Very strange Arch Problem

jdhore · 2008-12-30 20:44:35

I have a very strange problem with Arch. I know the title isn't very descriptive, but i don't have a quick, short way to say this:

I love Arch. I use it as a "secondary OS" and other than the times when i'm playing with other distros to see how they've changed, i'm in Arch on my devel system and a few others....However, i still use Debian (Testing) as my desktop/laptop/primary PC OS. For the longest time (probably well over a year), i could not figure out why i could not bring myself to use Arch as my primary OS.

About 2 days ago, i finally had a epiphany (Well...someone smacked me with a CD-R containing the source for the Epiphany Browser, but that's besides the point). The reason i can't use Arch as a primary desktop is because in Arch, i'm too tempted to play with stuff, play with new apps, break stuff, etc and like most people (probably), on my main Desktop, i want stuff to work...I don't want to be breaking things on a weekly basis.

I was wondering if anyone else has this problem or if people could give me some advice as to how to get over it or something.

Shaika-Dzari · 2008-12-30 20:54:05

Add this to your .bashrc :

alias pacman='echo You must not update your system!'

Zariel · 2008-12-30 21:01:45

Updating doesnt break stuff, just read forums/news/wiki

jdhore · 2008-12-30 21:03:57

Zariel wrote:

Updating doesnt break stuff, just read forums/news/wiki

It's not updating...It's wanting to play with stuff in the AUR, play with SVN/git versions of stuff that's used regularly, play with devel versions (for example, bump Gedit's PKGBUILD in ABS to 2.25.3...and breaking it)...

node9 · 2008-12-30 21:07:23

I use Arch as my primary OS, but I occasionally have the same problem as you. I love to break stuff. For example, a couple days ago I wanted to try the KDE 4.2 daily build, so I installed it -- on top of my existing (stable) KDE. I don't know what I was thinking - at least I had the sense to back everything up first. One solution that I was considering is creating a secondary Arch installation that I can chroot to whenever I have the urge to try out unstable stuff. I was to lazy to investigate this option before, but I think I will after the KDE experience. I want a stable system but I also want to try out bleeding edge features. I think Arch is the perfect distro to use in both cases, just not at the same time.

Last edited by node9 (2008-12-30 21:08:09)

defrysk · 2008-12-30 21:08:40

Install arch twice in dual boot, one as sandbox, the other for normal usage.

peart · 2008-12-30 21:12:09

Install Arch as a VirtualBox guest and break things there. Works for me

sand_man · 2008-12-30 21:27:18

I used to break stuff but not anymore

cu3edweb · 2008-12-30 21:31:14

peart wrote:

Install Arch as a VirtualBox guest and break things there. Works for me

This is what I try to do.

fukawi2 · 2008-12-30 22:02:07

sand_man wrote:

I used to break stuff but not anymore

Me too.

I use Arch on my Laptop, Home Desktop, 1 of my Home Servers and my Work Desktop.

Just read the news and stuff, pay attention to pacman output and only -Syu when you can afford the time. (ie, don't just do it everyday at 4.45pm )

string · 2008-12-30 22:18:58

Maybe someone somewhere should create some sort of "Arch Linux updaters anonymous". "Hi, my name is jdhore and I update my system daily" (others reply:) "Hi jdhore..".

All joking aside, come on, admit it, you don't actually have a problem, you just wanted some Arch Linux community love -- nothing wrong with that, mind you -- it's why I'm here too. "I'm afraid to buy a car because I might be tempted to drive it off a cliff." .. you'd have to have some *serious* problems in order for stuff like that to be credible.

Don't want to break stuff: then don't. Just keep telling yourself that the cake is a lie.

Last edited by string (2008-12-30 22:19:20)

jdhore · 2008-12-30 22:30:37

string wrote:

Maybe someone somewhere should create some sort of "Arch Linux updaters anonymous". "Hi, my name is jdhore and I update my system daily" (others reply:) "Hi jdhore..".
All joking aside, come on, admit it, you don't actually have a problem, you just wanted some Arch Linux community love -- nothing wrong with that, mind you -- it's why I'm here too. "I'm afraid to buy a car because I might be tempted to drive it off a cliff." .. you'd have to have some *serious* problems in order for stuff like that to be credible.
Don't want to break stuff: then don't. Just keep telling yourself that the cake is a lie.

dude...That's exactly why i don't have a car...

ArchArael · 2008-12-31 00:12:20

string wrote:

Just keep telling yourself that the cake is a lie.

Portal lover? Yes indeed the cake is a lie.

Sorry for the OT..the temptation was too hard to resist. Like someone said in another thread...naughty string.

jdhore...I don't think you have sorta problem. If you want play and break stuff a virtual machine is the answer.

Better don't mess the main operating system.

Last edited by ArchArael (2008-12-31 00:14:14)

deadrabbit · 2008-12-31 05:35:04

I have the same problem. I use Arch on my desktop computer, and I'm constantly breaking stuff. Arch breaks things on its own occasionally, but it's mostly me. I don't mind having a somewhat unreliable desktop, but it was also functioning as a file, SSH, and backup server, which is something I need to be stable.

So, I bought a cheap MSI Wind desktop to use as a server instead. I installed Debian stable, which is so boring, I'm not tempted to mess it up. It's off topic, but if anyone's interested in the MSI Wind setup, I wrote about setting it up here: http://rockhoppernotes.blogspot.com/200 … sktop.html

godane · 2008-12-31 07:25:03

I think i have the same problem has you do. But i have my archiso-live booting off my hard drive so i can break stuff with many problems.

But if stuff does break I just empty my changes folder where the bad program is.

R00KIE · 2008-12-31 14:10:02

Sandbox ... oh yes, mine is Arch64 ... and i'm using the 32 bit version of Arch
Guess what, I have never seen a distro where things look so much alike in the 32 bit and 64 bit version ... but oh well Arch is Arch can't find anything better

madcow · 2009-01-01 02:39:18

I was kinda wondering, if breaking stuff and then fixing it gives experience? Well, if you fix it after breaking it that is... If not then never mind

R00KIE · 2009-01-01 11:12:08

Of course you learn, when something breaks you need to see how it works to be able to fix it (instead of just following the wiki recipe ).

Raccoon1400 · 2009-01-02 03:42:23

Most of the stuff I change is in text files, so if I break something, I just have to boot a live cd and fix it. If it's more complicated than that, I have other systems I can rely on temporarily.

skottish · 2009-01-02 03:46:58

It's tinkering disease and it's terminal. You have it, I have it, we all have it. Just accept your fate, install x264 from git, and rebuild your multimedia setup while you ponder what I just said.

ToastedToad · 2009-01-02 05:15:18

defrysk wrote:

Install arch twice in dual boot, one as sandbox, the other for normal usage.

+1

evilgold · 2009-01-06 07:25:14

You might try setting up a second arch install inside a chroot. I've done so before with debian, but havnt had any need to on arch.

jpe30 · 2009-01-09 16:05:27

I used to be like this, but now I just keep a copy of Arch installed in Virtual Box and I use that for all my mad computer scientist urges.

Arch Linux

#1 2008-12-30 20:44:35

Very strange Arch Problem

#2 2008-12-30 20:54:05

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#3 2008-12-30 21:01:45

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#4 2008-12-30 21:03:57

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#5 2008-12-30 21:07:23

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#6 2008-12-30 21:08:40

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#7 2008-12-30 21:12:09

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#8 2008-12-30 21:27:18

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#9 2008-12-30 21:31:14

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#10 2008-12-30 22:02:07

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#11 2008-12-30 22:18:58

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#12 2008-12-30 22:30:37

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#13 2008-12-31 00:12:20

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#14 2008-12-31 05:35:04

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#15 2008-12-31 07:25:03

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#16 2008-12-31 14:10:02

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#17 2009-01-01 02:39:18

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#18 2009-01-01 11:12:08

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#19 2009-01-02 03:42:23

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#20 2009-01-02 03:46:58

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#21 2009-01-02 05:15:18

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#22 2009-01-06 07:25:14

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

#23 2009-01-09 16:05:27

Re: Very strange Arch Problem

Board footer