Shelly, a graphical package manager for Arch Linux that combines native repository packages, AUR software, Flatpaks, and AppImages in one interface, has released version 3.1.5.
One headline addition is the new optional AUR browser powered by atoll. Once enabled in Shelly’s Advanced settings, users can browse paginated AUR package listings, sort by popularity or votes, and search by name, provided packages, keywords, or best match.
Additionally, package listings now also show dependency information and installed or out-of-date indicators. Enabling the feature also switches Shelly’s command-line AUR service to atoll, while disabling it restores the standard Arch AUR service. Terminal AUR searches now include clickable package links when either of those services is used.
Another notable addition is the new --install option for shelly build. Combined with --sync-deps, Shelly can install missing build dependencies, compile a package, and install the generated package archives in one workflow.
Shelly’s native package builder has also received some compatibility improvements. Dependency-only metapackages can now be created even when their PKGBUILD lacks a package() function. Handling of empty epochs, restrictive directory permissions, split packages, hard links, unusual filenames, and isolated builds has also improved.
Moreover, build environments are more predictable now. Native builds use a controlled system PATH rather than blindly inheriting one from privilege elevation. Users who need additional toolchain paths can specify them through the new build.extra_path setting, while build.env can be used to pass environment variables such as JAVA_HOME to the builder.
Another major addition is the new shelly repo-db command family for working directly with pacman-compatible repository databases. It supports adding, listing, removing, and verifying packages, while also handling package and file indexes. Options are available for signing, preventing downgrades, waiting for database locks, and removing replaced package archives.
Regular package management gets several welcome fixes. Standard repository searches via shelly search standard and shelly -Ss again return matching packages by default, including those with compound names.
AUR installations now support --needed, allowing Shelly to skip rebuilding and reinstalling packages that already match the installed version. Shelly also checks whether requested AUR packages and their build dependencies are still available from the configured service instead of blindly using an old local checkout.
On the desktop side, users can now install optional dependencies directly from package details. Local .flatpakref and .flatpak files can be opened with Shelly to start installation, with the app appearing among the “Open With” choices in compatible file managers.
AppImage handling has been improved as stale entries can now be removed even when the original file no longer exists. Plus, desktop entry detection and icon selection have been refined, including better handling of high-resolution icons.
Finally, Shelly 3.1.5 improves error reporting across package operations and makes configuration recovery more robust. Malformed JSON configuration files now fall back to defaults, with Shelly saving a .corrupt copy when possible.
For more information, see the release notes.
