Distro Walk – ArcoLinux

Today, Arch Linux is in the same state as Debian around the turn of the millennium – popular for its technical excellence, but with a reputation for being difficult to install. Even with detailed installation documentation and the minimal archinstall script, the reputation remains. As a result, just as Debian spun off rivals like Ubuntu and MEPIS that feature easy installs, so Arch has spun off distributions like EndeavourOS and Manjaro. Among Arch Linux's derivatives, ArcoLinux is unique [1]. As much an open university as a distribution, ArcoLinux takes its inspiration from Arch Linux's extensive documentation as well as its technology and organization. In the process, ArcoLinux offers beginners and veterans alike the experience of installing an Arch-like desktop version.

ArcoLinux's emphasis on education is obvious from the choice of a .info domain name. The distribution boasts more than 4,000 videos on YouTube [2] and proclaims in all caps on its site: "You ask a question that concerns everyone we make a video."

Moreover, the project's home site includes a Start Here top-level menu. The Start Here menu includes the usual links to review, news, and testimonials, as well as explanations of the different flavors and derivatives of ArcoLinux, but the most interesting menu item is the suggested learning path [3] shown in Figure 1. The learning path begins with warnings like "You will break your system [...] This is normal. 15 minutes later you are back on a newly installed OS." ArcoLinux suggests that users begin with a mostly automatic install that provides an Xfce desktop on which they can learn curated apps, system configuration and maintenance, page management, keyboard shortcuts and aliases, and become comfortable using the terminal. Users can then move on to an advanced installation and other desktops, saving tiled desktops for last. From there, they can learn to create their own installation images, how to install Arch Linux itself, and, finally, how to create their own Arch Linux derivative distribution. Reading the summary of the eight phases provides a clear picture of what separates a newcomer from a knowledgeable Linux user. The learning path contains obvious biases, such as the need to know the command line or the assumption that tiled desktops are an advanced choice, but probably few long-time Linux users would disagree with these biases. The overall effect is a summary for beginners that, as far as I know, is unmatched any place else.

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