Shortcut your Arch installation with Architect Linux or Arch Anywhere
Set 'em UP
Arch's manual installation maximizes flexibility and teaches you about your system, but if you're in a hurry, you might want to try a Live installer like Architect Linux or Arch Anywhere.
Arch deliberately does without a graphical installation routine [1] in order to provide maximum flexibility and ensure a learning experience for the user. Arch derivatives like Antergos and Manjaro take a more user-friendly approach, but they have their own quirks: Antergos comes with additional repositories, through which it provides its own themes, as well as the package management front end Pamac, whereas Manjaro replaces the official repositories entirely with its own sources.
The best way to get a completely clean Arch base is to use the manual installation, which takes several steps but is certainly possible for most experienced Linux users, thanks to the good documentation [2]. If you're looking for an easier path, the Live installer systems Architect and Arch Anywhere offer a menu-driven installation option.
Setting Up Arch
Arch is known for its tech-heavy "manual" installation, and if you're accustomed to the latest generation of GUI installers, Arch will certainly seem rustic. However, with the help of the thorough Arch wiki and the elegant Pacman package manager, you just might find that setting up Arch is easier than you thought it would be.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia