Arch Linux is a lightweight distribution of Linux, focused on simplicity of development. The default Arch Linux installation consists of a set of basic command line tools. This guide shows how to install the GNOME desktop environment on an Arch Linux system.
Steps
Step 1. Make sure the X Window interface is working by using the following startx command
This command should display a very simple GUI, as shown in the image. Should any errors occur, please refer to the Arch Linux wiki site to find the corresponding solution. To exit the X Window GUI, type the exit command.
Step 2. Install the ttf-dejavu and ttf-ms-fonts packages
These are font packages whose installation is recommended for a pleasant visual experience. These two packages can be installed using the following pacman -S ttf-dejavu ttf-ms-fonts command.
Step 3. Install the gnome package
If you wish, but it is optional, you can also install the gnome-extra and gnome-system-tools packages. To do this, run the following command pacman -S gnome gnome-extra gnome-system-tools.
Step 4. Install the GNOME Display Manager (gdm) program
This step is only necessary if you are not installing the gnome-extra package. To install the gdm program, use the following pacman -S gdm command.
Step 5. To test GNOME functionality, run the following xinit gnome-session command
If you have any problems, please refer to the Arch Beginner's Guide.
Step 6. Log out of the GNOME session by accessing the System menu and selecting the Exit item
Step 7. Access the contents of the /etc/rc.conf file using the text editor of your choice, for example nano /etc/rc.conf
Find the line DEAMONS (). The parameters contained in the brackets could be various. Add the dbus parameter before network and add the gdm parameter at the end.
Step 8. Reboot the system by typing the reboot command
The next time your computer restarts, you should be greeted by the GDM program login screen.
Step 9. Log into GNOME using your login credentials
Good fun!
Advice
- Visit the Arch Linux Guide for Beginners site at the following address. You will find additional and detailed information, troubleshooting steps for the most common known problems, and instructions for installing the graphical X Window interface.
- If you encounter errors while installing packages, use the /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist command to make sure that the sources from which to download the installation files are selected correctly.
