diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index edbf1ea..104dfc4 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Yet, it is guided, interactive and intuitive, so that probably everyone can use There is no support for non-GPT platforms, as this installer makes absolute use of uEFI's 'Discoverable Partitions Specification'. -Consequently, it will automate the detection of the underlying/involved partitions, perform sanity checks based on your preferences, and auto-mount or auto-activate these partitions when necessary (e.g. swap), without the use of the fstab file. +Consequently, it will automate the detection of the underlying/involved partitions, perform sanity checks based on your preferences, and auto-mount/auto-activate these partitions when necessary (e.g. swap), without the use of the fstab file. By using systemd's latest and greatest features, configuration needed for eg. swapping, hibernation etc, is a thing of the past. @@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ In particular, when the 'ext4' filesystem is being used, the 'genfstab' command In the same manner, 'systemd' (instead of 'base' & 'udev') will be used in your initramfs, as it provides the tools for the said automation. -The installation process completes in "one-go", meaning after it's over and the system has rebooted, you're basically done. +The installation process completes in "one-go", meaning after it's over and the system has rebooted, you're done. - ## Interaction: @@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ An 'Auto Mode' that offers ready-made compatible Partition Layout Presets with s A 'Manual Mode', where "cgdisk" is used, as it offers a TUI (ncurses) interface, making the process of managing the partition table, setting GUIDs etc. easy and safe(r) (Partition Manager stage). -A 'Smart Mode' that engages if the user has selected the 'Auto-Guided Installation' and will select a partitioning profile/preset based on current user preferences, with no additional user interaction needed. If 'Swap' have been selected, the user is offered to specify desired size. +A 'Smart Mode' that engages if the user has selected the 'Auto-Guided Installation' and will select a partitioning profile/preset based on current user preferences, (no additional user interaction needed). If 'Swap' has been selected, the user is offered to specify desired size. ### Input interaction: @@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ Self-explanatory. The installer informs about the pc-system vendor, model, platform {desktop/laptop/server/vm} and cpu microcode to be installed, ensuring the necessary '*-ucode' package will be installed later on. -In case of Intel cpus, if 'Minimal Plasma (System Optimized)' or 'Minimal Gnome (System Optimized)' setup is selected, then 'x86_energy_perf_policy' package will be installed and will be set to 'performance' mode for obtaining maximum cpu performance ONLY during the installation process. +In case of Intel cpus, if 'Minimal Plasma (optimized)' or 'Minimal Gnome (optimized)' setup has been selected, then the 'x86_energy_perf_policy' package will be installed and set to 'performance' mode for obtaining maximum cpu performance ONLY during the installation process. @@ -191,13 +191,15 @@ Select Filesystem to be used (Ext4 / Btrfs) If 'Ext4' is selected: -You will be asked if you'd like a seperate '/home' partition to be created and a filesystem speedup will take place by setting the 'fast_commit' option as default as well. +You will be asked if you'd like a seperate '/home' partition to be created. + +Also, a filesystem performance boost will take place by setting the 'fast_commit' option by default. If 'Btrfs' is selected: You will be asked to label your 'snapshots' directory. -If 'Btrfs' & 'Grub' bootloader are selected, the 'grub-btrfs' package will also be installed, and the 'grub-btrfsd' service will be automatically installed, for user convenience. +If 'Btrfs' & 'Grub' bootloader are selected, the 'grub-btrfs' package will be installed, and the 'grub-btrfsd' service will be automatically enabled, for user convenience. - ### Swap Selection: [Interactive - Skippable] @@ -231,7 +233,7 @@ In case of AMD graphics, 'amdgpu' driver support for 'Southern Islands' and 'Sea In case of Nvidia graphics, according to the gpu architecture, there's support for the newer 'nvidia-open' drivers. -The 'Nvidia Hook' will be automatically created (if needed). +If needed, the 'Nvidia Hook' will be automatically created. The purpose of this part of the installer is not to replace specialized or complicated/sofisticated software but only to offer support for a quick start. @@ -254,21 +256,19 @@ In this step, you will be presented with a list of setups to choose from: - [ ] 12. Custom Arch Linux --------------------------------------------------------------- -- All desktops (except 'Minimal Plasma (system optimized)' & 'Minimal Gnome (system optimized)' are completely 'Vanilla', and only come with network support (networkmanager). +- All desktop setups, except 'Minimal Plasma' & 'Minimal Gnome', are completely 'Vanilla', and only come with network support (networkmanager). For any additional functionality, please consult the Archwiki. - The installer offers the convenient option to set your own kernel parameters for boot, on-the-fly, while at 'Desktop Selection' stage. -- 'Minimal Plasma (system optimized)' will install a minimal, system-optimized KDE Plasma desktop plus additional every-day-use software. +- 'Minimal Plasma' setup will install a minimal, system-optimized KDE Plasma desktop plus additional every-day use software. -- 'Minimal Gnome (system optimized)' will install a minimal, system-optimized Gnome desktop plus additional every-day-use software. +- 'Minimal Gnome' setup will install a minimal, system-optimized Gnome desktop plus additional every-day use software. -- 'Basic Arch Linux' is literally a basic Arch linux system, consisting of the following packages: "base, linux{lts-hardened-zen}, linux-firmware (only if on bare-metal), sudo, *-ucode, nano, pkgstats, vim, networkmanager, wireless-regdb and e2fsprogs/btrfs-progs" (depending on the filesystem chosen). +- 'Basic Arch Linux' is literally a basic Arch linux system, consisting of just the following packages: "base, linux{lts-hardened-zen}, linux-firmware (only if on bare-metal), sudo, *-ucode, nano, pkgstats, vim, networkmanager, wireless-regdb and e2fsprogs/btrfs-progs" (depending on the filesystem selected). -It offers only the minimal configuration required to make your system run. - -- 'Custom Arch Linux' consists of the following packages: "base, linux-firmware (only if on bare-metal), sudo, pkgstats, and your current installation choices. +- 'Custom Arch Linux' consists of the following packages: "base, linux-firmware (only if on bare-metal), sudo, pkgstats, and your current installation preferences/choices. In this step you can create your own system (using a Basic Arch Linux system as base), on-the-fly, using the following Menus: @@ -279,9 +279,6 @@ In this step you can create your own system (using a Basic Arch Linux system as - [ ] Add Your Kernel Parameters [Skippable] --------------------------------------------------------------- -It offers only the minimal configuration required to make your system run. - - - ### EFI Boot Entries Deletion: [Interactive - Skippable] Choose if you wish to delete any EFI boot entries or skip. @@ -309,7 +306,7 @@ The'Partition Manager' stage consists of 2 Modes: An 'Automatic Mode' consisting of 2 sub-modes: 'Smart Mode': [Interactive - Skippable] - Detects user's preferences and partitions the selected disk accordingly, without any interaction with the user. + Detects user's preferences and partitions the selected disk accordingly (no user interaction needed). 'Partitioning Presets': [Interactive - Skippable] Offers ready-made 'Partition Layout Presets' with sane defaults to select from. @@ -317,9 +314,10 @@ Offers ready-made 'Partition Layout Presets' with sane defaults to select from. A 'Manual Mode': [Interactive - Skippable] It shows extended info about the supported partition types and mountpoints that the installer expects. -'cgdisk' is used, with its easy and intuitive ncurses TUI. +The user will manage the involved disk(S) manually, using 'cgdisk', with its easy and intuitive ncurses TUI. -Existence of an "EFI" System Partition and a "Root x86-64" Partition is mandatory. + +Existence of an "EFI" System Partition and a "Root x86-64" Partition is mandatory and expected. The partitions layout in this stage should reflect your previous choices, e.g. if you chose to use a 'Swap' partition, and it does not exist, now is the time to create it. @@ -340,7 +338,7 @@ The aim here is to make the installation process error-proof. It will ensure that an 'EFI' System Partition indeed exists, that a 'Root x86-64' partition exists, that a 'Swap' partition exists IF you chose to use a 'Swap' partition and will also detect an existing seperate 'Home' partition. -If 'systemd-boot' is selected and '/efi' mountpoint for an ESP smaller than 200Mb is selected, the installer expects an 'XBOOTLDR' extended boot partition to be present (user created). +If 'systemd-boot' is selected and '/efi' mountpoint for an ESP smaller than 200Mb is selected, the installer expects an 'XBOOTLDR' extended boot partition to be present/user created. On top of all that, the installer will scan the partitions on the installation disk and if more than one of each type {root/EFI/home/swap/xbootldr} are detected, then it will Auto-Assign the 1st partition of each (involved) type, to be used by systemd's automation in the installation (as the 'Discoverable Partitions Specifications' dictate). It comes with its own menu/prompts, for proper user interaction. @@ -359,7 +357,7 @@ Also, you will be asked to Label your partitions. Again, the scope here is not to create an inpenetrable system but a decently protected system. -Using 'Secure Boot' with an unencrypted 'EFI System partition' and a LUKS encrypted 'Root-Home-Swap' partition should suffice for the average user. +Using 'Secure Boot' with an unencrypted 'EFI System Partition' and a LUKS encrypted 'Root/Home/Swap' partition(s) should suffice. - ### Swap Partition Activation: [Auto] @@ -394,7 +392,7 @@ If your answer is 'no', then the installer unmounts all mounted partitions and r - ### Optimize Pacman: [Interactive] -Oftentimes, the mirrorlist created from Reflector's auto-run at start-up is not ideal. +Sometimes, the mirrorlist created from Reflector's auto-run at start-up is not ideal. So, in this step you can select your preferred country, from the current list of countries that are hosting Archlinux mirrors. @@ -421,11 +419,11 @@ Also, if a non-rotational drive is being used during installation, and LUKS encr Graphics setup, encryption setup, swap/swapfile/Zram Swap activation, offset calculation, specific filesystem-based options, pciid database update, auto configuration of your timezone based on your computer's ip address, makepkg optimization, sysctl / mkinitcpio / udisks / systemd / sudoers file configuration, systemd services activation etc. all happen here. -As mentioned earlier, configuration takes place using ONLY the respective drop-in directories and never the original '.conf' files, where applicable. +As mentioned earlier, configuration takes place using '.conf' files ONLY in the respective drop-in directories and never editing the original '.conf' files, where applicable. -' Minimal Plasma (Optimized) & Minimal Gnome (Optimized)' setups offer a few system optimizations. +'Minimal Plasma' & 'Minimal Gnome' setups offer a few system optimizations. -All other setups use just the required configuration to make your system run. +All other Vanilla setups use the basic/required configuration to make your system run. ### If the answer to the "Disk Encryption" step was "yes": @@ -433,7 +431,7 @@ All other setups use just the required configuration to make your system run. - ### Secure Disk Erasure: [Interactive - Skippable] -Since LUKS encryption has been chosen in a previous step, the installer offers the option to securely erase the involved drive before continuing with the installation, if so desired. +Since LUKS encryption has been selected in a previous step, the installer offers the option to securely erase the involved drive before continuing with the installation, if so desired. - ### LUKS Encryption: [Interactive - Skippable]