The default Archcraft desktop.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Arch Linux is well known for being one of the more challenging Linux distributions. The primary reason is the installation process, which is handled via a script (instead of a GUI installer).
That sense of challenge doesn't mean Arch Linux is a distribution to avoid because there are plenty of distributions based on Arch with user-friendly GUI installers. Once installed, those distributions can be fairly straightforward, but not all of them.
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Fortunately, some Arch-based distributions ease the installation pain. One such distribution is called Archcraft. Even new users (with a bit of work) can make this Linux distribution work well for them.
I like to think of Archcraft as an Arch distribution that is ready to help improve your Linux skills. Archcraft includes a point-and-click installer and has several pre-installed applications, such as Firefox, Geany, Thunar, a firewall GUI, Timeshift, and other helpful tools (more on that in a bit).
Archcraft does not, however, include a GUI app store, which means you have to install applications from the command line (unless you install one of the GUIs, such as Pamac or Octopi). Archcraft is considered a minimal distribution, so it ships with few user-facing applications and a desktop environment that isn't demanding on system resources.
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In the case of Archcraft, that desktop is Xfce, which is one of the faster Linux desktops and also happens to be one of the most customizable.
Speaking of which, the default desktop layout and theme of Archcraft are rather pleasing and shouldn't trip you up. From the desktop, if you click the Arch icon in the upper-left corner, one of the more handy app launchers appears. From that launcher, you can do several things:
From the left tab - search through installed applications
From the second to left tab - search through all installed commands
From the second to right tab - search through folders
There's a fourth tab (far right), but I've yet to figure out what it does.
You'll also find a top bar filled with information that mostly relates to the system. There's CPU usage, RAM usage, disk usage, a clock, a media player, a volume controller, I/O information, and battery percentage.
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There's also a right-click desktop menu that you can open from anywhere on the desktop. That menu gives you quick access to your installed applications, running apps as root, a screenshot app, preferences, places, and more.
But what about installing applications? For example, there's no office suite or email client by default. Let me show you how to install LibreOffice and Thunderbird from the Arch command line. To install these apps, open the terminal and issue the following two commands:
sudo pacman -S libreoffice
sudo pacman -S thunderbird
When installing LibreOffice, you can select either the fresh (bleeding edge) or still (stable) versions. Once the installations are complete, both apps will be in the desktop menu.
The Archcraft Manhattan style with the desktop menu shown.
You'll find plenty of different looks for Archcraft.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
As far as the Xfce window manager goes, there's always lots to talk about. This is a window manager you could lose yourself in customizations.
Here's a cool example. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and then click Preferences > Change Style. From the resulting list, click any of the styles and the entire desktop layout will change.
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The Manhattan style removes the dock, moves the top bar to the bottom, and changes the color pallet. Some styles include a dock, while others do not.
I would suggest checking each style to see which best fits your tastes and work style. One of my favorite styles is Nord (see below).
The Archcraft Nord style.
The Nord style is one of my favorites.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
The point is, with Archcraft's take on Xfce, you have tons of options.
Who is Archcraft for?
As I've stated, Archcraft is a great Linux distribution for those looking to up their game without suffering too many challenges.
The installation is a piece of cake, as long as you can use the command line to install applications. Even then, you can install the Pamac GUI (with yay -S pamac). That way, you can eat your cake and have it too.
If you were to ask me who would be best suited as an Archcraft user, I would say someone who's used Linux and is looking for a distribution that offers rock-solid stability while offering a ton of flexibility on the desktop but could want something slightly more demanding than the usual point-and-click affair.
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I spent about a week with the distribution and found it to be a lot of fun to use. In the end, Archcraft is a solid entry in the world of Linux and a strong candidate for anyone wanting to get the Arch experience without having to go through the full-blown Arch installer.
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