why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

zaxdan69 · 2021-06-03 09:50:50

There were times in the past which I didn't have access to another machine while install arch, so to can visit archwiki. Recently a user who want to install arch asked for information before try to install because it's he's main and only system.
So, I' m wondering why arch iso doesn't include a very minimal x environment with a browser which points to archwiki so to can use it in such situations?

Slithery · 2021-06-03 09:53:38

You can already browse the wiki from the installation iso, it has the elinks browser installed.

zaxdan69 · 2021-06-03 10:12:10

I know that, and I have use it in the past in cases where xserver failed to start, but it's not so easy to navigate and find the infromation(especially if you don't or haven't use it before), and to focus on the installation.

seth · 2021-06-03 12:07:37

I know that

Then why isn't the subject "install iso should have cooler browser"?

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/netsurf-fb/ might be interesting
Or wikicurses, though python adds > 30MB

jasonwryan · 2021-06-03 17:24:46

The live iso really should boot into discord so everyone knows you are installing Arch.

Tétrapyle · 2021-06-06 09:45:53

In my opinion, there's a good point in the original post.
Some of the solutions and projects described in Help:Browsing#Alternative_online_viewers and below (arch-wiki-docs, arch-wiki-lite, arch-wiki-man, wikiman, wikicurses) could be implemented. Unless it has already been done for one of them?

nl6720 · 2021-06-06 10:34:00

I'm definitely against including any offline wiki copies. They will bloat the ISO and will always be older than the released ISO which can cause issues if there's a major change in archiso that requires changes to the installation guide or other pages. See https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … -/issues/4 for the reason why arch-wiki-lite is not in the ISO.

The current choice of the lynx browser is not ideal, since:

It doesn't support JavaScript and thus wiki pages that are redirects to a section of another page don't navigate to that section. Try using one the console web browsers to open the "rfkill" link in https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … e_internet .
GitLab is unreadable in it. This is relevant because the installation guide links to archiso's documentation on Arch's GitLab.

From those I tried, other console browsers have the same issues.

While I agree that having a graphical environment would be nice, as then you could have a real web browser and a terminal emulates (which has scrollback without needing to use a terminal multiplexer), but that requires choosing a graphical environment to include. I foresee bikeshedding.

Tétrapyle · 2021-06-06 11:08:49

I suppose a text environment would be enough. Shipping potentially outdated wiki is certainly in issue. But without it, most users do need either a computer with working Internet access, a not-too-old computer phone with a data plan in an area with cellular network, or sitting in a good library.

Trilby · 2021-06-06 12:23:34

Doesn't the iso still contain the installation procedure as a text document?

nl6720 · 2021-06-06 14:11:12

Nope. It was removed.

seth · 2021-06-06 15:04:48

Elinks "somewhat somehow" supports ecmascript, but it's not enabled in the arch build (no idea about the iso)
https://www.cnx-software.com/2014/02/09 … t-support/

"JS capable" browser means webkit, blink or mozilla and is going to blow up the iso by 200-300 MB

However:
https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … bootparams README.bootparams
You're not reading gitlab or the wiki at the bootloader

https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … ges.x86_64
Used as a general "what's there" and "compare for optional, non-essential packages", not requried for installation.

https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … et.network Ethernet
https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … an.network WLAN
https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … an.network WWAN
Literally "how to get internet" . You have internet or are not reading those.

https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/ … ector.conf
Documents how reflector is used to acquire the mirrorlist.

None of those links is actually required for the installation.
For a nicer browser that doesn't require a display server: netsurf has a framebuffer backend, reasonable css support (at least compared to dillo or text browsers) and is not fat "plus-size".

Arch Linux

#1 2021-06-03 09:50:50

why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#2 2021-06-03 09:53:38

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#3 2021-06-03 10:12:10

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#4 2021-06-03 12:07:37

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#5 2021-06-03 17:24:46

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#6 2021-06-06 09:45:53

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#7 2021-06-06 10:34:00

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#8 2021-06-06 11:08:49

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#9 2021-06-06 12:23:34

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#10 2021-06-06 14:11:12

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

#11 2021-06-06 15:04:48

Re: why arch doesn't have a live iso with access to wiki

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