Install Chaotic AUR on Arch Linux

Chaotic AUR is an unofficial repository that provides pre-built binaries of popular AUR packages, reducing the need to compile them manually. This guide will walk you through setting it up on Arch Linux or any Arch-based distribution.

Adding Chaotic AUR Repository

To enable Chaotic AUR, follow these steps:

1. Enable `multilib` Repository (if not already enabled)

Ensure that the multilib repository is enabled in your /etc/pacman.conf file:

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[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

After enabling, update the package database:

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sudo pacman -Sy

2. Import the Chaotic AUR Key

Before adding the repository, import the signing key:

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sudo pacman-key --init
sudo pacman-key --recv-key 3056513887B78AEB --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com
sudo pacman-key --lsign-key 3056513887B78AEB

3. Add the Chaotic AUR Repository

Append the following lines to your /etc/pacman.conf file:

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[chaotic-aur]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/chaotic-mirrorlist

Next, add the Chaotic mirrorlist:

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sudo pacman -U --noconfirm 'https://cdn-mirror.chaotic.cx/chaotic-aur/chaotic-keyring.pkg.tar.zst'
sudo pacman -U --noconfirm 'https://cdn-mirror.chaotic.cx/chaotic-aur/chaotic-mirrorlist.pkg.tar.zst'

4. Update Package Database

Now, refresh the package database to include Chaotic AUR:

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sudo pacman -Sy

Installing Packages from Chaotic AUR

You can now install pre-built AUR packages using Pacman. For example:

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sudo pacman -Syu package_name

Replace package_name with the actual package you want to install.

Example: Installing `paru` (AUR Helper)

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sudo pacman -S paru

Verifying Installation

To confirm that Chaotic AUR is set up correctly, list available packages:

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sudo pacman -Sl chaotic-aur | less

Removing Chaotic AUR (Optional)

If you wish to remove Chaotic AUR, follow these steps:

Remove Chaotic AUR entries from /etc/pacman.conf.
Delete the mirrorlist:

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sudo rm -f /etc/pacman.d/chaotic-mirrorlist

Refresh the package database:

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sudo pacman -Sy

Conclusion

Chaotic AUR is a great way to install AUR packages without compiling them manually. By following this guide, you can easily set up and use Chaotic AUR on your Arch-based system.