this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2025
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I wish I new how to easily install an AUR package manager when I first started.
Step 1: go to the AUR and choose a package manager. I recommend paru, but there are plenty of others.
Step 2: install git using pacman
Step 3: copy the git clone URL for paru and pull it
Step 4: CD into the new directory
Step 5: install paru
Now when you find a package from the AUR you want, you can easily install it.
Also, when you update your system, you only need to run
paru -Syu. You don't need to run bothpacman -Syuandparu -Syu.Why paru specifically?
Rust-based and actively developed
Rust based is not a feature it is a slogan. Yay is the defacto standard and also actively developed. That being said use whatever works for you and AUR.
Paru started as a rewrite of Yay by the main developer
Pacman is the only standard package manager for Arch. Arch recommends against using third party package managers, including Yay.
Sure unless you want to use AUR and now what do they recommend?
They have a whole wiki for the AUR.
Arch Wiki - Arch User Repository
Ya. Ok. But pacman does not let you use the AUR. Using the AUR is one did the primary reasons to choose Arch.
So, if you want to use the AUR, you need to use something like yay or paru. And, if you do, you no longer need to use pacman.
To be clear to the newbies, pacman -Syu updates your entire system ( except packages from the AUR ). yay -Syu updates your entire system, including packages from the AUR.
If you just ran yay -Syu, running pacman -Syu will report that there is “nothing to do” since your system will already be up to date.
The same is true if you sub paru for yay above.
You definitely do not need to use any pacman wrappers to build a package from the AUR. Those tools make it easy, yes, but are not required.
Building a package can be as simple as
git clone AURpackageherecd AURpackageheremakepkg -siUm. Ya, I guess. Ok.
First, how do you keep that package up to date?
Real question though is, do you really think that is better than “yay -S AURpackagehere” or even “paru AURpackagehere”?
To update the package, you use git to pull the latest branch code and repeat the process. You should double check if there are dependency changes though.
Like I said, its easier with a pacman wrapper, but not necessary.
Yes. Thank you. My question (or point) was how you know that the package needs to be updated? As you point out, I need to do that for dependencies as well.
You are certainly correct though. You can pull AUR packages and build them without yay or paru.
Is there a chance that Arch says that so they don't have to take on the responsibility of endorsing yay while also acknowledging its prevalence?
Like if Nintendo made a statement saying they recommend against third party mods or repairs that deal with joycon stick drift because they don't want to be held accountable or contacted about issues consumers run into a result of them.
My understanding is this:
It's just the principle of AUR wrappers. Yes they are very useful, but anyone and their uncle can put a package in AUR name it whatever they want as long as it's not taken. AUR wrapper makes it easier to install things without knowing much, but manually searching for something, finding it, and installing it involves conscious choices. Arch cannot be responsible for people installing malware from a software they recommended, that's why it's kept this way intensionally.
Imagine if yay/paru came with the os, or could be installed from pacman, then people would just recommend doing that to new users and then they might just install whatever and break the system a lot more.
They acknowledge many wrappers, not just yay. However, none are officially supported.
Arch Wiki