Arch Linux is a popular, flexible Linux distribution. OperatingSystems It's a rollingrelease distribution; it always tries to use the newest availableversion of packages and linux kernel, but does not provide an easy wayto revert to previous versions of software.

The AUR, or Arch User Repositories, provide probably the widestselection of packages available from any Linux distribution. Being ableto

Arch is a great learning tool - it'll show you how to poke around aLinux system to change whatever you'd like, and it'll let you shootyourself in the foot as much as you want. This is incrediblyfrustrating, but fixing the litany of problems that arise fromconfiguration mishaps, broken packages, and backwards-incompatibleupdates will teach you so much about navigating a Linux system (or - atleast - show you how to help debug system issues).

I use NixOS now, which provides a declarative programming language forconfiguring Linux systems rather than maintaining a scattered state ofconfiguration across the system (as most Linux distributions do). But Idon't at all regret dropping a Windows partition and forcing myself touse Arch for day-to-day work.

Derivatives

Archcraft looks like adecent way to start. Reminds me of Manjaro - it's less painless toburn the ISO than Arch itself but still gets you the AUR and absolutetrust in the user that Arch is known for.

Tools

• Aura is a package manager for Archand the AUR; I used this to more easily install AUR packages with asingle utility.
• Linux Performance toolsthat seem incredibly useful.

\-Tips, tricks and tools for using and learning Linux andUnix:Matt Might comes through with lots of pro tips and tricks for using Unixtools.