# Installing additional packages

In this guide, I have chosen to install base Arch Linux. The following guide will assume that you are using Arch, but any Arch derivative should be able to follow the following guides too.

Also, a reminder that I have opinions, so these packages may not be the best for you :3

You can find alternatives here, here and just searching!

ℹ️ IMPORTANT

Note: Commands prefixed with `#` should be run as root, and those prefixed with `$` should be run unprivileged.
To run something as root, use `sudo <command>`. If for some reason this doesn't work, try `sudo -E <command>` and finally try `su` to get a root shell
Lines prefixed with `//` are comments and should NOT be run.

# Desktop Environment

Well, we have Linux, but all you see is a black console??

We need to install a desktop environment and/or a compositor!

I have opted to use niri, why? Because it's written in rust and looks nice :3

    # sudo pacman -Syu niri xwayland-satellite xdg-desktop-portal-gnome xdg-desktop-portal-gtk

See configuration options here

Note that using a complete desktop environment like KDE plasma or GNOME will make setup much easier, but may restrict what you can rice.

KDE Plasma:

    # pacman -S plasma

Gnome:

    # pacman -S gnome

# Greeter

Without a greeter, you'd have to use the ugly console to log in all the time.

I choose sddm as a greeter.

    # sudo pacman -S sddm

# AUR helper

This simplifies using the AUR a lot!

I choose to use yay:

    # pacman -S base-devel
    $ git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
    $ cd yay
    $ makepkg
    # sudo pacman -U yay-12.5.6-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst yay-debug-12.5.6-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

# File Manager

I persoanlly use thunar, but it isn't very riceable ;-;

    # pacman -S thunar

# Browser

I use zen-browser

    $ yay -S zen-browser
    // or
    $ yay -S zen-browser-bin

Zen documentation can be found here

Zen can be riced using userChrome.css!

# Code Editor

I use Zed:

    # pacman -S zed

Zed documentation can be found here

If you reallyyyy want to use vscode, see Arch wiki here

You can find other IDEs/editors here

# Hackatime

With Zed:

1. `Ctrl+Shift+P`
2. Search for `zed: extensions`
3. Search for `wakatime`
4. Install!

# Terminal Emulator

I like kitty, but I've heard that Hack Club is sponsoring ghostty!

    # pacman -S kitty
    // or
    # pacman -S ghostty

Kitty docs can be found here

Ghostty docs can be found here

# Video Player

mpv is a lightweight video player:

    # pacman -S mpv

if you want, you can install VLC:

    # pacman -S vlc

On Arch, VLC and its plugins are split. I would recommend:

    # pacman -S vlc-plugins-all

# Status Bar

If you like, there are widget frameworks that help you build cool bars and other widgets.

This includes:

- ags (Configured in JavaScript, docs here) - `$ yay -S aylurs-gtk-shell-git`
- Quickshell (Configured in QML, docs here) - `$ yay -S quickshell`
- Fabric (Configured in Python, docs here) - `$ yay -S python-fabric-git`

If you only want a simple bar, I use waybar:

    # pacman -S waybar

Waybar docs can be found here

# App Launcher

I use rofi:

    # pacman -S rofi

Rofi docs can be found here

# Clipboard

I use cliphist with wl-clipboard

    # pacman -S cliphist

Docs here

# Screen Locker

I use hyprlock

    # pacman -S hyprlock

hyprlock docs can be found here

# System Monitor

I use btop, it runs in the terminal!

    # pacman -S btop

Docs can be found here

# Color Palettes

If you like having color palettes that change with your wallpaper, try `matugen` or `pywal`:

    $ yay -S matugen
    // or
    # pacman -S python-pywal

Matugen docs can be found here

# Wallpaper Picker

I use waypaper!

    # pacman -S waypaper

Waypaper docs can be found here

Now that we have a more complete system, reboot and continue to part 3 for the actual ricing!