ARCH LINUX CALAMARES INSTALLER

 

Goal of the project

Put Calamares on the Arch Linux iso
and keep as close as possible
to the original Arch Linux iso.

Basically we provide a graphical installation tool for Arch Linux.

 Use any kernel you like – linux, linux-lts, linux-zen and linux-hardened.

Even Xanmod kernel.

Use any desktop you like.

GREEN LIGHT – START BUILDING
RED LIGHT – USE THE ISOS AND WAIT
FOR THE GREEN LIGHT TO BUILD

Created for Arch Linux based systems

Archiso package at the core of the building

 ALCI or Arch Linux Calamares Installer

  • Too complex to install Arch Linux
  • Tired of going through the Arch Way installation commands
  • Want an encrypted system – but it is just too complex to understand
  • No time to waste
  • Build an iso with all your packages from Arch Linux
  • Build an iso with all your packages from AUR
  • Build an iso with all your services (bluetooth, cups, …)

Use the graphical installer called CALAMARES to get your system up and running.

Decide to type every command
after installation

Decide to include already
xorg, Lightdm, XFCE4, …

When your reboot, you decide what you install.
Xfce4 as an example:

sudo pacman -Syyu

sudo pacman -S xorg-server xorg-apps

sudo pacman -S lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter

sudo pacman -S xfce4 xfce4-goodies

Edit the packages.x86_64 and add the packages you want.

Build the iso.

Burn the iso.

Test the iso.

 

6 screens later
you boot into
Arch linux

You can use our alci-dwm
or
the desktop you want to install

42 Moving from Calamares 3.2.61 to 3.3 – workflow video

42 Moving from Calamares 3.2.61 to 3.3 – workflow video

In this video you can see all the things I have to do in order to get things working with the very last code of April 2023. Many things have changed. Not only the application but also the configuration. ArcoLinux and Carli have migrated already. On the Carli...

37 How to create an ALCI iso with Xanmod-Edge kernel

37 How to create an ALCI iso with Xanmod-Edge kernel

November 2022 Xanmod-edge ceased to existWe have changed all references to Xanmod but ofcourse not in the videosSee which files matter if you want to change from a linux kernel to a linux-xanmod-edge kernel. We created an additional Calamares configuration fox...

34 How to create an ALCI iso with hardened kernel and Plasma

34 How to create an ALCI iso with hardened kernel and Plasma

In this video we show you that you can create an Arch Linux iso based on the hardened kernel in 30 minutes. We create a new config for Calamares and a new project to build the iso. What matters is the workflow and the differences - use meld

30 How to create a linux-lts iso – created from scratch

30 How to create a linux-lts iso – created from scratch

After creating the zen iso on my own time without recording it we can now create a linux-lts iso together. We create githubs for the iso and the Calamares config. We build a new Calamares config for linux-lts. We decide against putting packages on our system because...

29 How to create an linux-zen iso – how did I create it

29 How to create an linux-zen iso – how did I create it

This video is an after the facts video. See which files matter if you want to change from a linux kernel to a linux-zen kernel. We created an additional Calamares configuration to remove linux and decided NOT to put broadcom-wl on our system. Our next article we will...

28 If Arch Linux removes a package from its repos you need to act

28 If Arch Linux removes a package from its repos you need to act

The package list contains all the packages we can use for our iso. These are pre-build packages from Arch Linux. If Arch Linux decides not to build the packages anymore it will result in an error during the build. error: target not found: termite-terminfo Then there...

27 Booting up with your deskop in the live environment

27 Booting up with your deskop in the live environment

Two things to change and you are good to go if you start with the dev github and want xfce4. We change the content of packages.x86_64 and remove alci-dwm-nemesis. A few lines down we have already a desktop - xfce4 and xfce4-goodies.Change the packages if you want...

26 Archiso 55-1 changes incorporated

26 Archiso 55-1 changes incorporated

It is always the same workflow. Compare the releng folder coming in from the Archiso package (sometimes also the mkarchiso script). Decide what you like to include on your future iso with the use of Meld. Double-check. Triple-check. Build the iso. Test the iso.

25 Compare archiso 53-1 with our githubs

25 Compare archiso 53-1 with our githubs

It is always the same workflow. Compare the releng folder coming in from the Archiso package (sometimes also the mkarchiso script). Decide what you like to include on your future iso with the use of Meld. Double-check. Triple-check. Build the iso. Test the iso.

24 Rebuild Calamares when kpmcore gets an update

24 Rebuild Calamares when kpmcore gets an update

You see a message in Calamares and you did not change anything. Maybe Calamares did not changeMaybe the configuration did not change but everything else did change. New kernels, new systemd and also the packages that are needed to make Calamares work. In this instance...

22 Archiso 52-1 compared and implemented

22 Archiso 52-1 compared and implemented

It is always the same workflow. Compare the releng folder coming in from the Archiso package (sometimes also the mkarchiso script). Decide what you like to include on your future iso with the use of Meld. Double-check. Triple-check. Build the iso. Test the iso.Let us...

21 Building a new Calamares v3.2.39.1

21 Building a new Calamares v3.2.39.1

Building a new Calamares is something YOU can do. You do not need us for it. You can build it and put it on the local repo on your pc. You can make your own Calamares configurations. See example below.You can make your own packages list and it will become YOUR...

17 How to build your own package for your local repository

17 How to build your own package for your local repository

It is fun to make your Operating System just the way you like. In our example we will put several wallpapers on our github and create a package for it. The advantage of a package is that Pacman can control it. sudo pacman -S  or -R will work. If we copy/pasted the...

14 Build a new Calamares

14 Build a new Calamares

In this video we show you all the steps you have to take to build and test out a new Calamares. It is super easy. Combined with article 13 - adding a local repo - you can be faster than the developers and become independent. You do not have to wait for anyone updating...

13 How to add your local custom repo to ALCI

13 How to add your local custom repo to ALCI

The core of ALCI is the packages list and ofcourse pacman.conf which will tell where the pacakages are. You can get the packages from: Arch Linux ArcoLinux Chaotic AUR ... many others But you can also create a local repo on your computer system. You build the packages...

12 How to figure out what to put on ALCI

12 How to figure out what to put on ALCI

ALCI is all about choosing packages and adding them too the packages.x86_64. Here we show you where you can find the sources. Where to get the Lego blocks and which you might want or will need?

11 What if Calamares crashes when creating the partitions

11 What if Calamares crashes when creating the partitions

ALCI is designed to be as minimal as possible. Hence our choice to make our personalized ALCI DWM. Gparted could be installed on the fly and you can do your workflow that way. But what if you just want to start from scratch and delete all partitions and go on with the...

8 How to create an ALCI iso on Arch Linux

8 How to create an ALCI iso on Arch Linux

ALCI is an ArcoLinux project. By default we have the ArcoLinux mirrors and ArcoLinux keys. If you would like to install packages from ArcoLinux you need to get the keys in and know where the mirrors are.Since my Arch Linux system contains all the keys and mirrors from...

7 ALCI contains the ArcoLinux keys by default

7 ALCI contains the ArcoLinux keys by default

ALCI is an ArcoLinux project. We would like to install packages from ArcoLinux. IF HOWEVER you are not planning to install anything from ArcoLInux repos you can remove one line of code. Edit this file /archiso/airootfs/etc/systemd/system/pacman-init.service and delete...

6 Sharing the info to build ALCI between users

6 Sharing the info to build ALCI between users

We have now the possibilty to ask people what the content of the  packages.x86_64 file is and learn from it. On Discord we have a separate channel for Arch Linux Calamares Installer or ALCI. On that channel we can exchange configs via https://pastebin.com. That is...

5 Adding packages to the ALCI iso

5 Adding packages to the ALCI iso

Adapt ALCI to your needs ... Less typing is always better We have added some ideas at the bottom of the packages.x86_64. The content of this file will change over time.Read the text at the bottom. Some packages will always be removed by Calamares.

2 How to get started with ALCI

2 How to get started with ALCI

Synthesis check you have the correct archiso version git clone the project git clone https://github.com/arcolinuxiso/alci-iso change content of archiso/packages.x86_64 or not use meld to compare the other packages files - example-packages.x86_64 and...

1 Creation of ALCI or Arch Linux Calamares Installer

1 Creation of ALCI or Arch Linux Calamares Installer

I have recorded every single step of the way. It took a bit longer than expected. I did make some mistakes that made everything a bit longer. The goal is as always outgrow the master. Become smarter by watching the videos, Get your own what-ifs and be able to carry...