Dipping my toe into the water

[NickStone]

Because SteveRiley has ventured over to Arch Linux, I decided to try it out in an Oracle VirtualBox VM. I'm writing this post, from Firefox, inside my newly installed (as of about 10 minutes ago) Arch Linux. It only took me about six attempts, completely riding all VM files each time, BECAUSE I DIDN'T READ THE LAST INSTRUCTION!!! Long story short, I was rebooting back into the attached .iso and NOT the newly installed system. Doh!

I'm not moving away from Kubuntu. As long as it is supported, I'll be using it. But it is 'sound practice' to not keep ones eggs in just one basket. Knowing how to use (install and maintain) other Linux distributions ensures your flexability and increases your options, if and when you need to exercise them.

With Plasma installed, there is little difference 'visually' between Kubuntu and Arch. And of course, that's likely true for any distribution using Plasma.

Arch has a wonderful web page that allows you to search for all packages that are found in their repository. You'll find it here -> https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?...iner=&flagged=

In the search box type in kde and it will bring up all packages associated with that desktop environment. Then all you have to do is identify which packages you want to install then on type in sudo pacman -S package name1 package name2 etc.

[Snowhog]

It looks to me like the following packages should be installed:

plasma-meta	plasma-workspace	plasma-desktop	kde-application-meta	kde-meta-kdebase	khelpcenter	sddm	sddm-kcm
bluedevil	breeze	baloo	kde-meta-kdeaccessibility	dolphin	kcmutils	qt5-declarative	kio
breeze-gtk	kde-cli-tools	kmenuedit	kde-meta-kdeadmin	kate	kdelibs4support	cmake (make)	libxcursor
drkonqi	kded	kpeople	kde-meta-kdebase	kdebase-kdepasswd	kdoctools	python-docutils (make)	sddm
kde-gtk-config	kjsembed	ksysguard	kde-meta-kdeedu	kdebase-kdialog	khtml	qt5-tools (make)	extra-cmake-modules (make)
kdeplasma-addons	knotifyconfig	libcanberra	kde-meta-kdegames	kdebase-keditbookmarks	extra-cmake-modules (make)		kdoctools (make)
kgamma5	ktexteditor	libxkbfile	kde-meta-kdegraphics	kdebase-kfind			qt5-tools (make)
khelpcenter	kuiserver	polkit-kde-agent	kde-meta-kdemultimedia	kdebase-konq-plugins
kinfocenter	kwin	powerdevil	kde-meta-kdenetwork	kdebase-konqueror
kscreen	libkscreen	qt5-graphicaleffects	kde-meta-kdepim	konsole
ksshaskpass	libksysguard	systemsettings	kde-meta-kdesdk	kwrite
ksysguard	libqalculate	plasma-nm (optional) - Network manager applet	kde-meta-kdeutils
kwallet-pam	libxdamage	boost (make)	kde-meta-kdewebdev
kwayland-integration	milou	extra-cmake-modules (make)
kwrited	prison-frameworks	kdoctools (make)
oxygen	qt5-tools	xf86-input-evdev (make)
oxygen-cursors	xorg-xmessage	xf86-input-synaptics (make)
plasma-desktop	xorg-xprop	xorg-server-devel (make)
plasma-mediacenter	xorg-xrdb
plasma-nm	xorg-xsetroot
plasma-pa	gpsd (optional) - GPS based geolocation
plasma-sdk	networkmanager-qt (optional) - IP based geolocation
plasma-workspace-wallpapers	plasma-workspace-wallpapers (optional) - additional wallpapers
sddm-kcm	baloo (make)
user-manager	extra-cmake-modules (make)
	gpsd (make)
	kdoctools (make)
	krunner (make)
	kxmlrpcclient (make)
	networkmanager-qt (make)

[GreyGeek]

Working the graveyard shift, huh!

[NickStone]

It looks to me like the following packages should be installed:

Should be installed? You do know that plasma5 is modular, don't you? Also the strength of Arch Linux is that you are totally in control as to what you want in the operating system and it's you who chooses what packages are installed. If you want all the bells and whistles of plasma5 then yes install all the packages you highlighted, otherwise just install the packages you actually want, e.g. do you really need bluedevil, for example. If you don't then you don't need to install it.

Remember Arch is not like Kubuntu where you get everything installed for you and someone somewhere has dictated decided what should be installed on your system.

[Snowhog]

@NickStone

That's fine, and I sort of understand that. There are specific applications I want: Dolphin, Firefox, Ark, Konsole, Kate; I use these all the time. But I also have to have the shutdown/restart/hibernate from the K Menu Power Off option. I don't know which package provides that.

The problem, for me, is I don't know which are the 'required' packages to install so that I have a minimal working Plasma Desktop, and that has the ability to perform the shutdown/restart/hibernate from the K Menu Power Off option. And, I must have the ability to get to TTYs from the Plasma Desktop. This later need may seem obvious, but when I last tried to get KDE Plasma working in the Arch VM, that ability, along with the shutdown ability, wasn't present.

[NickStone]

I believe the package kshutdown is what you need to install.

[sithlord48]

for some odd reason when you install sddm it doesn't depend on teh xserver package.. when you install sddm it also doesn't activate it by default so you need to do that yourself..
pacman -Ss <string> - to search for a package.


dolphin, kate, etc you can install with pacman -S dolphin kate , etc.... those ones are seperate packages
about TTYs on arch your gui is on TTY1 so if that is the tty your trying to switch to its not gonna work (also i can't switch tty's in a vm ever)
the shutdown thing im not sure about since i have not had this issue on any install . i have also not installed to a vm and tried to use the kmenu to shutdown (i just close the vm window , bad i know)

[eggbert]

@NickStone

That's fine, and I sort of understand that. There are specific applications I want: Dolphin, Firefox, Ark, Konsole, Kate; I use these all the time. But I also have to have the shutdown/restart/hibernate from the K Menu Power Off option. I don't know which package provides that.

The problem, for me, is I don't know which are the 'required' packages to install so that I have a minimal working Plasma Desktop, and that has the ability to perform the shutdown/restart/hibernate from the K Menu Power Off option. And, I must have the ability to get to TTYs from the Plasma Desktop. This later need may seem obvious, but when I last tried to get KDE Plasma working in the Arch VM, that ability, along with the shutdown ability, wasn't present.

This is one thing that annoys me about Arch. I have no interest in knowing which package provides what for something as mundane as shutdown functionality. If I have to look it up, that in my mind, is a total waste of time and effort.

That said, Arch does at least provide "groups" of packages for KDE. Any time I've played with Arch, I installed it using Architect which actually installs the required packages for a base KDE install. Then I installed the following package groups:

https://www.archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/kdebase/
https://www.archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/kdeutils/
https://www.archlinux.org/groups/x86_64/kdegraphics/

E.g

sudo pacman -S kdebase kdeutils kdegraphics

This easier than looking up & installing individual packages, and it aslo gives you a KDE comparable to what you get with a typical KDE distribution like kubuntu.

[Snowhog]

sudo pacman -S kdebase kdeutils kdegraphics

This easier than looking up & installing individual packages, and it aslo gives you a KDE comparable to what you get with a typical KDE distribution like kubuntu.

Thank you. That is the type of information I was looking for.

[Rog131]

I believe the package kshutdown is what you need to install.

KShutdown is an excellent application BUT is is not part of the KDE release: https://www.archlinux.org/packages/c..._64/kshutdown/ -> http://kshutdown.sourceforge.net

What is KShutdown?


KShutdown is a graphical shutdown utility for Linux and Windows. It allows you to turn off or suspend a computer at a specified time. It features various time and delay options, command-line support, and notifications.

[Rog131]

Building from the ground up

At here, with the all Linux distributions - Building from the ground up.
(older: Alternative "Kubuntu" Installation - https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...t-Installation )


With the Arch


Following Installation guide: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_guide

When the basic system (root & a user) is there - Installing the X: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xorg

Testing:



Seems to work...

Installing the KDE Plasma desktop: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/KDE#Plasma_Desktop

Install the plasma-meta meta-package or the plasma group. Alternatively, for a more minimal Plasma installation, install the plasma-desktop package.

The plan is to build from the ground up so the plasma-desktop is the right choice.

Testing:



Working - Maybe few KDE applications:

To install the full set of KDE Applications, install the kde-applications group or the kde-applications-meta meta-packages to install specific modules.

Or if you know what you want to install...




Installing more and more...

[Snowhog]

@Rog131

Thank you very much. As always, your input is invaluable.

Added:
(On my Oracle VirtualBox VM)

After installing a basic X Windows System (sudo pacman -S xorg-server xorg-xinit xorg-utils xorg-server-utils mesa xorg-twm xterm xorg-xclock xf86-video-intel), startx functions correctly. Then I installed plasma-desktop (sudo pacman -S plasma-desktop). startx /usr/bin/startkde brings up a working, functioning Plasma Desktop. The Lock, Logout, Suspend, Hibernate, Restart, Shutdown options are present and work (tested the Logout and Shutdown; assuming the others function as well). Then installed kate, ark, dolphin, konsole (sudo pacman -S kate ark dolphin konsole) and the additional packages for ark (p7zip, zip, unzip, unrar).

I have a fully functioning KDE Plasma (minimal) Desktop Environment running on Arch Linux in an Oracle VirtualBox VM. Thank you Rog131!

[Snowhog]

Arch may in fact be the 'user un-friendly' Linux I've heard it is.

I posted the following in the Newbie Corner of Arch Forums just a bit ago:

I have successfully installed Arch with a minimal Plasma Desktop in my Oracle VirtualBox VM and on my Toshiba laptop. I opted not to install sddm, which means I boot to the command line and log in. Then, if I want, I launch into the Desktop.
I only have one issue at the moment; no sound in the VM or on the laptop. I'll get that sorted out soon enough, and it isn't in anyway a show stopper.

This is the follow-on post from a Forum Moderator to my post:

Great. I recommend that you get a blog for this sort of thing..
Closing, for deletion.

Geez!! Guess how that comment made me feel. I sent the moderator an email. Waiting to see if I get banned (no language used).

Added:

I really need to 'count to ten' before .....

'Comprehending' what is being said versus 'reacting to what is said' when the vehicle of communication is digital, are two very different things! And I should know that!
This is the reply I received from the Forum Moderator I emailed this evening:

Hi Snowhog,

I'm sorry that you feel so strongly about your topic deletion.
However, please note that the forums are for requesting (and
providing) technical assistance, not for recounting your own personal
success stories. You are very welcome to share your expertise with
your fellow forumers when such topics arise, but please do not create
topics to simply inform everyone that you have accomplished x, y or z.
If you feel that you have valuable insights to share, then the wiki is
the place to record these tidbits of information, not forum posts.

Of course, if you feel that my (or any other mod or admin's) actions
are unjustified, feel free to use the report button on the forum to
alert the entire mod/admin team and request a second opinion,
providing as much information to support your request as you feel is
necessary.

Cheers,


WorMzy

And my reply:

WorMzy,

Thank you for the kind reply (and I do mean that; kind).


I apologize for the tone in my email. Being excited about a success and having gotten the response you gave, well, the two didn’t go together very well — IMO.


I am not new to Linux. I’ve been using Kubuntu Linux since 2007, and I help administer Kubuntu Forums . Net. My experiences with Kubuntu and our own community on KFN have, of course, colored my views on Linux. That isn’t to say that my views are myopic; on the contrary. I try to approach things with an open mind, even if I don’t always succeed!


We have a sub-forum called Community Chat where we allow (almost all) off-topic conversations. I don’t see anything similar in the Arch Forums. Is there any place in the Forums for posts like I made, or are the Arch forums intended more for technical discussions?


Again, thank you for your reply, and for not biting my head off.

[Qqmike]

Well, I stated my opinion on aspects of this subject in Post #32.
Apart from that, I see no forum at Arch that even remotely resembles a social, opinion-place, or casual hangout.
https://bbs.archlinux.org/
And further apart from my Post #32 (my opinions galore there), there's another aspect of this: The people at Arch do have the right (if it is so assumed or postulated) to make any rules they wish. Perhaps it is just simply a place to ask and to answer questions that are strictly technical and that strictly apply to the categories in their subforums. Nothing wrong with that. Games people play, ya know. But by KFN culture, it sure ain't very friendly over there! For me, Post #58 by Rog131 is enough for me, tells me what I would ever want to know about how to get into Arch--and I feel no need (at this time) to actually instantiate Post #58 by my own personal example. But this is an interesting thread.

[GreyGeek]

While I didn't have any problem installing Arch under VB with a fully working Plasma5 DE, I found the help at their forum to be just as you experienced it. I deleted my guest Arch because I found after a month of testing it that I didn't like Plasma5. But, if I had liked Plasma5 the attitude at Arch's forum would have been enough to cause me to search elsewhere.