docs/installer.md

---
title: Installer
layout: default
nav_order: 4
---

# Calamares Installer

Uses [Calamares](https://codeberg.org/calamares/calamares) with two modes and custom branding.

## Modes

| Mode | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Offline** | Unpacks a KDE Plasma squashfs — no internet needed |
| **Online** | Netinstall with init system choice + desktop selection |

The launcher (`calamares-next`) presents a mode picker before launching Calamares.

## Key differences from upstream

- `dracut`/`dracutlukscfg` replaced with `initcpiocfg`/`initcpio`/`luksopenswaphookcfg` (Artix uses mkinitcpio, not dracut)
- `services-openrc` module instead of `services-systemd`
- `removeuser` step removed, `postcfg` added
- `packagechooser` module compiled in (upstream skips it)

## Init system selector (online)

Users choose from: **Dinit**, **OpenRC**, **Runit**, **S6**.

Implemented as a `packagechooser` instance with `method: netinstall-add` — the selected init pulls its associated packages.

## Desktop selector (online)

Users choose from: **Plasma**, **Xfce**, **Cinnamon**, **MATE**, **LXQt**, **i3**, **Sway**, **Hyprland**, or **No Desktop**.

Implemented as a separate `packagechooser` instance with `method: legacy`. "No Desktop" installs only the base system (TTY-only).

## Available desktops

| Desktop | Artix Repo | Group/Packages |
|---------|------------|----------------|
| Plasma | world | `plasma` group |
| Xfce | galaxy | `xfce4` group |
| Cinnamon | galaxy | Individual packages |
| MATE | galaxy | `mate` + `mate-extra` groups |
| LXQt | galaxy | `lxqt` group |
| i3 | world | `i3` group |
| Sway | world | `sway` + related packages |
| Hyprland | world | `hyprland` |

> **Note:** Budgie is not available in any Artix repo and has been removed from all configs and slideshows.

## Offline mode

No packagechooser. Uses `unpackfs` to deploy a pre-built KDE Plasma squashfs, then `initcpiocfg` + `initcpio` for mkinitcpio configuration.

## Branding

Custom branding lives in the `calamares-branding-antergos-next` package, installed to `/etc/calamares/branding/default/`. The `componentName` in `branding.desc` must match its directory name.
feat: add GitHub Pages docs site (Just the Docs), split packagechooser, disable IA upload 2026-06-29 21:27:46 +02:00			`---`
			`title: Installer`
			`layout: default`
docs: add OpenRC primer page for new users 2026-06-30 19:38:41 +02:00			`nav_order: 4`
feat: add GitHub Pages docs site (Just the Docs), split packagechooser, disable IA upload 2026-06-29 21:27:46 +02:00			`---`

			`# Calamares Installer`

			`Uses [Calamares](https://codeberg.org/calamares/calamares) with two modes and custom branding.`

			`## Modes`

			`\| Mode \| Description \|`
			`\|------\|-------------\|`
			`\| Offline \| Unpacks a KDE Plasma squashfs — no internet needed \|`
			`\| Online \| Netinstall with init system choice + desktop selection \|`

			The launcher (`calamares-next`) presents a mode picker before launching Calamares.

			`## Key differences from upstream`

			- `dracut`/`dracutlukscfg` replaced with `initcpiocfg`/`initcpio`/`luksopenswaphookcfg` (Artix uses mkinitcpio, not dracut)
			- `services-openrc` module instead of `services-systemd`
			- `removeuser` step removed, `postcfg` added
			- `packagechooser` module compiled in (upstream skips it)

			`## Init system selector (online)`

feat: switch default init from OpenRC to Dinit 2026-07-06 19:42:27 +02:00			`Users choose from: Dinit, OpenRC, Runit, S6.`
feat: add GitHub Pages docs site (Just the Docs), split packagechooser, disable IA upload 2026-06-29 21:27:46 +02:00
			Implemented as a `packagechooser` instance with `method: netinstall-add` — the selected init pulls its associated packages.

			`## Desktop selector (online)`

			`Users choose from: Plasma, Xfce, Cinnamon, MATE, LXQt, i3, Sway, Hyprland, or No Desktop.`

			Implemented as a separate `packagechooser` instance with `method: legacy`. "No Desktop" installs only the base system (TTY-only).

			`## Available desktops`

			`\| Desktop \| Artix Repo \| Group/Packages \|`
			`\|---------\|------------\|----------------\|`
			\| Plasma \| world \| `plasma` group \|
			\| Xfce \| galaxy \| `xfce4` group \|
			`\| Cinnamon \| galaxy \| Individual packages \|`
			\| MATE \| galaxy \| `mate` + `mate-extra` groups \|
			\| LXQt \| galaxy \| `lxqt` group \|
			\| i3 \| world \| `i3` group \|
			\| Sway \| world \| `sway` + related packages \|
			\| Hyprland \| world \| `hyprland` \|

			`> Note: Budgie is not available in any Artix repo and has been removed from all configs and slideshows.`

			`## Offline mode`

			No packagechooser. Uses `unpackfs` to deploy a pre-built KDE Plasma squashfs, then `initcpiocfg` + `initcpio` for mkinitcpio configuration.

			`## Branding`

			Custom branding lives in the `calamares-branding-antergos-next` package, installed to `/etc/calamares/branding/default/`. The `componentName` in `branding.desc` must match its directory name.