# Arch Config

Use for `/etc`, pacman config, repos, mirrors, hooks, service/package config.

## Before Changing

Classify:

- file path
- owning package
- live reload/restart needed?
- backup/rollback path
- root required?

Read-only probes:

```sh
pacman -Qo /path/to/file
pacman -Qii package
systemctl cat unit.service
systemctl status unit.service --no-pager
```

If root edit needed, delegate via user's shell.
Prefer editor-safe command, e.g. `sudoedit /etc/file` when appropriate.

## Pacman Config

Current truth:
`man pacman.conf`, wiki `Pacman`.

Stable rules:

- Main config:
  `/etc/pacman.conf`.
- Mirror list commonly included from `/etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist`.
- Repository order matters when packages share names.
- Directives are case-sensitive/CamelCase.
- `NoUpgrade`/`NoExtract` paths are archive paths:
  no leading `/`.
- Hooks are non-interactive; system hooks live under
  `/usr/share/libalpm/hooks/`, admin hooks commonly under
  `/etc/pacman.d/hooks/`.
- Signature policy/current defaults:
  verify with `man pacman.conf`, do not weaken casually.

## Mirrors/Repos

For stale/404/target-not-found problems, inspect:

```sh
grep -v '^#' /etc/pacman.conf
grep -v '^#' /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist | head
```

Use current wiki `Mirrors`/`Reflector` before recommending tooling.
After repo config changes, full upgrade before installing new packages.

## Service/Software Config

- Check package docs + Arch Wiki page for that software.
- Check ownership before editing generated/package-owned files.
- Prefer drop-ins over modifying unit files directly.
- State reload command separately:
  e.g. daemon reload, service restart, app reload.

## Current Sources

- Man:
  `pacman.conf(5)`, `alpm-hooks(5)`, `pacman(8)`
- Wiki:
  `Pacman`, `Mirrors`, target software page