ArchLinux使用手记

　　The PKGBUILD files are available for download, and users are encouraged to look over the files to make sure they are a) created properly, b) contain nothing malicious. Once the user has looked over the files, they can build the package using the PKGBUILD, and then install that package with Pacman.

　　There is a subset of users in the AUR system, that are called Trusted Users (TUs). The TUs have proven that they are capable of creating packages reliably, and correctly. The TUs have a voting board, and accept applications for new members. The TUs use the AUR system to manage their packages. The difference is that the TUs have a binary repository, that users can add to their pacman.conf file (the file that houses repository addresses), and other users can use Pacman to install the managed packages, just as they can packages from the main Arch repositories.

　　The TUs also have the ability to mark regular AUR user PKGBUILDs as 'safe'. This means that they have been checked, and the TUs believe they are made correctly and properly. This is a useful way for new users to gauge the reliability of PKGBUILDs that are available.

　　The AUR currently houses over 3 thousand PKGBUILDs. Over 1 thousand packages are in the community repository available as prebuilt binaries. An additional 1 thousand packages have been checked and flagged as 'safe' by the TUs. As of last count, there were 24 Trusted Users in the AUR system, and over 3 thousand regular users.

　　These are some of the things that I believe set Archlinux apart from other distributions. The power and simplicity of the underlying system init layout provides a great base for Archlinux to run on top of. The utility and ease of use of the Pacman package manager, in conjunction with the Rolling Release System, and the community supported AUR project, all help to keep Archlinux very up to date.

　　Archlinux strives to be a Linux distribution that is focused on a philosophy of solutions that are as simple as possible, but no simpler, while remaining as up to date as possible.