Arch Linux + archinstall + COSMIC DE Project

This project is a practical, reproducible guide for:

• Installing Arch Linux using archinstall
• Bootstrapping a desktop setup with COSMIC DE components
• Keeping post-install steps scripted and versioned

Project Layout

• docs/INSTALL.md: End-to-end install workflow
• docs/COSMIC.md: COSMIC package and session setup notes
• scripts/postinstall-cosmic.sh: Post-install automation starter
• scripts/install-wizard.sh: Interactive section-by-section installer (recommended flow)
• scripts/install-core.sh: Core layer (kernel + core packages + microcode/GPU + boot + snapshots)
• scripts/setup-repos.sh: Repo layer (Chaotic-AUR + paru)
• scripts/install-services.sh: Service layer (system services + optional laptop extras)
• scripts/install-userland.sh: Userland layer (apps + dev + gaming + COSMIC)
• scripts/install-microcode.sh: CPU microcode installer (auto|intel|amd|both)
• scripts/install-gpu-drivers.sh: GPU driver installer (auto|intel|amdgpu|nvidia|nvidia-open|all-open)
• scripts/configure-systemd-boot.sh: Quiet boot + fallback entry generator
• scripts/setup-btrfs-snapshots.sh: Snapper + snap-pac setup for Btrfs
• scripts/setup-paru.sh: Install paru AUR helper
• scripts/setup-system-extras.sh: Install reflector, flatpak, ufw, bluez; enable Bluetooth + TRIM
• scripts/setup-reflector-timer.sh: Configure and enable periodic reflector mirror refresh
• scripts/setup-maintenance.sh: Enable firmware updates (fwupd) + configure zram
• scripts/setup-ssh-hardening.sh: Apply SSH hardening with key-presence safety checks
• scripts/setup-chaotic-aur.sh: Configure Chaotic-AUR repository
• scripts/setup-gaming.sh: Install gaming packages (Steam/Lutris/GameMode/MangoHud)
• scripts/setup-dev.sh: Install Python + Rust developer baseline
• scripts/setup-apps.sh: Install requested desktop apps (browser/mail/editors/fonts/media/productivity)
• scripts/setup-cosmic.sh: Install COSMIC packages from repos/AUR when available
• scripts/setup-laptop.sh: Laptop extras (fingerprint + power profile tools)

Quick Start

1. Boot Arch ISO and connect to the internet.
2. Run archinstall with the profile choices documented in docs/INSTALL.md.
3. Reboot into your new system.
4. Clone this repo.
5. Run scripts/install-wizard.sh as your user (with sudo available), review detected hardware profile, then answer prompts section-by-section.
6. In the wizard, enable COSMIC package install (or install manually after checking pacman -Ss cosmic).

Optional preview mode:

• ./scripts/install-wizard.sh --dry-run
• ./scripts/postinstall-cosmic.sh zen-lts --dry-run

Goals

• Repeatable setup process
• Minimal manual steps
• Easy to customize for your hardware and preferences

Included Preferences

• Layered installer model: core, repos, services, userland (ordered to satisfy dependencies)
• Kernel profile zen-lts (recommended default)
• Kernel profile mainline-zen (RC/mainline primary + zen fallback)
• Kernel profile zen-stable (zen primary + stable fallback)
• Shell and terminal: fish, ghostty (if available in enabled repos)
• CLI extras: fastfetch, starship
• AUR helper: paru
• Additional repo: chaotic-aur
• Core extras: reflector, flatpak, ufw, Bluetooth stack, fstrim.timer
• Maintenance: fwupd, zram swap profile, reflector timer automation
• Security: SSH hardening profile (PermitRootLogin no, key-first policy)
• Gaming baseline: Steam, Lutris, GameMode, MangoHud, Wine
• Dev baseline: Python (pipx, uv) and Rust (rustup, stable toolchain)
• Requested apps/services: sshd, tailscale, protonplus, topgrade, loupe, amberol, showtime, onlyoffice, zed, thunderbird, firefox, fluent-reader-bin, helix, papers, sgdboop-bin, lsfg-vk-git, Nerd Fonts, gnome-disk-utility, power-profiles-daemon
• COSMIC packages install step integrated in wizard/userland layer
• Laptop setup: fingerprint stack (fprintd) and battery profile tooling
• Bootloader setup: systemd-boot with timeout 0, quiet default entry, and verbose fallback entry
• Snapshots: snapper + snap-pac + timers on Btrfs root

Validation

• scripts/postflight-check.sh: checks expected commands/services/config files after install

Logging

• Wizard logs: logs/install-wizard-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.log
• Non-interactive logs: logs/install-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.log

Snapper Checkpoints

• If root is Btrfs and Snapper root config exists, installers create:
• pre-install-wizard / post-install-wizard
• pre-postinstall-cosmic / post-postinstall-cosmic