Arch: Installing packages like a boss

#!/bin/bash

# Usage:
#
# 1. Copy to Arch USB stick.
#
# 2. Boot system with Arch USB and begin install process.
#
# 3. Access the files you copied to Arch USB:
#
#     NOTE: First mount your root partition to /mnt/ or else you'll need to redo these steps after.
#
#     $ mkdir -p /mnt/usb
#     $ lsblk -f    <-- Find the Arch USB device. It likely is /dev/sdb1.
#     $ mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb
#     $ cd /mnt/usb/
#     $ ls -al
#     <Now you can see what you copied to the Arch USB>
#
# 4. Run this script when its time to install packages:
#
#     $ ./pacstrap.sh
#
# 5. Generate an fstab file:    <-- Done after pacstrap step if you follow https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide
#
#    $ genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
#
#    NOTE: After running genfstab the mounted usb will get added to /mnt/etc/fstab.
#          You need to remove these lines from /mnt/etc/fstab (e.g. $ vim /mnt/etc/fstab, delete the /usb line, and save)
#          or else Linux will not boot without the USB plugged in:
#
#          # /dev/sdb1 LABEL=ARCH_######
#          UUID=####-####          /usb        vfat        rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=437,iocharset=ascii,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro   0 2

# Update pacman mirrors using reflector.
reflector --verbose --country "United States" --latest 10 --protocol https --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

# Backup pacman config.
cp /etc/pacman.conf /etc/pacman.conf.bak

# Create custom pacman.conf with desired settings.
cat <<EOF > /etc/pacman.conf
#
# /etc/pacman.conf
#
# See the pacman.conf(5) manpage for option and repository directives

#
# GENERAL OPTIONS
#
[options]
# The following paths are commented out with their default values listed.
# If you wish to use different paths, uncomment and update the paths.
#RootDir     = /
#DBPath      = /var/lib/pacman/
#CacheDir    = /var/cache/pacman/pkg/
#LogFile     = /var/log/pacman.log
#GPGDir      = /etc/pacman.d/gnupg/
#HookDir     = /etc/pacman.d/hooks/
HoldPkg     = pacman glibc
#XferCommand = /usr/bin/curl -L -C - -f -o %o %u
#XferCommand = /usr/bin/wget --passive-ftp -c -O %o %u
#CleanMethod = KeepInstalled
Architecture = auto

# Pacman won't upgrade packages listed in IgnorePkg and members of IgnoreGroup
#IgnorePkg   =
#IgnoreGroup =

#NoUpgrade   =
#NoExtract   =

# Misc options
#UseSyslog
Color
#NoProgressBar
CheckSpace
#VerbosePkgLists
ParallelDownloads = 10
ILoveCandy

# By default, pacman accepts packages signed by keys that its local keyring
# trusts (see pacman-key and its man page), as well as unsigned packages.
SigLevel    = Required DatabaseOptional
LocalFileSigLevel = Optional
#RemoteFileSigLevel = Required

# NOTE: You must run `pacman-key --init` before first using pacman; the local
# keyring can then be populated with the keys of all official Arch Linux
# packagers with `pacman-key --populate archlinux`.

#
# REPOSITORIES
#   - can be defined here or included from another file
#   - pacman will search repositories in the order defined here
#   - local/custom mirrors can be added here or in separate files
#   - repositories listed first will take precedence when packages
#     have identical names, regardless of version number
#   - URLs will have $repo replaced by the name of the current repo
#   - URLs will have $arch replaced by the name of the architecture
#
# Repository entries are of the format:
#       [repo-name]
#       Server = ServerName
#       Include = IncludePath
#
# The header [repo-name] is crucial - it must be present and
# uncommented to enable the repo.
#

# The testing repositories are disabled by default. To enable, uncomment the
# repo name header and Include lines. You can add preferred servers immediately
# after the header, and they will be used before the default mirrors.

#[core-testing]
#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

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

#[extra-testing]
#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

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

# If you want to run 32 bit applications on your x86_64 system,
# enable the multilib repositories as required here.

#[multilib-testing]
#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

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

# An example of a custom package repository.  See the pacman manpage for
# tips on creating your own repositories.
#[custom]
#SigLevel = Optional TrustAll
#Server = file:///home/custompkgs
EOF

# Install packages.
packages=(
    base base-devel linux-firmware
    linux-firmware-qlogic
    linux linux-headers nvidia nvidia-settings
    intel-ucode
    networkmanager
    ufw
    pipewire pipewire-alsa pipewire-jack pipewire-pulse wireplumber easyeffects alsa-utils
    git htop reflector firefox deluge vlc meld speedcrunch sudo
    fastfetch
    gimp inkscape
    steam wine winetricks wine-mono wine-gecko
    kdialog
    gvim wmctrl ttf-hack-nerd terminus-font mousepad
    python tk python-pyperclip
    wl-clipboard
    flameshot
    ntfs-3g dosfstools mtools gparted
    gvfs

    # Install KDE.
    plasma
    xorg
    konsole
    kate # NOTE: This also installs kwrite.
    dolphin dolphin-plugins kio-admin

    ark
    p7zip # Needed by ark to open 7-zip files.
    unrar # Needed by ark to open rar files.

    kcalc
    gwenview
    filelight
    spectacle
    okular
    gparted
    ksystemlog
    gsmartcontrol # Harddisk health inspector.
    plasma-systemmonitor # Task Manager.
    plasma-desktop egl-wayland # Wayland.

    sddm # Display manager.

    grub efibootmgr os-prober # Boot loader.
)
pacstrap -K /mnt "${packages[@]}"