETWORK X-D

NON GUI SYSTEMS GO WITH "COPY"



EITHER REMOVE THE CD DVD NOW OR CHOSE "Boot existing OS"

HURRAY :D

HURRAY :D



pacman -Sy openssh; # to install and start ssh server
systemctl start sshd; # start ssh service
systemctl enable sshd; # also on boot

useradd -m user; # create default non-root user (root ssh login is dissallowed per default)
passwd user; # give user password

# after all this hazzle it's finally time for first ssh login :D
ssh -v user@192.168.122.14; # from a different computer login to newly installed arch

su - root
pacman -Syu; # update all packages

so what gives?

the very minimal arch setup occupies 2.4GBytes as diskfile.qcow2, which is about what a minimal Debian would require

about

“Arch Linux has reelected its current project manager.Polyak Levente “anthraxx” can serve as project manager for Arch Linux in another cycle.”
“Polyak Levente has been running the Arch Linux project since 2020 when Aaron Griffin renounced this role.”
“Today’s election results are not surprising at all, as Polyak was running this year’s elections without a candidate.”
“The Hungarian-based Linux developer in Germany will be the head of the Arch Linux project in another two-year term and will be able to restart in 2024 because the Arch Linux position is not limited over time.”
“Polyak Levente joined the Arch Linux team in 2014 when he founded the Arch Security Team, which he is leading to today.”
“He began to establish the philosophy of reproductive packaging. Today, the main focus remains development and security” (auto translated from src)

some

argue that the kernel is getting too fat and it’s time for microkernel
and possibly a complete rewrite in RUST (?) X-D (holycow so much work still to do :D)

GUIs?

Desktop Environments

GNOME: Around 30-40% of Arch Linux users seem to prefer GNOME, making it one of the most popular choices.
KDE Plasma: KDE Plasma is another popular choice, with around 20-30% of users opting for it.
Xfce: Xfce is a lightweight and user-friendly desktop environment that is popular among Arch Linux users, with around 10-20% of users choosing it.

Window Managers

i3: The i3 window manager is a popular choice among Arch Linux users, with around 10-20% of users preferring it.
Awesome: Awesome is another popular window manager, with around 5-10% of users choosing it.

What about MATE?

pacman -S xorg xorg-server;
pacman -S mate mate-extra;
pacman -S lightdm;
pacman -S lightdm-gtk-greeter;
pacman -S ttf-dejavu;
systemctl enable lightdm;
pacman -S spice-vdagent; # install integration tools
pacman -S vim wget curl; # install basic tools
pacman -S firefox; # for testing youtube
reboot

MATE Desktop 1.28.2 (Debian 13 currently using 1.26.2)


works nicely also this is the very latest firefox version... well done archers :D