Arch Linux

gildersleeve

Member

Registered: 2025-09-29

Posts: 5

Ways to install things

Hello, I'm an Arch Newbie. I just got it installed this week. I'm also somewhat novice to Linux, but am using Arch to offer an opportunity to learn! I had just installed Silver Blue but a friend convinced me to Arch and I'm enjoying it much more.

I have a pretty newbish question.

I know I can install packages using pacman.

I know I can installed packages using KDE Plasma's Discover.

But if a package isn't on pacman nor on Discover, what are the ways to install?

I am specifically trying to install Nord VPN CLI (and GUI and Systray, but first steps CLI).

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/nordvpn-bin tells me the dependencies and some other neat information

The Nord VPN website has a curl command that looks for non-pacman package managers and returns "None of the known package managers (apt,yum, dnf, zypper) are available.

This leads me to believe that it's not on pacman. So what's the best route here?

-Installing another package manager seems... wrong?

-I can't seem to see how to get pacman to install it with a custom repository, but I feel I am missing something.

So I am posting here for help so I can not just "get NordVPN installed" but so I can learn the right approach (s).

Thanks!

gildersleeve

Member

Registered: 2025-09-29

Posts: 5

Re: Ways to install things

Damnit! I did a bunch of reading and sleuthing, posted, and just maybe have unlocked my answer with Arch User Repository and makepkg.

Assume I'll get it (and if I do, I'll delete my question. If I don't I'll post again).

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,084

Re: Ways to install things

You gave an AUR link, so https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_User_Repository

gildersleeve

Member

Registered: 2025-09-29

Posts: 5

Re: Ways to install things

Yup! For any other newbies searching, I recommend understanding Arch User Repositories!

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 69,149

Re: Ways to install things

Please always remember to mark resolved threads by editing your initial posts subject - so others will know that there's no task left, but maybe a solution to find.
Thanks.

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cryptearth

Member

Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 1,729

Re: Ways to install things

I know I can installed packages using KDE Plasma's Discover.

please take note of the warning within discover that using it as a front-end for pacman is not supported on arch