Table of Contents
This guide is about Everything You Need to Know about Arch User Repository. So read this free guide, Everything You Need to Know about Arch User Repository step by step. If you have query related to same article you may contact us.
Everything You Need to Know about Arch User Repository – Guide
The Arch User Repository (AUR) is an important aspect of the Arch Linux ecosystem. It is a community-run Arch Linux package repository that hosts a variety of packages not found in the official Arch Linux package database. Popular AUR projects may be included in the official Arch repository in the future! In fact, many of the new packages uploaded to the official Arch Linux repository started out as AUR packages before they were accepted.
How does AUR work?
The AUR is actually a repository of PKGBUILD scripts. It does not necessarily contain the source code of the target package. When you’re using the AUR, you’re actually taking the PKGBUILD script and building the program yourself. PKGBUILD a specialized script for the Arch Linux system that tells the compiler how to build a certain package for the system. The process may include downloading an additional package(s) and source code. The script is also free to have specialized tweaks and fixes for the build process.
So when you’re getting a package from the AUR, you’re actually getting the PKGBUILD script. Your system still needs to run the script and go through the build process to fully install the package.
Why AUR?
The fact is that the AUR is one of the main reasons why Arch Linux is so popular. Unlike other Linux ecosystems, you are less susceptible to any permanent security holes in your system. Also, AUR packages are easier to install and maintain up-to-date, all by yourself.
In the case of AUR, you build the package from source with the help of PKGBUILD. The PKGBUILD script takes care of the entire build process. The package maintainer has to create the PKGBUILD, of course. The PKGBUILD system makes the construction process fluent and hassle free. Of course, it still has the potential to install malicious code on your system. But instead of adding a complete repository, you just have to worry about the package itself.
Do not worry; the construction procedure is never that simple. It also doesn’t take much time. Unless, of course, you’re building something heavy like the Linux kernel or Firefox.
Using the AUR
Enough of the AUR chatter. it’s time to learn how to use the AUR.
Using the AUR Classic method
This is the classic, manual way of installing an AUR package. Everything has to be done manually, so this path requires more time and patience. Of course AUR helpers can automate the whole process, but they say you shouldn’t use any AUR helpers if you can’t use the AUR manually.
Installing a package, Classic Method
Installing a package from the AUR is quite different from installing a package with pacman. First, make sure your system includes all the tools needed to carry out the build process.
sudo pacman -S git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/
sudo pacman -U
Uninstalling a package, classic method
As the installation was done with pacman, use pacman to uninstall the package immediately.
sudo pacman -R
sudo pacman -Rs
Updating a package, Classic Method
Installed AUR packages will not automatically update them. You need to manually update the package following the previous steps.
Get the latest PKGBUILD from the AUR.
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/
Now, run the build and install process again.
makepkgsudo pacman -U
Or,
Auxiliary AUR
To make life easier, here come the AUR helpers. AUR helpers can automate a large part of the processes, saving you time and trouble.
According to the official Arch Linux AUR helpers wiki, there are several AUR helpers out there. While some of them are officially reliable, all of them are capable of performing all the basic jobs efficiently. In this case, we will only include a few AUR helpers that are trusted and actively maintained.
In that tutorial, let’s just focus on yay as it is one of the most popular in the AUR. He borrows his designs from several other AUR helpers such as Yaourt (discontinued), Pacaur, and Apacman.
Yay – Another Yogurt
Installing yay requires knowledge of manually installing an AUR package. Let’s get ready.
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
ok, use
Like pacman, yay is very simple to use. Yay and pacman share common flags to perform similar actions.
Installing a package, with Yay
Use yay to install an AUR package.
Searching package(s), with Yay
As with pacman, use the “-Ss” flag to look for a given package in the AUR.
Update all software, with Yay
The following command will do an update on all packages – both AUR and official.
Cleaning up unwanted dependencies, with Yay
For the build process it is sometimes necessary to install additional dependencies. When you uninstall a package, its dependencies are still on your system. You can use yay to perform a cleanup.
Uninstalling package(s), with Yay
To uninstall a package, yay uses a similar flag like pacman.
To remove with dependencies, use the following structure.
Final note
I hope you like the guide Everything You Need to Know about Arch User Repository. In case if you have any query regards this article you may ask us. Also, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.