Skip to content

README.en.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
1459 lines (1013 loc) · 40.9 KB

README.en.md

File metadata and controls

1459 lines (1013 loc) · 40.9 KB

LMAE: Linux Mint Arch Edition

A step-by-step guide to recreate Linux Mint's visual and functional experience on Arch Linux (Cinnamon). Includes base installation, desktop setup, applications, thumbnails and laptop optimizations. Note: Documentation available in English, Spanish and Chinese. Translations are automated and may contain errors; consult the English version for the original if in doubt.

Table of Contents

Introduction

This guide explains how to combine the solid rolling-release foundation of Arch Linux with the Cinnamon desktop environment and Linux Mint applications. The result is a system that maintains Arch's flexibility while offering the visual and functional experience of Linux Mint.

The process is divided into three main stages:

  • Arch Linux installation
  • Cinnamon desktop environment configuration
  • Installation of Linux Mint's characteristic applications

Optional sections (thumbnails, laptop optimizations, and advanced configurations) cover additional steps to customize and optimize the system.

Each section includes clear explanations of the necessary commands and configurations.

Chapter 1: The Foundation - Installing Arch Linux

Installing Arch Linux will be the system's foundation.

Although Arch has a reputation for being complex, following these steps in order makes the process quite straightforward.

1.1 Preparing the Ground

Downloading the installation image

Download the latest ISO image from the official Arch Linux website at https://archlinux.org/download/.

Make sure to use the official version to avoid security issues.

Creating the installation media

Once the ISO is downloaded, burn it to a USB or DVD using one of these tools:

  • balenaEtcher: Intuitive and cross-platform
  • Rufus: Fast and efficient for Windows
  • Win32 Disk Imager: A classic and reliable option

Booting from the installation media

Boot your computer from the USB or DVD you just created.

This may require changing the boot order in BIOS/UEFI.

1.2 Initial System Configuration

Adjusting the keyboard to your language

By default, the keyboard is configured for English. To change it, first list available keyboard maps:

ls /usr/share/kbd/keymaps/**/*.map.gz

Then apply the one you need. For example, for a UK keyboard:

loadkeys uk

Note: Other common layouts: de (German), fr (French), es (Spanish), us (US English).

Verifying internet connection

Arch Linux needs an internet connection to download packages during installation. Verify your network interface is available:

ip link

If using Wi-Fi, configure it with:

iwctl

Follow the on-screen instructions to connect to your network.

Confirm the connection works:

ping 8.8.8.8

If you see responses, the connection is working correctly.

Synchronizing the system clock

Set the correct time using internet time servers to avoid issues with security certificates:

timedatectl set-ntp true

Identifying the boot mode

Modern systems can boot in UEFI or legacy BIOS mode. Identify which you're using:

ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars

If the command shows files, you're in UEFI mode. If it shows "No such file or directory", you're in legacy BIOS mode. This information will be important for the following steps.

1.3 The Art of Partitioning

Partitioning requires attention and care to avoid data loss.

Identifying your disk

List all available disks:

fdisk -l

Identify your main disk: usually it will be /dev/sda (SATA/IDE disks), /dev/nvme0n1 (NVMe disks), or /dev/mmcblk0 (SD/eMMC cards).

Carefully verify which is your target disk before continuing.

Creating the partitions

We'll use the GPT partition scheme. The configuration depends on the boot mode:

For UEFI systems with GPT:

  • /dev/sda1: EFI System, 1024 MiB or more, mount: /mnt/boot
  • /dev/sda2: Linux swap, see note below, mount: (swap)
  • /dev/sda3: Linux filesystem, rest of disk, mount: /mnt

For BIOS systems with GPT:

  • /dev/sda1: BIOS boot, 8 MiB, mount: (not mounted)
  • /dev/sda2: EFI boot, 1024 MiB or more, mount: /mnt/boot
  • /dev/sda3: Linux swap, see note below, mount: (swap)
  • /dev/sda4: Linux filesystem, rest of disk, mount: /mnt

For BIOS systems with MBR (DOS partition table):

  • /dev/sda1: Bootloader, 1024 MiB or more, mount: /mnt/boot
  • /dev/sda2: Linux swap, see note below, mount: (swap)
  • /dev/sda3: Linux, rest of disk, mount: /mnt

Swap size recommendations:

  • Up to 4 GB RAM: Swap = 1.5 × RAM (if you want hibernation) or equal to RAM (without hibernation)
  • 4-16 GB RAM: 4 GB swap is usually sufficient
  • More than 16 GB RAM: 4 GB + (0.1 × total RAM) is a good general rule
  • Recommended minimum: 2 GB in any case

Note: The mount points /mnt and /mnt/boot are specific to the

installation environment. Once the system is installed, they will be

mounted as / and /boot respectively.

Open cfdisk to create the partitions:

cfdisk /dev/sda

Note: Replace /dev/sda with your disk.

Steps in cfdisk:

  1. If the disk is empty, select the table type:
    • "gpt" for UEFI or modern BIOS systems (recommended)
    • "msdos" only if you need MBR for very old BIOS systems
  2. Create partitions according to your boot mode scheme
  3. Assign the correct types to each partition
  4. Write changes and exit

Formatting the partitions

Format the partitions with appropriate file systems:

For UEFI systems with GPT:

mkfs.fat -F 32 /dev/sda1  # EFI partition (FAT32)
mkswap /dev/sda2          # Swap partition
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3       # Main file system (ext4)

For BIOS systems with GPT:

# The BIOS boot partition (/dev/sda1) is not formatted
mkfs.fat -F 32 /dev/sda2  # EFI boot partition (FAT32)
mkswap /dev/sda3          # Swap partition
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda4       # Main file system (ext4)

For BIOS systems with MBR:

mkfs.fat -F 32 /dev/sda1  # Bootloader partition (FAT32)
mkswap /dev/sda2          # Swap partition
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3       # Main file system (ext4)

Additional information about file systems:

If you want to explore other formatting options, here are the most common commands with their recommended options:

EFI/ESP partitions (package: dosfstools):

mkfs.fat -F 32 /dev/sdaX               # Always FAT32 (-F 32) for EFI partitions
mkfs.fat -F 32 -n "EFI" /dev/sdaX      # With volume label (-n)

Swap partition (package: util-linux - included in base):

mkswap /dev/sdaX                       # No additional options needed
mkswap -L "swap" /dev/sdaX             # With volume label (-L)

Main file system:

  • ext4 (package: e2fsprogs - included in base) - recommended for most, stable and mature:
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdaX                              # Default options (recommended)
mkfs.ext4 -L "ArchLinux" /dev/sdaX               # With volume label (-L)
mkfs.ext4 -L "ArchLinux" -O metadata_csum,64bit -E lazy_itable_init=0,\
lazy_journal_init=0 /dev/sdaX  # Optimized options for SSD
  • XFS (package: xfsprogs) - good for large files and high performance, cannot be shrunk:
mkfs.xfs /dev/sdaX                               # Default options
mkfs.xfs -L "ArchLinux" /dev/sdaX                # With volume label (-L)
mkfs.xfs -L "ArchLinux" -m crc=1,finobt=1 /dev/sdaX  # Recommended
modern options
  • Btrfs (package: btrfs-progs) - modern, with snapshots and compression, requires more knowledge:
mkfs.btrfs /dev/sdaX                             # Default options
mkfs.btrfs -L "ArchLinux" /dev/sdaX              # With volume label (-L)
mkfs.btrfs -L "ArchLinux" -f /dev/sdaX           # Force format (-f)
if partition already has data

Options explained:

  • -L or -n: Sets a volume label (useful for identification and mounting by label)
  • -f: Forces formatting even if there is data (use with caution)
  • For ext4 on SSD: metadata_csum improves integrity, lazy_*=0 initializes everything immediately
  • For XFS: crc=1 enables metadata checksums, finobt=1 improves performance with many files

Note: For desktop/laptop, ext4 is the safest and most proven option.

XFS offers good performance for workstations with large files (cannot be shrunk).

Btrfs offers advanced features (snapshots, compression, deduplication) but requires

more knowledge for maintenance and recovery.

Important consideration about backups with Timeshift:

  • Btrfs: Timeshift can create instant system snapshots using Btrfs native capabilities. This is very fast and space-efficient.
  • ext4/XFS/others: Timeshift uses rsync to make full file copies, which consumes more time and disk space.

Mounting the partitions

Mount the partitions to work with them:

For UEFI systems with GPT:

mount /dev/sda3 /mnt      # Mount the main file system
swapon /dev/sda2          # Activate swap partition
mkdir /mnt/boot           # Create mount point for EFI
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot # Mount the EFI partition

For BIOS systems with GPT:

mount /dev/sda4 /mnt      # Mount the main file system
swapon /dev/sda3          # Activate swap partition
mkdir /mnt/boot           # Create mount point for EFI
mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/boot # Mount the EFI boot partition
# The BIOS boot partition is not mounted

For BIOS systems with MBR:

mount /dev/sda3 /mnt      # Mount the main file system
swapon /dev/sda2          # Activate swap partition
mkdir /mnt/boot           # Create mount point for bootloader
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot # Mount the bootloader partition

1.4 Optimizing Mirrors (Optional but Recommended)

If package downloads are slow, you can optimize the mirror list before installing:

pacman -S --needed reflector
reflector --country "Mexico,United States" --age 12 --protocol https --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

Replace "Mexico,United States" with countries closest to your location. You can see the full list of countries with reflector --list-countries.

Reflector automation (optional): If you want mirrors to be automatically updated weekly, you can enable the reflector timer after installing the base system:

systemctl enable reflector.timer

This will update the mirror list weekly. You can customize reflector options by editing /etc/xdg/reflector/reflector.conf after installation.

1.5 Installing the System Core

Install the Arch Linux base system with essential packages:

For BIOS systems:

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware networkmanager grub vim sudo nano

For UEFI systems (add efibootmgr):

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware networkmanager grub efibootmgr
vim sudo nano

For dual boot systems (add os-prober):

If you have BIOS:

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware networkmanager grub os-prober
vim sudo nano

If you have UEFI:

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware networkmanager grub efibootmgr \
os-prober vim sudo nano

Installed components:

  • base: Arch Linux base system
  • linux: Linux kernel
  • linux-firmware: Firmware drivers for common hardware
  • networkmanager: Network management
  • grub: The boot loader
  • efibootmgr: Tool to manage UEFI boot entries (UEFI only)
  • os-prober: Detects other operating systems for dual boot (optional)
  • vim: Advanced text editor
  • sudo: Allows executing commands with administrative privileges
  • nano: Simple text editor

The process may take a few minutes depending on your connection.

1.6 Configuration of the Newly Installed System

Generating the fstab file

The fstab file defines which partitions to mount at boot:

genfstab -pU /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

Entering the new system

Access the newly installed system:

arch-chroot /mnt

From here on, commands are executed within the new Arch Linux system.

Configuring the time zone

Set your geographical location. Replace "Region" and "City" with your location:

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime

Example for Mexico City:

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Mexico_City /etc/localtime

Synchronize the hardware clock:

hwclock --systohc

Language and localization configuration

Edit /etc/locale.gen (with nano /etc/locale.gen or vim /etc/locale.gen) and uncomment the languages you need. Include at least en_US.UTF-8 and your local language (for example, es_ES.UTF-8 or es_MX.UTF-8).

Generate the languages:

locale-gen

Create /etc/locale.conf with your primary language:

echo "LANG=en_US.UTF-8" > /etc/locale.conf

Note: You can use LANG=es_ES.UTF-8 or another language as you prefer.

Configure the keyboard permanently in /etc/vconsole.conf:

echo "KEYMAP=la-latin1" > /etc/vconsole.conf

Network configuration

Assign a name to your computer in /etc/hostname:

echo "my-arch-mint" > /etc/hostname

Configure /etc/hosts:

cat >> /etc/hosts << EOF
127.0.0.1      localhost
::1            localhost
127.0.1.1      my-arch-mint
EOF

Note: Use the same name you put in /etc/hostname.

Configuring the administrator password

Set a password for the root user:

passwd

Optional pacman configurations

Enabling colors in pacman:

Edit /etc/pacman.conf and uncomment the Color line:

nano /etc/pacman.conf

Find and uncomment (remove the #):

# Misc options
#UseSyslog
Color
#NoProgressBar

Enabling the multilib repository (for 32-bit applications):

If you plan to use 32-bit applications, Steam, Wine, or some games, you need to enable multilib.

In the same /etc/pacman.conf file, uncomment these lines at the end of the file:

[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

Then update the package database:

pacman -Syu

Note: Multilib is necessary for Steam, Wine, some proprietary 32-bit applications, and 32-bit graphics drivers for games.

1.7 The GRUB Boot Loader

GRUB allows the system to boot. Installation varies depending on the boot mode:

For legacy BIOS systems

grub-install --verbose --target=i386-pc /dev/sda

Note: Replace /dev/sda with your disk (without partition number).

For UEFI systems

grub-install --verbose --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot
--bootloader-id=GRUB

Enabling microcode updates

Modern processors benefit from microcode updates to improve stability and security:

For Intel processors:

pacman -S intel-ucode
  • intel-ucode: Microcode updates for Intel processors

For AMD processors:

pacman -S amd-ucode
  • amd-ucode: Microcode updates for AMD processors

Generating the final GRUB configuration

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

If you installed os-prober for dual boot, enable it first:

echo "GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false" >> /etc/default/grub
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

The command should detect your Arch Linux system and any other installed operating systems.

1.8 The First Boot

Boot the new system:

exit                    # Exit the chroot environment
umount -R /mnt         # Unmount partitions
sync                   # Synchronize disks
reboot now            # Restart

Remove the installation media before it boots. You should see the GRUB menu and then a text-mode login screen.

Log in as "root" with your password.

Post-installation adjustments

Enable NetworkManager for connectivity:

systemctl enable --now NetworkManager

To configure the network in text mode, use:

nmtui

You have completed the Arch Linux base installation. The next chapter covers desktop environment installation.

Chapter 2: The Transformation - Creating the Desktop Environment

This chapter covers the installation and configuration of the Cinnamon desktop environment, the same one used by Linux Mint.

2.1 Preparing the Stage

Creating a user for the desktop

It's recommended to create a regular user for daily tasks:

useradd -m -G wheel user
passwd user

Replace "user" with the name you prefer. The -G wheel option adds the user to the wheel group, which is standard practice in Arch for users with sudo privileges.

2.2 Installing the Visual Components

Install the necessary components for the desktop:

pacman -S xorg xorg-apps xorg-drivers mesa lightdm lightdm-slick-greeter
cinnamon cinnamon-translations gnome-terminal xdg-user-dirs
xdg-user-dirs-gtk

Installed components:

  • xorg: The X11 graphics server
  • xorg-apps: Basic applications for X11
  • xorg-drivers: Input drivers for X11
  • mesa: Open source graphics drivers
  • lightdm: Login manager (display manager)
  • lightdm-slick-greeter: Login screen with Linux Mint style
  • cinnamon: Linux Mint's desktop environment
  • cinnamon-translations: Translations for Cinnamon (language support)
  • gnome-terminal: Terminal emulator
  • xdg-user-dirs: Creates standard user directories (Downloads, Documents, etc.)
  • xdg-user-dirs-gtk: GTK integration for user directory management

Configuring LightDM

Edit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf (with nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf or vim /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf) and in the [Seat:*] section, add or uncomment:

[Seat:*]
greeter-session=lightdm-slick-greeter

Testing the desktop

Test LightDM before making it permanent:

systemctl start lightdm

If it works correctly, make it permanent:

systemctl enable lightdm

Restart and log in with your user. You'll see the Cinnamon desktop.

2.3 Essential Configurations

Adjusting keyboard layout

Configure your keyboard in the graphical environment. Go to:

Cinnamon Menu → Keyboard → Layouts

  • Add your layout with the (+) button
  • Remove ones you don't use with the (-) button

Note: At the time of writing this guide (November 2025), keyboard

layouts only work in X11 sessions. Wayland support is in development

and even today in 2025 KDE and GNOME have it by default.

Configuring sudo for your user

The sudo package is already installed, but you need to configure it so your user can execute administrative commands.

Switch to the root user:

su

Edit the sudoers configuration file:

EDITOR=vim visudo

Basic vim instructions:

  1. Use arrow keys to move through the file
  2. Find the section that says ## User privilege specification
  3. Position at the end of that section and press o to create a new line
  4. Type: user ALL=(ALL) ALL (replace "user" with your username)
  5. Press Esc to exit edit mode
  6. Type :wq and press Enter to save and exit

Example of how it should look:

## User privilege specification
##
root ALL=(ALL) ALL
user ALL=(ALL) ALL

If you added your user to the wheel group in step 2.1, alternatively you can uncomment the line %wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL instead of adding your user individually.

If you prefer to use nano instead of vim:

EDITOR=nano visudo

With nano it's simpler: edit the file, press Ctrl+O to save, Enter to confirm, and Ctrl+X to exit.

Return to your user:

su user

2.4 Enabling the AUR - The Magic of Arch

The AUR (Arch User Repository) contains thousands of additional packages. Install yay for easy access:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
cd ~
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si
cd ..
rm -rf ./yay/
yay -Syy

Installed packages:

  • git: Version control system (needed to clone AUR repositories)
  • base-devel: Group of packages with essential build tools
  • yay: AUR helper that simplifies installing community packages

Note

There are other AUR helpers available such as paru, pacaur, trizen, etc. This guide uses yay for its ease of use and popularity, but you can use any other AUR helper if you prefer.

With yay, you have access to virtually any software available for Linux.

2.5 The Visual Metamorphosis - Making it Look Like Linux Mint

Install the visual components that give Linux Mint its characteristic appearance.

Installing Linux Mint fonts

First install fonts from official repositories:

sudo pacman -S --needed noto-fonts noto-fonts-emoji noto-fonts-cjk noto-fonts-extra \
ttf-ubuntu-font-family ttf-dejavu
  • noto-fonts: Noto font family (wide language coverage)
  • noto-fonts-emoji: Noto fonts with emoji support
  • noto-fonts-cjk: Noto fonts for CJK languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)
  • noto-fonts-extra: Additional Noto fonts
  • ttf-ubuntu-font-family: Ubuntu font family (the default in Linux Mint)
  • ttf-dejavu: DejaVu font family used as monospace font by Linux Mint

Configure them in Cinnamon Menu → Font Selection:

  • Default font: Ubuntu Regular, size 10
  • Desktop font: Ubuntu Regular, size 10
  • Document font: Sans Regular, size 10
  • Monospace font: DejaVu Sans Mono Book, size 10
  • Window title font: Ubuntu Medium, size 10

Installing official themes and icons

Install Linux Mint themes and icons:

yay -S --needed mint-themes mint-l-theme mint-y-icons mint-x-icons
mint-l-icons bibata-cursor-theme xapp-symbolic-icons
  • mint-themes: Official Linux Mint desktop themes
  • mint-l-theme: Linux Mint Legacy desktop themes
  • mint-y-icons: Mint-Y icon set (modern style)
  • mint-x-icons: Mint-X icon set (classic style)
  • mint-l-icons: Mint-L icon set
  • bibata-cursor-theme: Bibata cursor theme
  • xapp-symbolic-icons: Symbolic icons for XApp applications

Select themes in Cinnamon Menu → Themes.

For the login screen:

yay -S --needed lightdm-settings
  • lightdm-settings: Graphical configurator to customize LightDM

Linux Mint wallpapers

Install official wallpapers:

⚠️ Warning: These packages download large files (70+ MiB each). Skip this step if you have limited connection.

yay -S --needed mint-backgrounds mint-artwork
  • mint-backgrounds: Collection of official Linux Mint wallpapers
  • mint-artwork: Additional art and graphics resources from Linux Mint

Select wallpapers in Cinnamon Menu → Backgrounds.

2.6 Additional Functionality

Printer support

To print documents:

sudo pacman -S --needed cups system-config-printer
sudo systemctl enable --now cups
  • cups: CUPS printing system (Common Unix Printing System)
  • system-config-printer: Graphical interface to configure printers

Audio (PipeWire)

Modern Linux Mint and Arch Linux use PipeWire as the audio server, replacing PulseAudio and JACK. PipeWire offers better latency and support for professional audio.

Install the necessary PipeWire components:

sudo pacman -S --needed pipewire-audio wireplumber pipewire-alsa pipewire-pulse \
pipewire-jack

Installed components:

  • pipewire-audio: Meta-package including PipeWire, WirePlumber and ALSA/PulseAudio/JACK support
  • wireplumber: Recommended session manager for PipeWire (replaces pipewire-media-session)
  • pipewire-alsa: ALSA support for PipeWire
  • pipewire-pulse: PulseAudio-compatible implementation (replaces PulseAudio)
  • pipewire-jack: JACK support for professional audio applications

PipeWire user services start automatically when you log in. To verify it's working:

pactl info

You should see Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire x.y.z) in the output.

Note: Cinnamon has its own built-in volume control. If you need more advanced controls (e.g., to change device profiles or configure individual applications), you can optionally install:

sudo pacman -S --needed pavucontrol
  • pavucontrol: Advanced volume control (optional, works with PipeWire via PulseAudio compatibility)

Bluetooth

For complete Bluetooth support (keyboards, mice, headphones, etc.):

sudo pacman -S --needed bluez bluez-utils
sudo systemctl enable --now bluetooth

Installed components:

  • bluez: Bluetooth protocol stack for Linux
  • bluez-utils: Command-line tools (bluetoothctl, etc.)

To pair devices from the terminal, use bluetoothctl:

bluetoothctl

Basic commands in bluetoothctl:

  • power on - Turn on the Bluetooth adapter
  • scan on - Search for nearby devices
  • pair XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX - Pair with a device (replace XX... with the MAC address)
  • trust XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX - Trust the device for automatic reconnection
  • connect XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX - Connect to the device
  • exit - Exit bluetoothctl

Note: Later in the guide we'll install Blueberry, Linux Mint's graphical Bluetooth manager, which makes pairing easier from the GUI.

For Bluetooth headphones/speakers:

Bluetooth audio support is already included with pipewire-audio. Bluetooth audio devices should automatically appear as available audio outputs once paired and connected.

Chapter 3: Completing the Experience - Linux Mint Applications

In this chapter, we'll install Linux Mint's default applications to complete the user experience. From productivity tools to multimedia and laptop optimizations, you'll achieve a functional and complete system.

3.1 Productivity Applications and Utilities

System tools and accessories

Basic Linux Mint applications:

First install GNOME applications from official repositories:

sudo pacman -S --needed file-roller yelp warpinator xed gnome-screenshot \
redshift seahorse onboard gnome-font-viewer gnome-disk-utility gucharmap \
gnome-calculator

Then install XApps from AUR:

yay -S --needed mintstick sticky xviewer bulky xreader

Functions of each application:

  • file-roller: Archive manager
  • yelp: System help viewer
  • warpinator: File transfer between network devices
  • mintstick: Bootable USB creator
  • xed: Advanced text editor
  • gnome-screenshot: Screenshot capture
  • redshift: Blue light filter
  • seahorse: Password and key manager
  • onboard: On-screen virtual keyboard
  • sticky: Sticky notes
  • xviewer: Image viewer
  • gnome-font-viewer: Font viewer
  • bulky: Bulk file renamer
  • xreader: PDF document viewer
  • gnome-disk-utility: Disk utility
  • gucharmap: Character map
  • gnome-calculator: Calculator

Graphics applications

For image work and scanning:

Install the GNOME graphics applications:

sudo pacman -S --needed simple-scan drawing

Install XApps viewer from AUR:

yay -S --needed pix
  • simple-scan: Scanning application
  • pix: Photo organizer and basic editor
  • drawing: Drawing application

3.2 Internet and Communication Applications

yay -S --needed firefox webapp-manager thunderbird transmission-gtk
  • firefox: Web browser
  • webapp-manager: Converts websites into desktop applications
  • thunderbird: Email client
  • transmission-gtk: BitTorrent client

Note: About HexChat: This application is available in the AUR but requires GTK2, which is also in the AUR. Installing HexChat will involve compiling both GTK2 and HexChat with yay. Additionally, HexChat no longer receives active maintenance. While it's part of Linux Mint, its installation is left to user discretion based on whether the compilation effort is worthwhile.

Note about Elements: With the end of HexChat development and the emergence of alternatives, Linux Mint now includes a Matrix client, more specifically Elements, which in the original installation is a web application using Webapp-manager, however, a native client also exists. Arch Linux contains both in its official repositories under the names element-desktop and element-web, so it's up to your discretion whether to install one or the other, or none.

3.3 Office Suite

Productivity and time management:

sudo pacman -S --needed gnome-calendar libreoffice-fresh
  • gnome-calendar: Integrated calendar
  • libreoffice-fresh: Complete office suite

3.4 Development Tools

For programming:

yay -S --needed python
  • python: Python interpreter (fundamental for many system applications)

3.5 Multimedia

Audio and video applications:

yay -S --needed celluloid hypnotix rhythmbox
  • celluloid: MPV-based video player
  • hypnotix: IPTV and streaming client
  • rhythmbox: Music player and library manager

3.6 Administration Tools

System management and monitoring:

sudo pacman -S --needed baobab gnome-logs timeshift
yay -S --needed fingwit
  • baobab: Disk usage analyzer (graphically visualizes used space)
  • gnome-logs: System log viewer (for diagnosis and troubleshooting)
  • timeshift: System backup tool (allows creating and restoring snapshots)

3.7 Configuration and Preferences

System customization:

sudo pacman -S --needed gufw gnome-online-accounts-gtk
yay -S --needed blueberry mintlocale
  • gufw: Graphical interface for firewall (visual management of network rules)
  • blueberry: Bluetooth device manager (connection of headphones, keyboards, etc.)
  • mintlocale: System language configuration (Linux Mint interface)
  • gnome-online-accounts-gtk: Online account integration (Google, Microsoft, etc.)

Enable the firewall:

sudo systemctl enable --now ufw
  • ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall): Firewall that protects your system from unauthorized connections

3.8 System Tools and Command Line

File system compatibility

For compatibility with different storage types:

sudo pacman -S --needed ntfs-3g dosfstools mtools exfatprogs btrfs-progs \
xfsprogs e2fsprogs

Compression tools

To work with any compressed file format:

sudo pacman -S --needed unrar unzip zip cpio pax p7zip lzo lzop unace unarj arj
yay -S --needed lha
  • unrar: RAR file decompressor
  • unace: ACE file decompressor
  • unarj: ARJ file decompressor
  • arj: ARJ compressor/decompressor
  • lha: LHA compressor/decompressor
  • lzo and lzop: Fast LZO compressor
  • unzip and zip: ZIP compressor/decompressor
  • cpio: cpio archive utility
  • pax: POSIX archive utility
  • p7zip: 7-Zip compressor/decompressor

Note: The rar package from the AUR may conflict with unrar. Choose according to your needs.

Additional integrations

For full integration with Nemo file manager:

yay -S --needed xviewer-plugins nemo-fileroller gvfs-goa gvfs-onedrive
gvfs-google
  • xviewer-plugins: Additional plugins for image viewer
  • nemo-fileroller: Compression/decompression integration in Nemo
  • gvfs-goa: Support for GNOME Online Accounts in file manager
  • gvfs-onedrive: OneDrive access from file manager
  • gvfs-google: Google Drive access from file manager

3.9 Thumbnails & x-app integration

Thumbnails (visual file previews) improve file navigation in the file manager by showing small previews of images, video, documents and more. This section covers the recommended thumbnailers for x-apps and commonly used formats, how to enable them, and troubleshooting tips.

Why install them

  • Improve file browsing experience in Nemo, Nautilus, Thunar, etc.
  • Provide previews for AppImage, EPUB, GIMP, RAW, JXL and more specific formats.
  • Some thumbnailers extract embedded metadata or cover art for audio files.

Recommended packages

# X-Apps thumbnailers (Linux Mint specialized thumbnailers)
yay -S --needed xapp-vorbiscomment-thumbnailer xapp-appimage-thumbnailer \
  xapp-epub-thumbnailer xapp-aiff-thumbnailer xapp-ora-thumbnailer \
  xapp-mp3-thumbnailer xapp-jxl-thumbnailer xapp-gimp-thumbnailer \
  xapp-raw-thumbnailer

# Additional thumbnailers for videos and PDFs
yay -S --needed ffmpegthumbnailer poppler

# Optional: AppImage launcher and integrators
yay -S --needed appimagelauncher

Functions of the X-Apps packages

  • xapp-vorbiscomment-thumbnailer: extracts cover art and Vorbis comments from audio files to generate thumbnails.
  • xapp-appimage-thumbnailer: generates thumbnails for AppImage files by using the embedded icon or splash.
  • xapp-epub-thumbnailer: shows EPUB cover art as thumbnails.
  • xapp-aiff-thumbnailer: thumbnail support for AIFF audio files.
  • xapp-ora-thumbnailer: thumbnails for OpenRaster (.ora) files.
  • xapp-mp3-thumbnailer: generates thumbnails for MP3, using ID3 tags for cover art.
  • xapp-jxl-thumbnailer: thumbnails for JPEG XL images.
  • xapp-gimp-thumbnailer: previsualize GIMP project files (.xcf) as thumbnails.
  • xapp-raw-thumbnailer: generates thumbnails for camera RAW formats.

Auxiliary packages

  • ffmpegthumbnailer: fast and efficient video thumbnail generator.
  • poppler: PDF rendering library used by file managers for PDF previews.
  • appimagelauncher: integrates AppImages into the system (associates, creates icons and menu entries).

Enable previews in Nemo (Cinnamon)

  • Open Edit → Preferences → Preview
  • Under "Show thumbnails" choose Always or Only for local files depending on preference.
  • Adjust maximum file size for previews if necessary.

Regenerate or clear thumbnail cache

# Remove the old cache to force regeneration
rm -rf ~/.cache/thumbnails/*

# Restart the file manager (example: Nemo) or log out and back in
nemo -q

Troubleshooting

  • No video thumbnails: install ffmpegthumbnailer and restart the file manager.
  • No PDF thumbnails: ensure poppler is installed and previews are enabled in the file manager settings.
  • Large or slow thumbnails: reduce the file size limit or rely on ffmpegthumbnailer for faster thumbs.

Security

  • Thumbnailers process files to generate previews and could contain bugs. Avoid trusting thumbnails as a security measure for untrusted files.

These tools complete the desktop experience by making it easier to quickly identify files without opening them. Adjust packages to your needs (for example omit xapp-raw-thumbnailer if you don't work with RAW images).

3.10 Laptop Optimizations (Optional)

If you're installing on a laptop, these tools can significantly improve power management and overall experience:

Power and battery management

You have two main options (choose only one):

Option 1: TLP (recommended for maximum power saving)

sudo pacman -S --needed tlp tlp-rdw tlp-pd
sudo systemctl enable --now tlp
sudo systemctl mask systemd-rfkill.service systemd-rfkill.socket
  • tlp: Advanced power management for laptops (automatically optimizes battery)
  • tlp-rdw: Extension for managing radio devices (WiFi, Bluetooth) with TLP

The mask commands are necessary because TLP manages rfkill directly.

Useful optional dependencies for TLP:

sudo pacman -S --needed ethtool smartmontools
  • ethtool: Allows disabling Wake-on-LAN to save power
  • smartmontools: Displays disk S.M.A.R.T. data in tlp-stat

Option 2: Power Profiles Daemon (simpler, desktop integration)

sudo pacman -S --needed power-profiles-daemon
sudo systemctl enable --now power-profiles-daemon
  • power-profiles-daemon: Power profile management (Performance, Balanced, Power Saver)

Simpler than TLP but less configurable. Better integration with desktop applets.

Warning

Don't install both at the same time, as they conflict. Choose TLP for maximum control or power-profiles-daemon for simplicity.

Kernel tools for laptops

sudo pacman -S --needed linux-tools-meta
  • linux-tools-meta: Meta-package including useful kernel tools like cpupower, turbostat, etc.

System information and sensors

sudo pacman -S --needed lm_sensors
sudo sensors-detect
  • lm_sensors: Detects and displays hardware sensor information (temperature, fans, voltage)

Run sensors-detect and accept the default options. Then you can use sensors to view temperatures.

Screen brightness control

Brightness control should work automatically with Cinnamon, but if you have issues:

sudo pacman -S --needed brightnessctl
  • brightnessctl: Utility to control screen brightness from the command line

Advanced touchpad support

sudo pacman -S --needed xf86-input-synaptics xf86-input-libinput
  • xf86-input-synaptics: Improved driver for Synaptics touchpads (Driver in maintenance mode)
  • xf86-input-libinput: Modern and default driver for touchpads and other similar input devices (libinput, etc.)

Note: Most modern touchpads work fine with the default libinput driver. Only install synaptics if you need features not available in libinput or for compatibility.

Conclusion

You have completed creating your Linux Mint Arch Edition. The system:

  • Looks and works like Linux Mint
  • Maintains the base and flexibility of Arch Linux
  • Has access to the AUR for additional software

Recommended next steps

  1. Configure Timeshift for automatic backups
  2. Customize the desktop to your liking
  3. Explore the AUR for additional software
  4. If you installed TLP, review its configuration in /etc/tlp.conf for custom tweaks

System Maintenance

Updating the system

Arch Linux is a rolling-release distribution, which means you receive continuous updates. It's important to keep the system updated regularly.

Update official packages:

sudo pacman -Syu

Update AUR and official packages:

yay -Syu

Recommendations:

  • Update at least once a week
  • Read the news at https://archlinux.org/ before updating to be aware of important changes
  • If you use AUR software, yay -Syu will update both official repositories and the AUR
  • After important kernel updates, consider rebooting the system

Clean package cache (optional):

sudo pacman -Sc

This removes old packages from the cache to free up disk space.

Glossary

  • AUR (Arch User Repository): Community-maintained package repository for Arch Linux, allowing installation of software not available in official repositories.
  • BIOS: Basic Input/Output System, traditional firmware for booting.
  • Cinnamon: Modern and elegant desktop environment developed by Linux Mint.
  • EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface): Extensible Firmware Interface.
  • fstab: File that defines how system partitions are mounted.
  • GRUB: Boot manager that allows selecting the operating system at startup.
  • pacman: Arch Linux package manager.
  • PipeWire: Modern audio and video server that replaces PulseAudio and JACK.
  • UEFI: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, modern standard for computer firmware.
  • yay: AUR helper that facilitates installing packages from the AUR.

Useful Links