I want to learn Linux and I read that installing Arch Linux is a great way to do this. But all guides I’ve found so far only guide you through the steps without much explanation of what it is you are doing during the installation.

Is there a guide that is more “guided” for lack of a better word? One that teaches me what I’m doing and why I’m doing it? I could of course google every single command and step during the installation but I think it would be easier to understand if there would be a guide including all this.

  • CaptDust@sh.itjust.works
    34·
    11 months ago

    Uhh, sort of sounds like you’re looking for the arch wiki? Each installation step has links to detailed information for the tools and commands used.

  • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.ml
    26·
    11 months ago

    Yes actually. Every single part of the OS that the Arch Wiki tells you to install is a hyperlink. If you click it then it takes you to the detailed documentation for that component. Then you can read about each component individually. So the wiki install doc is probably your best bet.

    • s20@lemmy.ml
      4·
      11 months ago

      This is what I was going to say. It’s how I installed Arch, and it’s just a really good way to learn about a linux system in general, in addition to the specifics of Arch.

      Arch’s official Wiki and general documentation are second to none. I don’t generally use Arch anymore, but I keep the documentation bookmarked, and the forums are one of my first stops when I’m trying to solve a problem, usually before whatever distro I’m working on.

      Seriously, OP - use the Arch Wiki, set up Arch the Arch way, and lookup anything you don’t understand from the docs. It’s the best way to do what you’re trying to do. Nothing else comes close.

  • jumper775@artemis.camp
    20·
    11 months ago

    The arch wiki explains everything pretty well if you read everything, but there is quite a bit. The gentoo wiki does even better, but it takes longer to compile and build. You will not be able to get any better than LFS however. It explains everything really in depth to the point where you could get overwhelmed with the amount of information it contains.

  • I_Am_Jacks_____@lemmings.world
    19·
    11 months ago

    This guy does (or did) monthly Arch installs where he’d focus on a different aspect each month. For instance, one month he may do an install with an encrypted filesystem. And the next month he may focus on BTRFS.

  • lynny@lemmy.world
    9·
    11 months ago

    I unironically suggest you try installing Gentoo some time. You’ll be forced to learn a lot about how modern Linux works, and can even go with a non-systemd install if you want to learn a more “traditional” install.

  • chayleaf@lemmy.ml
    9·
    11 months ago

    just use the Arch Wiki. The only parts that differ per system and when you really have to read a lot is partitioning (depending on whether you want encryption, etc) and post-install configuration like installing a DE, other than that the installation guide will basically cover everything on a single page

  • qpsLCV5@lemmy.ml
    8·
    11 months ago

    So, a lot of people have already mentioned that the arch wiki contains great info. What’s missing, IMO is this: Installing Arch as described on https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide will leave you with an EXTREMELY basic system - you just have a bare command line, with none of the tools you’d use daily for actually using your pc.

    This is where the learning comes in - choosing the software you need on your system, and learning how it all interacts with each other. IMO, you can be an experienced sysadmin, and never really have to deal with the details of what’s going on during installation - it’s the applications on top that actually do the work, and that you need to configure and run. Sure, you’ll need to learn systemd and other components, but that all comes with use of the software you need, not necessarily the base system.

    This is also why I strongly recommend having a second, working machine with a browser while installing Arch for the first time. A plain arch install does not come with the tools you’re used to to connect to wifi, or even wired networks. and without a working browser, it can be hard to figure out how to connect to the internet. First things i had to do when setting it up were searching for the proper network tools and then choosing between desktop environments and window managers. For learning I recommend a WM, as a full blown desktop environment like Gnome comes with a whole host of tools already, but with a WM you need to set things up yourself so you learn more. (I went with Sway, but if you have an nvidia GPU i cannot recommend it - it works but with many little issues.)

  • nobloat@lemmy.mlEnglish
    71·
    11 months ago

    I think EF channel made a video recently covering some foundations while installing Arch. Maybe it’s close to what you’re looking for

  • vd1n@lemmy.ml
    2·
    11 months ago

    I’m in the same boat. I installed endeavoros, then arch with archinstall.

    Now I want to do it manually.

    When I started with the archinstall script it kept failing… Finally I tried a new USB and it worked smoothly.

    Are there specific aspects you want to learn? I’m curious about partitioning. Possibly putting my /home on a external SSD.

  • Presi300@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    11 months ago

    Type “archinstall” in the installation environment, you don’t need to setup arch yourself…