Base & Architecture/Category 1•Single Selection

Installation Mode

Choose your setup path and archinstall profile context

Mode 2 (Minimal) is the recommended clean canvas. Mode 1 is for post-install additions on top of an existing desktop. Mode 3 replaces a DE, and Mode 4 is tailored for ancient legacy hardware.

Mode 2: Minimal Base + SimpleArch (Recommended)minimal-basereporecommended

Official archinstall with the Minimal profile. SimpleArch manages GPU drivers, compositor, modular shell daemons, and baseline dotfiles without conflicts.

+Zero package collisions or pre-installed bloat

+Complete control over GPU driver stack and Wayland engine

+Non-destructive dotfile backups with .bak extensions

-Requires post-install script run on first reboot into Arch

Mode 1: Desktop Profile Post-Installdesktop-postinstallrepo

For systems where 'Desktop' (e.g. GNOME, KDE, or Hyprland) was chosen during archinstall. SimpleArch only adds ricing enhancements, dev tools, and utilities.

+Boot directly into a working desktop before running script

+Preserves existing desktop settings

-May result in duplicate utilities (e.g. multiple terminals or launchers)

Mode 3: Replace Existing Profile Choicesreplace-existingrepo

Replaces an already installed desktop profile. Deactivates conflicting display managers and deploys the selected SimpleArch stack.

+Saves time compared to full disk re-partitioning and reinstallation

-Risk of leftover orphan config files

-May require manual cleanup of old display managers

Mode 4: Ancient Hardware Modeancient-hardwarerepo

Tailored for legacy dual-core CPUs (Core 2 Duo / Pentium), non-Vulkan iGPUs, and low RAM (<=4GB). Recommends pure X11, lz4 zram, and lightweight tools.

+Smooth performance on 10-15 year old machines

+Sub-200MB idle RAM footprint

+Zero GPU compositing overhead

-No Wayland features (touchpad gestures, fractional scaling)

-Simpler retro aesthetics