Mastering AUR Package Installation on Arch Linux with Yay: The Ultimate Guide

Installing AUR Packages on Arch Linux Using Yay

Arch Linux, known for its simplicity and flexibility, offers users access to the Arch User Repository (AUR) for additional software packages not included in the official repositories. One popular AUR helper tool is Yay, which simplifies the process of installing and managing AUR packages. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to master AUR package installation on Arch Linux using Yay.

Understanding the Arch User Repository (AUR)

The Arch User Repository (AUR) is a community-driven repository that contains user-contributed packages. These packages are not officially maintained by Arch Linux but are instead managed by the community. Users can access a vast array of software applications, utilities, and tools through the AUR, expanding the software offerings available on Arch Linux.

Introducing Yay: Your AUR Helper Tool

Yay is a popular AUR helper tool that streamlines the process of installing and managing AUR packages on Arch Linux. Yay simplifies package installation by handling dependencies, resolving conflicts, and providing an intuitive interface for searching and installing AUR packages.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing AUR Packages with Yay

  1. Update System: Before installing any packages, ensure your system is up to date by running sudo pacman -Syu.
  2. Install Yay: Use the following command to install Yay from the AUR:
    git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
    cd yay
    makepkg -si
  3. Search for a Package: To search for a specific package, use the command yay -Ss <package_name>.
  4. Install a Package: Install a package by running yay -S <package_name>. Yay will handle the installation process, including dependencies.
  5. Update AUR Packages: Keep your AUR packages up to date by running yay -Syu.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While using Yay to install AUR packages, you may encounter some common issues. Here are a few troubleshooting tips:

  • If a package fails to build, check the AUR package page for user comments and solutions.
  • Ensure your system is up to date before installing any packages with Yay.
  • If encountering dependency conflicts, try using the --mflags option to modify the make flags.

By following these steps and best practices, you can efficiently install and manage AUR packages on Arch Linux using Yay. Explore the vast offerings available in the AUR and enhance your Arch Linux experience with a wide range of software options.

DrayTek Vigor 2962 2.5Gb Ethernet Dual-WAN Broadband Firewall Router, 200 VPN Tunnels, 20 VLANS, QOS, Remote Management, Load Balancing

DrayTek Vigor 2962 2.5Gb Ethernet Dual-WAN Broadband Firewall Router, 200 VPN Tunnels, 20 VLANS, QOS, Remote Management, Load Balancing

High Performance Multi-WAN Router - The Vigor 2962 makes full use of FTTP Fibre Broadband at up to 2.2Gbps throughput for single or multi-WAN configurations. With Quality of Service, Firewall and Content Filtering.

Buy Now on Amazon
NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK763S) , Mesh Router & 2 Extenders , Cover Every Room, Up To 6,000 Sq Ft , Improve WiFi Speeds up to 5.4 Gbps & 75 devices , Simple App Set Up

NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK763S) , Mesh Router & 2 Extenders , Cover Every Room, Up To 6,000 Sq Ft , Improve WiFi Speeds up to 5.4 Gbps & 75 devices , Simple App Set Up

WiFI mesh coverage of up to 6,000 sq ft and up to 75 devices, With each satellite (sold separately) you can extend the range by up to 2,000 sq ft

Buy Now on Amazon
DrayTek Vigor 2865Lax-5G Ethernet Router, WiFi 6 AX3000 Wireless and 5G Failover, Integrated 5G Modem, 5+1 GbE LAN Ports with VLANs, VDSL

DrayTek Vigor 2865Lax-5G Ethernet Router, WiFi 6 AX3000 Wireless and 5G Failover, Integrated 5G Modem, 5+1 GbE LAN Ports with VLANs, VDSL

VDSL and Ethernet Load Balancer - Connect the Vigor 2865 to Superfast Fibre with the integrated VDSL modem. Use the Ethernet WAN with Cable and Ultrafast FTTP. Load Balance multiple connections to boost performance.

Buy Now on Amazon
TP-Link Archer BE550 Router WiFi 7 BE9300Mbps, Tri-Band WiFi Router, 2.5G Ports,USB Port,Maximized Coverage,VPN Router, Parental Control, HomeShield Security, Private IoT Network,Easy Setup,EasyMesh

TP-Link Archer BE550 Router WiFi 7 BE9300Mbps, Tri-Band WiFi Router, 2.5G Ports,USB Port,Maximized Coverage,VPN Router, Parental Control, HomeShield Security, Private IoT Network,Easy Setup,EasyMesh

Wi-Fi 7 Routers: With powerful Wi-Fi 7 performance, lightning-fast wired connections, and brand-new design

Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-253A-4G 2 Bay NAS Enclosure with 4GB RAM - Black (GDPR Compliant)

QNAP TS-253A-4G 2 Bay NAS Enclosure with 4GB RAM - Black (GDPR Compliant)

NAS and iSCSI-SAN unified storage solution for server virtualization

Buy Now on Amazon
WD 16TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra 2-bay NAS - Network Attached Storage RAID, file sync, streaming, media server, with WD Red drives

WD 16TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra 2-bay NAS - Network Attached Storage RAID, file sync, streaming, media server, with WD Red drives

Centralised network storage: Organise your entire media collection, photos and files in one central, network location

Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DX517 5 Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Expansion Enclosure, Black

Synology DX517 5 Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Expansion Enclosure, Black

Online volume expansion

Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-431XeU-8G 4 Bay Short-depth Rackmount NAS Enclosure with 10GbE SFP+ & 8GB RAM

QNAP TS-431XeU-8G 4 Bay Short-depth Rackmount NAS Enclosure with 10GbE SFP+ & 8GB RAM

The short depth design is suitable for installing in smaller racks or space-constrained locations

Buy Now on Amazon
Seagate 10 TB IronWolf NAS 3.5 Inch Hard Drive ST10000VN0008 (SATA 6 Gb/s/256 MB/7200 RPM)

Seagate 10 TB IronWolf NAS 3.5 Inch Hard Drive ST10000VN0008 (SATA 6 Gb/s/256 MB/7200 RPM)

Model Number: ST10000VN0008

Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-673A-8G 6 Bay Desktop NAS Enclosure - 8GB RAM, AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz Processor - with 2.5GbE connectivity & supporting PCIe expansion

QNAP TS-673A-8G 6 Bay Desktop NAS Enclosure - 8GB RAM, AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz Processor - with 2.5GbE connectivity & supporting PCIe expansion

8GB DDR4 RAM (2 x SODIMM slots, max. 64GB, optional ECC RAM support)

Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1621+ 48TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, installed with 6 x 8TB Western Digital Red Plus Drives

Synology DS1621+ 48TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, installed with 6 x 8TB Western Digital Red Plus Drives

Accelerated Performance: 174% higher 4K random read IOPS and 76% faster sequential write speeds compared to its predecessor

Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution

Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution

Powerful Performance - Over 3,100/2,600 MB/s sequential read/write throughput and over 173,100/80,800 random read/write IOPS2 support heavier applications

Buy Now on Amazon
Scroll to Top