What Are the Two Main Arch Packages Omarchy Is Distributed As? A Complete AUR Guide

Omarchy is distributed exclusively through the Arch User Repository (AUR) as two primary packages: omarchy for stable releases and omarchy-dev for development builds.

The basecamp/omarchy repository provides a desktop environment built specifically for Arch Linux. When selecting Arch packages Omarchy, users choose between a production-ready stable release and a bleeding-edge development version, both of which install identical core binaries under /usr/share/omarchy.

The Two Main Arch Packages

Omarchy maintains two distinct distribution channels in the AUR to separate stable releases from active development.

omarchy — The Stable Release

The omarchy package tracks the most recent stable tag from the repository. According to the AUR metadata, this package provides the production-ready version of the desktop environment. It builds from tagged releases rather than active development branches, ensuring consistency for daily use. The installation delivers the main entry-point script located at bin/omarchy and configuration files such as default/omarchy/omarchy-menu.jsonc directly to /usr/share/omarchy.

omarchy-dev — The Development (Quattro) Branch

The omarchy-dev package tracks the “quattro” development branch. This version is built from the current development state rather than a stable tag, providing the newest features and fixes immediately. While it exposes the same command-line interface and installs to the same /usr/share/omarchy directory, it is intended for users who require early access to updates or wish to test the latest iterations of the bin/omarchy dispatcher.

How to Install Omarchy from the AUR

Both packages are available in the AUR and can be installed using any AUR helper.

To install the stable release:

yay -S omarchy

To install the development release:

yay -S omarchy-dev

These commands download the respective PKGBUILD, compile the package from the basecamp/omarchy source, and install the runtime files system-wide.

Verifying Your Installation

After installation, you can verify which package is active and check version reporting.

# Query installed Omarchy packages

pacman -Qs omarchy

# Check the version string

omarchy version

The omarchy version command invokes the logic defined in the core binaries, consistent across both packages as verified by test/shell.d/version-test.sh in the source repository.

Key Files Delivered by Both Packages

Regardless of which package you choose, the installation includes critical components from the basecamp/omarchy repository:

• bin/omarchy — The primary executable script that dispatches sub-commands.
• default/omarchy/omarchy-menu.jsonc — The default menu definition used by the environment.
• test/shell.d/version-test.sh — Validation logic ensuring consistent version reporting between omarchy and omarchy-dev.

Summary

• Two main packages: omarchy (stable) and omarchy-dev (development).
• Source branches: Stable tracks release tags; development tracks the “quattro” branch.
• Installation path: Both install core files to /usr/share/omarchy.
• CLI: Both provide the omarchy command and support omarchy version checks.
• Installation: Use yay -S omarchy or yay -S omarchy-dev for setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between omarchy and omarchy-dev?

The omarchy package builds from the latest stable tag for production use, while omarchy-dev builds from the active “quattro” development branch to provide immediate access to new features. Both install identical path structures under /usr/share/omarchy and use the same bin/omarchy entry point.

Can I install both Omarchy packages at the same time?

No, the two packages conflict because they provide the same files, including the /usr/share/omarchy directory and the omarchy binary. You must uninstall one (yay -R omarchy) before installing the other.

How do I verify which Omarchy package is installed?

Run pacman -Qs omarchy to see the package name and version in your local database. You can also run omarchy version, which executes the version-reporting logic tested in test/shell.d/version-test.sh, to confirm the build is functioning correctly.

Where does the AUR package install Omarchy files?

Both the stable and development packages install the Omarchy runtime, including bin/omarchy and default/omarchy/omarchy-menu.jsonc, into /usr/share/omarchy. This standard location ensures that desktop session files and menu configurations are available system-wide according to the basecamp/omarchy source structure.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}