Essential Commands for new Users

https://dev.to/eshanized/arch-linux-cheat-sheet-essential-commands-for-new-users-1pc4

Whether you're a seasoned Arch user or a beginner, this cheat sheet has got your back. Let’s dive in! 🧙‍♂️⚡

🛠️ System Management

🔄 Update the system

sudo pacman -Syu

📥 Install a package

sudo pacman -S <package_name>

🗑️ Remove a package

sudo pacman -R <package_name>

🧹 Clean up unused dependencies

sudo pacman -Rns <package_name>

🔍 Search for a package in the repo

pacman -Ss <package_name>

📃 List installed packages

pacman -Q

📦 AUR (Arch User Repository) Management

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

📥 Install a package from AUR

yay -S <package_name>

🔄 Update all packages (including AUR)

yay -Syu

🗑️ Remove a package (AUR or repo)

yay -R <package_name>

💾 File System and Disk Management

📊 Check disk space usage

df -h

🗂️ Check directory size

du -sh <directory_name>

📂 Mount a disk

sudo mount /dev/<device_name> /mnt

🚪 Unmount a disk

sudo umount /mnt

🛠️ List all drives and partitions

lsblk

✏️ Format a drive to ext4

sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/<device_name>

👥 User Management

➕ Add a new user

sudo useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash <username>

🔑 Set a password for a user

sudo passwd <username>

🔄 Switch to another user

su - <username>

❌ Delete a user

sudo userdel -r <username>

🌐 Networking

📡 Display active connections

ip a

🔧 Enable/disable a network interface

sudo ip link set <interface> up
sudo ip link set <interface> down

🛜 Test network connectivity

ping <hostname_or_IP>

♻️ Restart NetworkManager

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

⚙️ System Services

📋 Check the status of a service

systemctl status <service_name>

▶️ Start/⏹️ Stop/🔄 Restart a service

sudo systemctl start <service_name>
sudo systemctl stop <service_name>
sudo systemctl restart <service_name>

🚀 Enable a service at startup

sudo systemctl enable <service_name>

⛔ Disable a service at startup

sudo systemctl disable <service_name>

🐧 Kernel and Boot Management

📜 List installed kernels

ls /boot/vmlinuz*

🔄 Update GRUB configuration

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

📥 Install a new kernel

sudo pacman -S linux-lts

🗑️ Remove an old kernel

sudo pacman -R linux-<version>

🚑 Troubleshooting

🪵 View system logs

journalctl -xe

🚀 View boot logs

dmesg | less

❌ Check failed systemd units

systemctl --failed

✨ Other Handy Commands

🧹 Clean the package cache

sudo pacman -Sc

🐧 Show Arch Linux system info

neofetch

🌎 Generate a mirrorlist

sudo reflector --latest 20 --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

✏️ Edit pacman configuration

sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf