My Arch Linux Base System Setup
These are packages and configurations I use to set up a base Arch Linux system.
Why Arch Linux?
Arch Linux ships naked out of the box with only few most essential packages. This allows me to set up my system exactly the way I want it, with full control over tiny details. it has a great community and support with rolling releases. This basically runs on anything that can be called a computer.
My Setup
system
base(base package group)linux(linux kernel)linux-firmware(firmware for devices)REFind(boot manager like grub, systemd-boot, etc.)wpa_supplicant(for internet)
Essential
emacsornvimorgvimorvimorvi(text editor)git(version control)btophtoportop(system monitor)curlorwget(download files from internet)unziportar(extract files)man(manual pages)tldr(short discriptions of commands)sudo(execute commands as root)system python(never touch this)uvorpyenv(manage python versions)zshorfish(shell)rclone(manage cloud storage)openssh(ssh client and server)tmux(terminal multiplexer)alacrittyorkitty(terminal emulator)yayorparu(AUR helper) (AUR packages can be installed manually be be aware any one can upload anything to AUR)reflector(update mirrorlist) (also can be done manually)
other essential
pipewire(audio and video management)blueman(bluetooth management)networkmanagerordhcpcdornetctloriwd(network management) (for simple management)firewalldorufw(firewall management)
Environment
xorg-server(Xorg display server)i3(tiling window manager)alacrittyorkitty(terminal emulator)nitrogen(set wallpaper)redshift(adjust screen color temperature)rofi(application launcher)polybar(status bar)picom(compositor)betterlockscreen(lock screen)xautolock(auto lock screen)xclip(clipboard management)
cli tools and untilities
gduorncdu(disk usage analyzer)tree(display directory tree)atuin(shell history manager)fzf(fuzzy finder)zoxide(smart cd command)bat(cat with syntax highlighting)exa(ls with more features)fd(find with more features)ripgrep(grep with more features)eza(ls with more features)jq(process json)duf(disk usage)stow(manage dotfiles)hyperfine(any command benchmarking)csvlens(view and process csv files)togo(todo list manager)neofetchorfastfetch(system information)asciinema(terminal session recorder)
system tools and monitoring
timeshiftorsnapper(system backup and restore)lact(gpu monitoring)powertop(power consumption monitoring)journalctl(view system logs)dmesg(view kernel logs)lsblk(list block devices)fdisk(partition management)gpartedorparted(graphical partition management)zram-generator(compress ram to use as swap)
development
docker(containerization)nodejs(javascript runtime)npmoryarn(javascript package manager)go(go programming language)rust(rust programming language)gcc(c/c++ compiler)clang(c/c++ compiler)make(build automation)cmake(build automation)gdb(debugger)valgrind(memory debugging)strace(trace system calls)ltrace(trace library calls)postman(api testing)insomnia(api testing)
internet
firefoxorqutebrowserorlibrewolf(web browser)thunderbird(email client)transmission-gtkorqbittorrent(torrent client)telegram-desktop(messaging app)
networking
wireshark(network protocol analyzer)nmap(network scanner)speedtest-cli(internet speed test)
office
libreoffice-fresh(office suite)zatura(pdf viewer)
multimedia
mpv(media player)qimgv(image viewer)gimp(image editor)inkscape(vector graphics editor)audacity(audio editor)ffmpeg(audio and video converter)
gui apps
thunar(file manager)obs-studio(screen recording and streaming)obsidian(note taking)ghostwriter(distraction free markdown editor)
font and latex
ttf-jetbrains-mono(programming font)texlive-most(latex distribution)texstudio(latex editor)
misc
flameshot(screenshot tool)zotero(reference manager)bitwarden(password manager)xrandr(screen resolution management)brightnessctl(screen brightness management)playerctl(media player controller)rustdesk(remote desktop)