AlvinArch/README.md

# Complete Guide to Creating a Custom Arch Linux ISO

[![Scheduled ArchISO Build](https://git.vilaythong.us/alvinlollo/AlvinArch/actions/workflows/build-iso.yaml/badge.svg?branch=main)](https://git.vilaythong.us/alvinlollo/AlvinArch/actions?workflow=build-iso.yaml) [![Tests](https://git.vilaythong.us/alvinlollo/AlvinArch/actions/workflows/tests.yaml/badge.svg?branch=main)](https://git.vilaythong.us/alvinlollo/AlvinArch/actions?workflow=tests.yaml)

DistroTube: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSGGBbJBgvk&t=1228s>

Dotfiles install file structure:

```bash
AlvinArch/
├── airootfs/
│   ├── etc/skel/
│   │   ├── .config/bat/           # bat + catppuccin theme
│   │   ├── .config/fish/          # 20 files, quickshell guard
│   │   ├── .config/nvim/          # LazyVim (14 files)
│   │   ├── .config/hypr/custom/   # 8 files (kdeconnectd + cursor only)
│   │   ├── .config/starship.toml
│   │   ├── .zshrc                 # adapted (no hardcoded paths)
│   │   └── .fzf.zsh
│   └── root/customize_airootfs.sh # pre-installs oh-my-zsh, lazy.nvim, plugins
├── localrepo/
│   ├── build-end4-deps.sh         # non-interactive AUR build (all deps)
│   ├── end4-pkgbuilds/            # microtex-git, quickshell-git, bibata
│   ├── illogical-impulse-quickshell-git-*.pkg.tar.zst
│   ├── illogical-impulse-bibata-modern-classic-bin-*.pkg.tar.zst
│   └── update.sh                  # existing, regenerates repo db
└── packages.x86_64               # 420 packages (65+ end-4 deps added)
```

## Table of Contents

1. [Overview](#overview)
2. [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
3. [Directory Structure](#directory-structure)
4. [Core Configuration Files](#core-configuration-files)
5. [User Configuration (skel/)](#user-configuration-skel)
6. [System Services & Networking](#system-services--networking)
7. [Local Repository (localrepo/)](#local-repository-localrepo)
8. [Boot Configuration](#boot-configuration)
9. [Build & Test](#build--test)
10. [Planned Additions](#planned-additions)
11. [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)

---

## Overview

**AlvinArch** is a custom Arch Linux live ISO built on the [archiso](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Archiso) framework. It ships a Hyprland desktop with [end-4 dots-hyprland](https://github.com/end-4/dots-hyprland), a curated set of ~400 packages, and a local repository of pre-built AUR packages for packages not available in official repos. The ISO targets both real hardware and VMs (VirtualBox/Hyper-V/VMware guest services are enabled out of the box).

### Key Features

- **Hyprland + end-4** — Wayland compositor with illogical-impulse dotfiles (quickshell, bibata cursors, microtex)
- **LazyVim** — Pre-configured Neovim with lazy.nvim and curated plugins
- **Fish + Zsh + Starship** — Dual shell setup with oh-my-zsh and a cross-shell prompt
- **Local AUR repo** — Pre-built packages (end-4 deps, wallust, grub-customizer, etc.) that aren't in official repos
- **Curated packages** — ~400 packages across ccache, networking, dev tools, and desktop utilities
- **Guest VM support** — VirtualBox, Hyper-V, and VMware tools auto-enabled

---

## Prerequisites

### Required Tools

```bash
# Install archiso and dependencies
sudo pacman -S archiso git base-devel

# Optional but recommended
sudo pacman -S arch-install-scripts squashfs-tools
```

### Knowledge Requirements

- Basic Linux system administration
- Understanding of Arch Linux package management
- Shell scripting basics
- Git version control (for managing your project)

---

## Directory Structure

### Complete Project Layout

```
AlvinArch/
├── profiledef.sh                    # ISO metadata, compression, boot modes, file permissions
├── packages.x86_64                  # ~400 live-environment packages (Hyprland, end-4, dev tools)
├── bootstrap_packages               # Minimal build-time packages (base, arch-install-scripts)
├── pacman.conf                      # Repos: cachyos → core → extra → multilib → chaotic-aur → local-aur
├── airootfs/                        # Root filesystem overlay (copied into live ISO)
│   ├── etc/
│   │   ├── os-release               # NAME="Alvin Arch Linux", ID=arch
│   │   ├── hostname                 # Default hostname: archiso
│   │   ├── motd                     # Welcome text with install instructions and color bar
│   │   ├── locale.conf              # LANG=en_AU.UTF-8
│   │   ├── locale.gen               # Locale generation file
│   │   ├── localtime → ../usr/share/zoneinfo/...  # Timezone symlink
│   │   ├── resolv.conf              # DNS resolver config
│   │   ├── passwd                   # System user accounts
│   │   ├── shadow                   # Password hashes (mode 400)
│   │   ├── clamav/                  # ClamAV antivirus config (certs, clamd, freshclam, milter)
│   │   ├── skel/                    # Home directory template for new users
│   │   │   ├── .config/
│   │   │   │   ├── bat/             # bat + Catppuccin Macchiato theme
│   │   │   │   ├── fish/            # Fish shell config (~20 files, nvm, fisher, hyprland helper)
│   │   │   │   ├── nvim/            # LazyVim setup (init.lua, plugins/, config/)
│   │   │   │   ├── hypr/custom/     # Hyprland dotfiles (keybinds, rules, execs, env, general, scripts)
│   │   │   │   └── starship.toml    # Starship cross-shell prompt
│   │   │   ├── .zshrc               # Zsh config (oh-my-zsh compatible)
│   │   │   └── .fzf.zsh             # Fzf shell integration
│   │   ├── systemd/
│   │   │   ├── system/              # Service files and enablement symlinks
│   │   │   │   ├── choose-mirror.service          # Auto mirror selection
│   │   │   │   ├── pacman-init.service             # Keyring initialization
│   │   │   │   ├── livecd-alsa-unmuter.service     # Unmute ALSA on boot
│   │   │   │   ├── livecd-talk.service              # LiveCD talk helper
│   │   │   │   ├── multi-user.target.wants/        # Enabled services (iwd, NetworkManager, sshd, vboxservice,
│   │   │   │   │                                  #   hv_kvp/vss/fcopy, vmtoolsd, ModemManager, etc.)
│   │   │   │   ├── sysinit.target.wants/           # systemd-timesyncd, systemd-time-wait-sync
│   │   │   │   ├── sockets.target.wants/           # systemd-networkd, pcscd
│   │   │   │   ├── network-online.target.wants/    # systemd-networkd-wait-online
│   │   │   │   └── sound.target.wants/             # livecd-alsa-unmuter
│   │   │   ├── networkd.conf.d/     # IPv6 privacy extensions
│   │   │   ├── resolved.conf.d/     # systemd-resolved config
│   │   │   ├── journald.conf.d/     # Volatile journal storage
│   │   │   └── logind.conf.d/       # Do-not-suspend policy
│   │   ├── pacman.d/
│   │   │   ├── hooks/
│   │   │   │   ├── uncomment-mirrors.hook          # Enable mirrors after install
│   │   │   │   └── zzzz99-remove-custom-hooks-from-airootfs.hook
│   │   │   ├── chaotic-mirrorlist   # Chaotic AUR mirrors
│   │   │   └── cachyos-mirrorlist   # CachyOS mirrors
│   │   ├── ssh/sshd_config.d/       # SSH live-environment config (10-archiso.conf)
│   │   ├── modprobe.d/              # broadcom-wl.conf (Broadcom WiFi driver)
│   │   └── mkinitcpio.conf.d/       # archiso initramfs config
│   ├── usr/
│   │   ├── lib/os-release           # usr-merge os-release
│   │   ├── local/bin/               # choose-mirror, Installation_guide, livecd-sound
│   │   ├── local/share/livecd-sound/ # ALSA config (asound.conf.in)
│   │   └── share/pacman/keyrings/   # CachyOS GPG keyring + trust data
│   └── root/
│       ├── .automated_script.sh     # Automated install entry point
│       ├── .zlogin                  # Zsh login hook
│       ├── .gnupg/scdaemon.conf     # GPG smartcard config
│       ├── .live-pacman.conf        # Pacman config for live session
│       └── customize_airootfs.sh    # Build-time chroot script (oh-my-zsh, lazy.nvim, plugins)
├── localrepo/                       # Pre-built AUR packages (indexed as local-aur repo)
│   ├── build-end4-deps.sh           # Non-interactive AUR builder for end-4 dependencies
│   ├── update.sh                    # Regenerates repo DB + syncs names to packages.x86_64
│   ├── end4-pkgbuilds/             # PKGBUILDs: quickshell-git, microtex-git, bibata-modern-classic-bin
│   ├── *.pkg.tar.zst               # Pre-built packages (illogical-impulse-*, wallust, grub-customizer,
│   │                               #   snapd, upscayl, meshy-git, pacserve, etc.)
│   └── local-aur.db{,.tar.gz}      # Repo database files
├── efiboot/                         # UEFI boot (systemd-boot)
│   └── loader/
│       ├── loader.conf
│       └── entries/
│           ├── 01-archiso-linux.conf
│           ├── 02-archiso-speech-linux.conf
│           └── 03-archiso-memtest86+x64.conf
├── grub/                            # GRUB boot (BIOS + UEFI)
│   ├── grub.cfg
│   └── loopback.cfg
└── syslinux/                        # BIOS boot (syslinux)
    ├── syslinux.cfg
    ├── archiso_head.cfg
    ├── archiso_pxe-linux.cfg
    ├── archiso_sys.cfg
    ├── archiso_sys-linux.cfg
    ├── archiso_tail.cfg
    └── splash.png
```

## Core Configuration Files

### **profiledef.sh**

Defines the entire ISO build. Key settings: `iso_label="AlvinArch_..."`, `bootmodes` (BIOS syslinux + UEFI systemd-boot), `airootfs_image_type="squashfs"` with xz compression. Edit first to change branding or compression.

### **packages.x86_64**

The main package list (~400 packages). Packages from allowed repos (`cachyos`, `extra`, `multilib`, `chaotic-aur`) are installed directly. Packages in `localrepo/*.pkg.tar.zst` are pulled from the `[local-aur]` repo. Keep sorted alphabetically.

### **bootstrap_packages**

Minimal packages for the mkarchiso bootstrap phase: `base` and `arch-install-scripts`.

### **pacman.conf**

Defines the repo order: **cachyos → core → extra → multilib → chaotic-aur → local-aur**. The `[local-aur]` repo points to the local `localrepo/` directory for pre-built AUR packages.

---

## User Configuration (skel/)

Dotfiles in `airootfs/etc/skel/` are copied into every new user's home directory on the live ISO.

### **.config/bat/**

[bat](https://github.com/sharkdp/bat) with a Catppuccin Macchiato color theme. Provides `bat` as a `cat` replacement.

### **.config/fish/**

Fish shell configuration (~20 files). Includes nvm integration, fisher plugin manager, Hyprland auto-detection (`auto-Hypr.fish`), frozen theme/keybindings, and custom functions (`edit`, `update`, `lzd`).

### **.config/nvim/**

Full LazyVim setup powered by lazy.nvim. Includes `init.lua`, plugin specs for Obsidian, Arduino, and Harper (grammar), plus standard LazyVim config/options/keymaps/autocmds.

### **.config/hypr/custom/**

Hyprland dotfiles from [end-4 dots-hyprland](https://github.com/end-4/dots-hyprland):

| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `keybinds.lua` | Window manager keybindings |
| `general.lua` | Appearance, gaps, border settings |
| `rules.lua` | Window rules (floating, size, class matching) |
| `execs.lua` | Autostart commands |
| `env.lua` | Environment variables |
| `variables.lua` | Shared variable definitions |
| `scripts/` | Helper scripts (video wallpaper restore, paste-as-type) |

### **.config/starship.toml**

Cross-shell prompt config for [Starship](https://starship.rs/). Works with both Fish and Zsh.

### **.zshrc / .fzf.zsh**

Zsh configuration adapted for oh-my-zsh (installed by `customize_airootfs.sh`) and fzf shell integration.

---

## System Services & Networking

### Services (enabled via symlinks)

| Service | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `iwd` | WiFi management |
| `NetworkManager` | Network connections |
| `sshd` | SSH access to live environment |
| `vboxservice` | VirtualBox guest additions |
| `hv_kvp_daemon`, `hv_vss_daemon`, `hv_fcopy_daemon` | Hyper-V integration |
| `vmtoolsd`, `vmware-vmblock-fuse` | VMware guest tools |
| `ModemManager` | Mobile broadband |
| `pacman-init` | Initializes GPG keyring before package operations |
| `choose-mirror` | Auto mirror selection (triggered by `mirror` kernel param) |
| `livecd-alsa-unmuter` | Unmutes audio on live boot |

### Network Config

- **systemd-networkd** with IPv6 privacy extensions enabled
- **systemd-resolved** for DNS
- DHCP auto-configured for wired (ethernet) and wireless (iwd)

### Other System Config

- **ClamAV** — Antivirus daemon config included in `airootfs/etc/clamav/`
- **mkinitcpio** — Archiso-specific initramfs config
- **logind** — No-suspend policy for live session
- **journald** — Volatile (in-memory) log storage

---

## Local Repository (localrepo/)

Pre-built AUR packages that aren't available in any allowed repo. The `local-aur` repo is configured in `pacman.conf` and picked up automatically by mkarchiso.

### Scripts

- **`build-end4-deps.sh`** — Non-interactive AUR build for all end-4 (illogical-impulse) dependencies. Run `--quick` to skip large packages.
- **`update.sh`** — Regenerates the repo database and syncs new package names to `packages.x86_64`.

### end4-pkgbuilds/

Custom PKGBUILDs for end-4 metapackages:

- `quickshell-git` — Quickshell (Qt6/QML shell for Wayland)
- `microtex-git` — LaTeX previewer
- `bibata-modern-classic-bin` — Bibata cursor theme

### Pre-built Packages

Packages like `illogical-impulse-quickshell-git`, `illogical-impulse-bibata-modern-classic-bin`, `wallust`, `grub-customizer`, `snapd`, `upscayl-bin`, `meshy-git`, `xwaylandvideobridge`, `pacserve`, etc.

---

## Boot Configuration

### UEFI — systemd-boot (`efiboot/`)

Three boot entries: standard Arch Linux, speech/accessibility, and MemTest86+.

### BIOS — GRUB (`grub/`)

`grub.cfg` for BIOS/CSM boot, `loopback.cfg` for booting the ISO from a mounted image.

### BIOS — syslinux (`syslinux/`)

Legacy BIOS boot with custom splash screen. Includes PXE network boot config.

---

## Build & Test

### Building the ISO

```bash
# Build the ISO (repo root IS the profile directory)
sudo mkarchiso -v -w work -o out/ .

# Build AUR deps for end-4 (run locally before ISO build if localrepo/ is stale)
./localrepo/build-end4-deps.sh          # build all
./localrepo/build-end4-deps.sh --quick  # skip large AUR pkgs

# Refresh localrepo DB after adding/moving .pkg.tar.zst files
./localrepo/update.sh                    # re-indexes existing packages
./localrepo/update.sh pkg1.pkg.tar.zst   # add files, then re-index
```

### CI Checks (must pass before merge)

- **ShellCheck**: all `.sh` files checked with `shellcheck -x -s bash`
- **yamllint**: all `.yml`/`.yaml` files (relaxed config)
- **packages.x86_64 syntax**: one package per line, no trailing whitespace, `[a-zA-Z0-9._@+\-]+` only
- **Package repo check**: every package in `packages.x86_64` must be resolvable via `pacman -Si` in allowed repos (`cachyos`, `extra`, `multilib`, `chaotic-aur`), OR have a pre-built `.pkg.tar.zst` in `localrepo/`, OR appear in `localrepo/build-end4-deps.sh`

### Recommended VirtualBox Settings (for testing)

- RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
- Video Memory: 128MB
- 3D Acceleration: Enabled
- Storage: 40GB minimum

Guest additions (`vboxservice`), Hyper-V (`hv_*`), and VMware (`vmtoolsd`) tools are all auto-enabled in the live environment.

---

## Planned Additions

The following dotfiles are not yet included but are planned for future versions:

| Component | Status | Notes |
|-----------|--------|-------|
| **Alacritty** terminal config | 🚧 Planned | Catppuccin Macchiato theme to match bat |
| **GTK 3.0/4.0** theme config | 🚧 Planned | Consistent theming across GTK apps |
| **Fontconfig** custom settings | 🚧 Planned | Font rendering and fallback rules |
| **Dunst** notification daemon | 🚧 Planned | Notification appearance and behavior |

---

## Troubleshooting

### ISO won't boot

- Verify the ISO was built with `sudo mkarchiso` (not as a regular user)
- Check that UEFI or BIOS/CSM is correctly set in VM firmware settings
- For Ventoy: use the `.iso` directly, don't extract

### No network in live environment

- `iwd` handles WiFi — run `iwctl` to connect manually if NetworkManager doesn't detect networks
- Ethernet via systemd-networkd with DHCP should work automatically

### Package installation fails during build

- Run `./localrepo/update.sh` to refresh the localrepo database
- Ensure `localrepo/*.pkg.tar.zst` files are valid and not corrupted
- Check that the package name in `packages.x86_64` matches exactly

### LazyVim / oh-my-zsh not installed

- `customize_airootfs.sh` clones repos at build time — requires network access during `mkarchiso`
- Check build logs for git clone failures

---

## Acknowledgements

- [Arch Linux](https://archlinux.org/) and the [archiso](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Archiso) project
- [end-4 dots-hyprland](https://github.com/end-4/dots-hyprland) for the illogical-impulse Hyprland config
- [LazyVim](https://www.lazyvim.org/) for the Neovim starter config
- [DistroTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSGGBbJBgvk&t=1228s) for the archiso walkthrough that inspired this project