Arch Packages

A list of recommendations for Arch Linux packages I find useful. For general instructions on how to set up a new Arch installation, see the wiki's installation guide.

Useful Commands

• pacstrap [root] [pkgs...] (Install packages into new root)
• pacman -S [pkgs...] (Install packages)
• pacman -Syu (Update everything)
• pacman -Q (List installed packages)
• pacman -Ql [pkg] (List files in a package)
• pacman -Qo [file] (Find out which package owns a file)

System

Packages for every Arch installation.

• base (Basic Utilities)
• linux (Kernel)
• linux-firmware (Firmware)
• grub (Bootloader)
• networkmanager (Networking)

Essential

• neovim (Text Editor)
• git (Version Control)
• tmux (Terminal Multiplexer)
• htop (Process Manager)
• python (Scripting Language)
• sudo (Run as Root)
• zsh (Shell)
• curl (URL downloader)
• less (Text Viewer)
• openssh (SSH client)
• rsync (File copying)
• avahi (mDNS/DNS-SD/Bonjour stack)
• yay (AUR) (AUR helper)
• reflector (Arch mirror updater)

CLI Tools

• trash-cli (Trash helper)
• tree (Directory listing)
• fzf (Fuzzy finder)
• jq (JSON processor)
• zip (ZIP archiver)
• unzip (ZIP unarchiver)
• whois (Whois client)
• wget (CLI downloader)
• rlwrap (Readline wrapper)

Development

• base-devel (Basic Build Tools)
• visual-studio-code-bin (AUR) (Editor/IDE)
• cmake (Meta Build Tool)
• ninja (Build System)
• clang (C/C++/ObjC Compiler)
• sqlite (Embedded Database)
• nodejs (JS runtime)
• npm (Node.js package manager)
• yarn (Alternative to npm)
• jdk-openjdk (Java)
• gradle (JVM build tool)
• maven (JVM build tool)
• ruby (Scripting Language)
• rustup (Rust Toolchain Installer)
• go (Go compiler)
• stack (Haskell Build Tool)
• dotnet-sdk (.NET Core)
• swi-prolog (Prolog Environment)
• valgrind (Memory debugger)
• visualvm (JVM profiler)
• strace (Syscall tracer)
• patchelf (ELF file patcher)
• sccache (Shared compilation cache)
• intellij-idea-community-edition (JVM IDE)
• pycharm-community-edition (Python IDE)

Containers

• podman (OCI container runner)
• podman-compose (Compose file runner)
• buildah (OCI container builder)
• kubectl (Kubernetes API client)
• k9s (Kubernetes TUI)
• helm (Kubernetes package manager)
• k3s-bin (AUR) (Lightweight Kubernetes server)

Sysadmin

• ansible (IT automation, infrastructure as code)

Server

• traefik (Reverse proxy)
• nginx (Web server)
• samba (SMB server)
• postgresql (Database)
• shairport-sync (AirPlay server)

Desktop

• xorg-server (Display server)
• sddm (Display manager)
• plasma (Desktop environment, KDE)
  • Tip: Use Alt-Space to quickly open applications on Plasma
• kde-applications (Desktop apps, choose what you need)
• redshift (Warm colors at night)
• mesa (OpenGL implementation)
• barrier (KVM)

Daemons

• earlyoom (OOM daemon)
• cronie (Cron daemon)

Internet

• firefox (Web Browser)
• thunderbird (Mail Client)
• discord (Voice and Text Chat)
• signal-desktop (Messenger)
• mattermost-desktop-bin (AUR) (Text Chat)
• zulip-desktop-bin (AUR) (Text Chat)
• zoom (AUR) (Video Conferencing)
• wireshark-qt (Traffic analyzer)

Bluetooth

• bluez (Bluetooth daemons)

Productivity

• okular (Document Viewer)
• xournalpp (Handwritten Notes)
• cups (Printing System)
• cups-pdf (PDF Printing)
• texlive-most (LaTeX)
• libreoffice-fresh (Office Suite)
• zotero (AUR) (Bibliography Manager)

Fonts

• ttf-liberation (Arial/Times New Roman/Courier New replacement)
• ttf-jetbrains-mono (Typeface for developers)
• ttf-font-awesome (Icon font)

Audio/Video

• pipewire (Audio processor/router)
• pipewire-pulse (PulseAudio replacement)
• pipewire-jack (JACK replacement)
• pamixer (CLI mixer)
• helvum (PipeWire patchbay)
• ffmpeg (Audio/video converter)
• vlc (Multimedia player)
• mixxx (DJing)
• spotify (AUR) (Music streaming)
• audacity (Audio editor)
• ardour (DAW)
• kdenlive (Video editor)
• obs-studio (Broadcasting and Screencasting)

Graphics

• gimp (Image editor)
• inkscape (Vector graphics editor)

Gaming

• steam (Game Distribution Platform)
• multimc-bin (AUR) (Minecraft Launcher)