Arch Linux ARM: Difference between revisions

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Expanded the overview by describing Arch Linux ARM's design philosophy and licensing status.
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{{Short description|Arch Linux distribution fork dedicated to ARM architectures}}
{{Infobox OS
| logo = [[File:Logo_of_Arch_Linux_ARM.png|250px|Arch Linux ARM logo]]
| name = Arch Linux ARM
| developer = Kevin Mihelich and team<ref name="team">
{{cite web
| url = httphttps://wwwgithub.archlinuxarm.orgcom/aboutorgs/archlinuxarm/teampeople
| title = Team
| accessdate = 20142023-1210-1130
| website = archlinuxarm.orgGitHub
}}
</ref>
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| latest_release_version = ([[Rolling release]])
| websiteupdatemodel = [[Pacman (package = {{URLmanager)|//www.archlinuxarm.org/}}Pacman]]
| package_manager = Pacman
| supported_platforms = [[ARM architecture|ARM]]
| license = [[Free software]] ([[GPL|GPLv2]])<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archlinuxarm.org/support/faq | title = Arch Linux ARM FAQ | accessdate = 2014-12-13 | website = archlinuxarm.org | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120529061208/http://archlinuxarm.org/support/faq | archive-date = 2012-05-29 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
 
'''Arch Linux ARM''' is a port of [[Arch Linux]] for [[ARM architecture|ARM]] processors.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archlinuxarm.org/ | title = Arch Linux ARM | website = archlinuxarm.org | access-date = 2012-06-17 | archive-date = 2011-08-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110811171756/http://archlinuxarm.org/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>[{{Cite web |url=https://github.com/archlinuxarm/PKGBUILDs |title=git repository for arch linux arm |website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=2012-06-18 |archive-date=2015-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101171547/https://github.com/archlinuxarm/PKGBUILDs |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://www.linux-arm.info/index.php/209-arch-linux-on-hp-touchpad-installation-demonstration |title=linux-arm news] |access-date=2012-06-18 |archive-date=2012-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628093945/http://www.linux-arm.info/index.php/209-arch-linux-on-hp-touchpad-installation-demonstration |url-status=live }}</ref> Its design philosophy is "simplicity and full control to the end user,"<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archlinuxarm.org/ | accessdate = 2014-12-13 | title = Arch Linux ARM | archive-date = 2014-12-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141216185603/http://archlinuxarm.org/ | url-status = live }}</ref> and like its parent operating system Arch Linux, aims to be very Unix-like.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archlinuxarm.org/support/faq | title = FAQ | accessdate = 2014-12-13 | website = archlinuxarm.org}}</ref>. Arch Linux ARM is licensed under the [[GNU General Public License]] version 2, being free and open source code<ref>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120529061208/http://archlinuxarm.org/support/faq | titlearchive-date = Team | accessdate = 20142012-1205-1329 | websiteurl-status = archlinuxarm.orgdead }}</ref>.
 
== History and Developmentdevelopment ==
Arch Linux ARM is based on Arch Linux, which is a minimalist Linux distribution first released on March 11, 2002.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/History_of_Arch_Linux | title = History of Arch Linux | accessdate = 2014-12-13 | website = wiki.archlinux.org | archive-date = 2014-09-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140908120430/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/History_of_Arch_Linux | url-status = live }}</ref> The idea of making a single, official port of Arch Linux for devices with ARM processors was born from members of the Arch Linux PlugApps and ArchMobile development teams,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=117251 | title = Arch Linux BBS [ARM] Arch Linux ARM: A new unified effort from PlugApps & ArchMobile| accessdate = 2014-12-13| website = bbs.archlinux.org| archive-date = 2014-09-12| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140912193147/https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=117251| url-status = live}}</ref>, notably Mike Staszel, who went on to found the Arch Linux ARM project.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archlinuxarm.org/about/team | title = Team | accessdate = 2014-12-11 | website = archlinuxarm.org | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141207151320/http://archlinuxarm.org/about/team | archive-date = 2014-12-07 | url-status = dead }}</ref>.
Arch Linux ARM is based off of Arch Linux, a minimalist Linux distribution first released on March 11, 2002.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/History_of_Arch_Linux | title = History of Arch Linux | accessdate = 2014-12-13 | website = wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref> The idea of making a single, official port of Arch Linux for devices with ARM processors was born from members of the Arch Linux PlugApps and ArchMobile development teams<ref>{{cite web | url = https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=117251 | title = Arch Linux BBS [ARM] Arch Linux ARM: A new unified effort from PlugApps & ArchMobile| accessdate = 2014-12-13| website = bbs.archlinux.org}}</ref>, notably Mike Staszel, who went on to found the Arch Linux ARM project<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archlinuxarm.org/about/team | title = Team | accessdate = 2014-12-11 | website = archlinuxarm.org}}</ref>.
Kevin Mihelich is currently Arch Linux ARM's primary developer<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archlinuxarm.org/about/team | title = Team | accessdate = 2014-12-11 | website = archlinuxarm.org}}</ref>. Arch Linux ARM is community developed, with software development and user support provided fully by volunteer effort and donations<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archlinuxarm.org/donate | title = Donate | accessdate = 2014-12-11 | website = archlinuxarm.org}}</ref>. Also, unlike other community supported operating systems such as Ubuntu, Arch Linux ARM has a relatively small user base, making user participation in development especially important<ref>{{cite web | url = https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/arch_compared_to_other_distributions | title = Arch compared to other distributions| accessdate = 2014-12-13| website = wiki.archlinux.org}}</ref>.
 
Kevin Mihelich is currently Arch Linux ARM's primary developer.<ref>{{cite web | url name= http://www.archlinuxarm.org/about/"team | title = Team | accessdate = 2014-12-11 | website = archlinuxarm.org}}<"/ref>. Arch Linux ARM is community -developed, with software development and user support provided fully by volunteer effort and donations.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archlinuxarm.org/donate | title = Donate | accessdate = 2014-12-11 | website = archlinuxarm.org | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141126072425/http://archlinuxarm.org/donate | archive-date = 2014-11-26 | url-status = dead }}</ref>. Also, unlike other community -supported operating systems such as Ubuntu, Arch Linux ARM has a relatively small user base, making user participation in development especially important.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/arch_compared_to_other_distributions | title = Arch compared to other distributions| accessdate = 2014-12-13| website = wiki.archlinux.org| archive-date = 2013-01-16| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130116101750/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Compared_to_Other_Distributions| url-status = live}}</ref>.
==Support==
 
Arch Linux ARM follows a [[rolling release]] cycle, i.e. new software is packaged as it is released.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.archlinuxarm.org/ | accessdate = 2014-12-13 | title = Arch Linux ARM | archive-date = 2014-12-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141216185603/http://archlinuxarm.org/ | url-status = live }}</ref> This "bleeding edge" release cycle of small, frequent package updates differs from release cycles of Linux distributions such as [[Debian]], which focus on large, scheduled releases of packages proven to be stable.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/arch_compared_to_other_distributions | accessdate = 2014-12-14 | title = Arch compared to other distributions | archive-date = 2013-01-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130116101750/https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Compared_to_Other_Distributions | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.viaspringboard.com/blog/2014/04/21/arm-operating-systems/ | accessdate = 2014-12-14 | website = viaspringboard.com | title = A survey of ARM operating systems | archive-date = 2014-12-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141215052548/http://www.viaspringboard.com/blog/2014/04/21/arm-operating-systems/ | url-status = usurped }}</ref>
Unlike Arch Linux, which is aimed at [[x86]] CPU's ([[IA-32]] and [[x86-64]]), Arch Linux ARM is aimed at low- and high-end ARM CPUs. On the low end there is support for ARMv5 platforms like plug computers and OXNAS-based ARMv6 [[Pogoplug]]s.
 
== Supported processors ==
On the higher end, there is support for:
Unlike Arch Linux, which is aimed at [[x86-64]] CPUs, Arch Linux ARM targets ARM CPUs and, as a result, it supports many [[single-board computer]]s such as the [[Raspberry Pi]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.raspberrypi.org/arch-linux-arm-available-for-download/ | title = ARCH LINUX ARM AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD | website = raspberrypi.org | accessdate = 2014-12-14 | archive-date = 2015-03-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150313091524/http://www.raspberrypi.org/arch-linux-arm-available-for-download/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv6/raspberry-pi | title = Raspberry Pi | website = archlinuxarm.org | accessdate = 2014-12-14 | archive-date = 2014-12-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141219092123/http://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv6/raspberry-pi | url-status = dead }}</ref>
 
There is support for:
* ARMv7 first generation [[ARM Cortex-A8|Cortex-A8]] platforms, such as the [[BeagleBoard]] or [[Cubieboard]]
 
* ARMv7 second generation [[ARM Cortex-A9|Cortex-A9]] and Tegra platforms, such as the [[PandaBoard]] or [[TrimSlice]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=arm_arch_trimslice&num=1 |title=Arch-ing ARM: Running Arch Linux On The NVIDIA Tegra 2 |last=Larabel |first=Michael |date=January 13, 2012 |website=[[Phoronix]] |accessdate=July 3, 2013}}</ref>
* [[ARMv7]] 1st generation [[ARM Cortex-A8|Cortex-A8]] platforms, such as the [[BeagleBoard]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv7/ti/beagleboard|title=BeagleBoard|website=archlinuxarm.org|accessdate=2014-12-14|archive-date=2014-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219093115/http://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv7/ti/beagleboard|url-status=live}}</ref> or [[Cubieboard]]
* ARMv7 third generation [[ARM Cortex-A7|Cortex-A7]] and [[ARM Cortex-A15|Cortex-A15]] platforms, such as the [[Cubieboard2]], [[Odroid]] XU, [[Samsung Chromebook#Samsung Series 3|Samsung Chromebook (series 3)]] or [[Samsung Chromebook 2]]
* ARMv7 second2nd generation [[ARM Cortex-A9|Cortex-A9]] and [[Tegra]] platforms, such as the [[PandaBoard]] or [[TrimSlice]]<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=arm_arch_trimslice&num=1 |title=Arch-ing ARM: Running Arch Linux On The NVIDIA Tegra 2 |last=Larabel |first=Michael |date=January 13, 2012 |website=[[Phoronix]] |accessdate=July 3, 2013 |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512135349/http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=arm_arch_trimslice&num=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ARMv7 third3rd generation [[ARM Cortex-A7|Cortex-A7]] and [[ARM Cortex-A15|Cortex-A15]] platforms, such as the [[Cubieboard2]], [[Odroid]] XU, [[Samsung Chromebook#Samsung Series 3|Samsung Chromebook (series 3)]] or, [[Samsung Chromebook 2]] or Raspberry Pi 2
* [[ARMv8]] 64-bit capable [[ARM Cortex-A53|Cortex-A53]] and [[ARM Cortex-A72|Cortex-A72]] platforms, such as the Odroid C2 and N2, Acer Chromebook R13 or Raspberry Pi 3.
 
Arch Linux ARM can run on any device that supports ARMv7 or ARMv8 instruction sets,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.activestate.com/blog/2013/06/supporting-arch-linux-arm-development-team-komodo-ide |title=Supporting the Arch Linux ARM Development Team with Komodo IDE |last=Kanasoot |first=Michael |date=June 27, 2013 |website=[[ActiveState]] |accessdate=July 1, 2013 |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702194435/http://www.activestate.com/blog/2013/06/supporting-arch-linux-arm-development-team-komodo-ide |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Failed verification |reason=It can only run on certain devices, not any device. |date=October 2023}} including the 64-bit ARMv8 instruction set of the Raspberry Pi 3 and 4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arch Linux ARM Downloads |url=https://archlinuxarm.org/about/downloads |website=Arch Linux ARM |accessdate=2020-04-15 |archive-date=2020-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224221316/https://archlinuxarm.org/about/downloads |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
There are officially supported platforms<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archlinuxarm.org/platforms |title=Platform Comparison |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=Arch Linux ARM |access-date=2023-10-30 |quote=}}</ref> and community-supported ones as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=27 |title=Community-Supported Devices |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=Arch Linux ARM |access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref>
 
== Reception ==
Arch Linux ARM has gained popularity as a [[lightweight Linux distribution]], and in 2014 was growing in popularity among [[single-board computer]] hobbyists.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.linux.com/news/software/applications/780781-6-excellent-lightweight-linux-distros-for-x86-and-arm | title = 6 Excellent Lightweight Linux Distros for x86 and ARM | website = linux.com | accessdate = 2014-12-14 | archive-date = 2014-12-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141217214308/http://www.linux.com/news/software/applications/780781-6-excellent-lightweight-linux-distros-for-x86-and-arm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.viaspringboard.com/blog/2014/04/21/arm-operating-systems/ | title = A survey of ARM operating systems | website = viaspringboard.com | accessdate = 2014-12-14 | archive-date = 2014-12-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141215052548/http://www.viaspringboard.com/blog/2014/04/21/arm-operating-systems/ | url-status = usurped }}</ref> Arch Linux ARM is also known for having good community support.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/598228-4-fine-linux-arm-distros- | title = 4 Fine Linux ARM Distros | website = linux.com | accessdate = 2014-12-14 | archive-date = 2014-12-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141215051120/http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/598228-4-fine-linux-arm-distros- | url-status = live }}</ref>
 
However, Arch Linux ARM can run on any device that supports ARMv5te, ARMv6h or ARMv7 instruction sets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.activestate.com/blog/2013/06/supporting-arch-linux-arm-development-team-komodo-ide |title=Supporting the Arch Linux ARM Development Team with Komodo IDE |last=Kanasoot |first=Michael |date=June 27, 2013 |website=[[ActiveState]] |accessdate=July 1, 2013}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Linux}}
 
* [[List of Linux distributions]]
* [[Comparison of Linux distributions]]
 
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
== External linklinks ==
* {{Official website|http://archlinuxarm.org}}
 
[[Category:ARM Linux distributions]]
[[Category:ARM operating systems]]
 
[[Category:Linux distributions]]
 
[[Category:Rolling release Linux distributions]]
{{Linux-distro-stub}}