Amelia: A New Bash-Powered Arch Linux Installer

Amelia is a new Bash-powered Arch Linux installer focusing on automated, intuitive setup processes tailored for experienced users.

Arch Linux is often hailed for its flexibility, simplicity, and power. However, the installation process can be daunting for newcomers and time-consuming for seasoned users. Enter Amelia, a new Bash-based Arch installer that combines automation and interaction, simplifying the installation process without compromising control.

It is nearly 5K lines of Bash script, supporting only modern GPT platforms. It utilizes the Discoverable Partitions Specification to detect and manage partitions automatically. This means you no longer need to manually edit the fstab fileโ€”a task that can be error-prone and intimidating for many.

The installerโ€™s file systems and initialization process approach follow the latest trends. For example, when using the ext4 file system, the traditional genfstab command is skipped, and systemdโ€™s built-in mechanisms handle necessary configurations.

This automation extends to the initramfs also, where the systemd replaces the older combination of base and udev, further streamlining the setup.

Despite its automated backend, Amelia does not strip away user control. The installation process is highly interactive, with menu-driven colored prompts that guide users through each step.

Amelia Arch Linux Installer
Amelia Arch Linux Installer

For disk management, the installer employs cgdisk, offering a pseudo-GUI that balances ease of use with robust functionality. This ensures that partition management is both safe and user-friendly.

Users have the final say in key configuration choices, with the installer requiring confirmation at every critical step. This keeps the user informed and in control, reducing the risk of unwanted outcomes.

Moreover, Amelia offers a detailed menu system that includes personalization, system configuration, and disk management. Users can choose their locale and keyboard layout and fine-tune their system for specific desktop environments, such as KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce, etc., optimized for performance.

Advanced options like kernel selection and EFI boot management are also available, catering to users who like to tailor their systems. This Arch installer also performs various checks before proceeding with the installation, such as verifying UEFI mode and internet connectivity and updating the system clock.

Finally, Amelia includes features for advanced users, such as LUKS encryption for disk partitions and customization of the pacstrap process. Depending on their expertise and preferences, users can opt for automatic or manual partitioning and installation modes.

How to Use Amelia Arch Linux Installer

Hereโ€™s the main thing we need to figure out: how to use this installer. As you can guess, this is a third-party tool and isnโ€™t part of the Arch installation image. To get started, boot up from the live ISO image. Once itโ€™s loaded and you have the shell prompt, download the Amelia script using a simpleย Curl command:

curl -O https://gitlab.com/prism7/archery/-/raw/main/Amelia.shCode language: Bash (bash)

Of course, you must have a working internet connection. Then, just run the script and follow the steps.

sh Amelia.shCode language: Bash (bash)

Once the installation is finished, youโ€™ll see a screen confirming that your new Arch Linux system has been successfully installed. Just reboot your computer, and youโ€™ll be ready to go.

Arch Linux was successfully installed using the Amelia installer.
Arch Linux was successfully installed using the Amelia installer.

Bottom Line

As you know, we only recommend products after thoroughly testing them and sharing our expert opinion. So, hereโ€™s mine.

Amelia effectively does what itโ€™s supposed to: installing Arch Linux. However, itโ€™s important to understand that the tool is designed for advanced users, not beginners.

In other words, its main purpose is to save time for already experienced users familiar with manually setting up Arch Linux. If you use Amelia, you should already know what youโ€™re doing. You will be disappointed if you expect the installer to hold your hand through every step.

This is particularly true for disk partitioning, where a good understanding of different partition types is crucial.

I aimed to quickly set up Arch with a lightweight Xfce desktop. Thanks to Amelia, I got it done in just 15 minutes, which is fantastic. Here is the final result.

Arch Linux Xfce Desktop

However, the process was not without problems. Specifically, we faced issues with the packages’ consistency checks when using parallel Pacman downloads. We resolved this by setting Amelia to avoid parallel downloads. So, keep that in mind.

We liked that the installer automatically puts the new user in the โ€œwheelโ€ group, allowing you to use the sudo command for admin tasks immediately without setting it up yourself after installing.

In summary, Amelia is an excellent tool for installing Arch Linux. It saves experienced users significant time by automatically handling much of the manual setup.

For those of you who are still concerned that setting up Arch might be tough, donโ€™t worryโ€”we have a detailed guide that makes every step of the installation process easy to follow.

For more information about the Amelia Arch installer, visit its GitLab page.

Bobby Borisov

Bobby Borisov

Bobby, an editor-in-chief at Linuxiac, is a Linux professional with over 20 years of experience. With a strong focus on Linux and open-source software, he has worked as a Senior Linux System Administrator, Software Developer, and DevOps Engineer for small and large multinational companies.

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