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ArchWiki / AUR helpers

AUR helpers are not supported by Arch Linux. You should become familiar with the manual build process in order to be prepared to troubleshoot problems and vet the sources of the package before installation.

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AUR helpers automate usage of the Arch User Repository. In particular, they may automate the following tasks:

  • searching for packages published on the AUR,

  • resolving of dependencies between AUR packages,

  • retrieve and build AUR packages,

  • retrieve web content, such as user comments,

  • submission of AUR packages.

Pacman only handles updates for pre-built packages in its repositories. AUR packages are redistributed in form of PKGBUILDs and need an AUR helper to automate the rebuild process. However, keep in mind that a rebuild of a package may be required when its shared library dependencies are updated, not only when the package itself is updated.

Legend

The #Comparison tables columns have the following meaning:

  1. File review: Does not source the PKGBUILD file at all by default; or alerts the user and offers the opportunity to inspect the PKGBUILD file manually before it is sourced. Some helpers are known to source PKGBUILDs before the user can inspect them, allowing malicious code to be executed.

  2. Diff view: Ability to view package differences on inspection. Besides the PKGBUILD file, this includes changes to files such as .install or .patch files.

  3. Git clone: Uses git-clone(1) by default to retrieve build files from the AUR.

  4. Reliable parser: Ability to handle complex packages by using the provided metadata (RPC/.SRCINFO) instead of the PKGBUILD file parsing, such as aws-cli-git.

  5. Reliable solver: Ability to correctly solve and build complex dependency chains, such as liri-git-meta.

Split packages: Ability to correctly build and install:

  • Multiple packages from the same package base, without rebuilding or reinstalling multiple times, such as clion.

  • Split packages which depend on a package from the same package base, such as samsung-unified-driver.

  • Split packages independently, such as nxproxy and nxagent.

  • Shell completion: Tab completion is available for the listed shells.

* Optional means that a feature is available, but only through a command-line argument or configuration option. * Partial means that a feature is not fully implemented, or that it partially deviates from the given criteria.

Comparison tables

Search and download

Search and build

Pacman wrappers

pacman(8) wrappers abstract the work of the package manager. They may (optionally or by default) introduce unsafe flags, or other unexpected behavior leading to a defective system.

The following pacman wrappers support batch (rather than on-demand) operations: pikaur, yay, aura, paru

Graphical

Usage of graphical AUR helpers may lead to a defective system, for example through unattended partial upgrades.

Maintenance

Other

See also