v0.1.0

[Firstp1ck]

Release Notes - archinstall-rs v0.1.0

Release Date: 19.09.2025
Version: 0.1.0
Status: MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

🎉 What's New

This is the first major release of archinstall-rs, a modern TUI installer for Arch Linux written in Rust. This MVP release provides a solid foundation for Arch Linux installation with an intuitive terminal interface.

✨ Key Features

🖥️ Modern TUI Interface

• Built with ratatui for responsive terminal interface
• Intuitive navigation with arrow keys and keyboard shortcuts
• Real-time configuration preview and validation

🔧 Core Installation Features

• Configuration Management: Save and load installation configurations in TOML format
• Disk Management: Automatic best-effort partitioning with GPT layout
• Bootloader Support: systemd-boot (UEFI) and GRUB (UEFI/BIOS)
• Package Management: Mirror configuration with reflector integration
• System Configuration: Locale, timezone, hostname, and keyboard layout setup
• User Management: Root password and user account creation with sudo privileges

🛡️ Safety Features

• Dry-run Mode: Preview all installation commands before execution
• Safety Checks: Abort if target disk has mounted partitions
• Confirmation Dialogs: Wipe confirmation for already partitioned devices
• Installation Progress: Real-time progress tracking and log viewer

📦 Partitioning Strategy

• GPT Layout: Modern partitioning with GUID Partition Table
• EFI System Partition: 512MiB for UEFI systems
• BIOS Boot Partition: 1MiB for GRUB on BIOS systems
• Swap Partition: 4GiB automatic sizing (configurable)
• Root Filesystem: Btrfs for modern filesystem features
• Optional LUKS: Disk encryption support (planned for future releases)

📋 System Requirements

Build Requirements

• Rust 1.70 or later (2024 edition)
• Cargo package manager

Runtime Requirements

• Arch Linux live environment (USB/ISO)
• UEFI or BIOS system
• Internet connection for package downloads
• Minimum 512MB RAM (1GB+ recommended)
• Minimum 2GB disk space (20GB+ recommended)

⚠️ Current Limitations

What Works

• ✅ 64-bit systems
• ✅ UEFI systems
• ✅ Best-effort partitioning only
• ✅ GRUB and systemd-boot bootloaders
• ✅ NetworkManager for networking
• ✅ Desktop Environment experience mode

Known Issues

• ⚠️ View may appear stuck at the end, but installation completes successfully
• ⚠️ Installation progress view needs improvement
• ⚠️ Manual partitioning partially implemented. Simple partitioning possible.

Not Yet Implemented

• ❌ Disk encryption/LUKS (planned for v0.2.0)
• ❌ Custom server/repository configuration
• ❌ Unified Kernel Images (Secure Boot support)
• ❌ RAID and LVM support
• ❌ Advanced bootloader options (EFISTUB, Limine)

🎮 Usage

Basic Installation Flow

1. Boot into Arch Linux live environment
2. Ensure internet connection
3. get binary via wget:
4. Run ./archinstall-rs
5. Navigate through configuration sections
6. Review your setup
7. Start installation

Navigation

• Arrow Keys: Navigate menu and content
• Enter: Select/Confirm/Run actions
• Esc/q: Close popups or return to menu
• Ctrl-C: Quit application

🔧 Configuration

The installer supports saving configurations in TOML format for reproducible installations:

[users]
users = []
additional_packages = []

[locales]
keyboard_layout = "us"
locale_language = "en_US.UTF-8"

[mirrors]
regions = ["United States"]
optional_repos = ["multilib"]

[disks]
mode = "Best-effort partition layout"

[bootloader]
kind = "systemd-boot"

[system]
hostname = "archlinux"
automatic_time_sync = true
timezone = "Europe/London"

🛠️ Technical Details

Architecture

• Language: Rust (2024 edition)
• TUI Framework: ratatui
• Configuration: TOML format
• Partitioning: parted, mkfs, cryptsetup
• Package Management: pacstrap, pacman

Project Structure

• Modular design with separate modules for each installation section
• Clear separation between UI, logic, and data layers
• Type-safe configuration management
• Comprehensive error handling

🐛 Bug Reports

If you encounter any issues, please report them on GitHub Issues with:

• Clear description of the problem
• Steps to reproduce
• System information
• Relevant configuration files
• Error messages or logs

📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• The Arch Linux community for excellent documentation
• The ratatui team for the TUI framework
• The original archinstall Python project for inspiration
• All contributors who help improve this project

⚠️ Disclaimer

This installer modifies disk partitions and system configurations. Always backup important data before using. The developers are not responsible for any data loss or system damage that may occur.

---

Made with ❤️ and 🦀 for the Arch Linux community

---

This discussion was created from the release v0.1.0.