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Comprehensive guide for using AUR helper tools like yay, paru, pikaur, and aura for automating package management.
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Based on SOC occupation classification
Master skill for AUR (Arch User Repository) package development, serving as a comprehensive guide and dispatcher for creating, auditing, and submitting Arch Linux packages.
Comprehensive guide for auditing and validating Arch Linux packages and PKGBUILDs using automated tools and manual verification.
Comprehensive guide for building Arch Linux packages using makepkg, covering the build process, configuration, debugging, and optimization.
Comprehensive guide to Arch Linux package guidelines and standards for consistency, quality, and interoperability across the Arch Linux ecosystem.
Comprehensive guide for using pacman, the Arch Linux package manager, covering installation, removal, queries, and troubleshooting.
Comprehensive guide for creating and editing PKGBUILD files - the core build scripts used by makepkg to create Arch Linux packages.
| name | aur-helpers |
| description | Comprehensive guide for using AUR helper tools like yay, paru, pikaur, and aura for automating package management. |
Comprehensive guide for using AUR helper tools (yay, paru, pikaur, aura, etc.). Covers installation, configuration, workflows, and comparisons to help AI agents assist users with AUR package management using their preferred helper.
This skill should be used when:
AUR helpers automate the process of finding, building, and installing packages from the AUR. They handle dependency resolution, PKGBUILD cloning, building, and installation.
# From AUR
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si
# Or from official repos (if available)
pacman -S yay
# Upgrade all packages (including AUR)
yay -Syu
# Install package
yay -S package-name
# Search AUR
yay -Ss search-term
# Remove package
yay -R package-name
# Clean cache
yay -Scc
# Edit config
yay --editmenu # Edit PKGBUILD before build
yay --nodiffmenu # Skip diff menu
yay --useask # Use pacman confirmation
# Options in yay.conf
--aur
--repo
--both (default)
# Search AUR only
yay -Ss term
# Search with details
yay -Si package-name
# Search both repos and AUR
yay -s term
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/paru.git
cd paru
makepkg -si
# Upgrade everything
paru -Syu
# Install package
paru -S package-name
# Search AUR
paru -Ss term
# View PKGBUILD
paru -Sp package-name
# Clean cache
paru -Scc
# ~/.config/paru/paru.conf
[options]
# AUR-only by default
AUROnly
# Skip PKGBUILD review
NoEditMenu
# Remove unneeded deps
RemoveUnrequired
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/pikaur.git
cd pikaur
makepkg -fsi
# Sync everything
pikaur -Syu
# Install package
pikaur -S package-name
# Search
pikaur -Ss term
# Interactive install
pikaur -Sgi package-name
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/aura.git
cd aura
makepkg -si
# Full system upgrade
aura -Syu
# Install package
aura -S package-name
# Search
aura -Ss term
# Orphans
aura -A
| Feature | yay | paru | pikaur | aura |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Go | Rust | Rust | Haskell |
| Speed | Fast | Fast | Fast | Medium |
| Dependencies | Low | Low | Low | High |
| AUR Only | No | No | No | Yes |
| Features | Good | Excellent | Good | Good |
yay - Best for:
paru - Best for:
pikaur - Best for:
aura - Best for:
{
"aururl": "https://aur.archlinux.org",
"cloneDir": "~/AUR",
"buildDir": "~/AUR",
"absDir": "~/ABS",
"editor": "vim",
"pacman": "sudo pacman",
"makepkg": "makepkg",
"novelUpdate": false,
"bottomup": true,
"sudevel": false,
"singlelineresults": false,
"develcheck": false,
"upgrade": true,
"cleanAfterInstall": false
}
[options]
PgpFetch
Devel
UpgradeMenu
NewsOnUpgrade
BottomUp
UseAsk
PkgListsByOrigin
[bin]
Shower
# Using yay
yay -S package-name
# Using paru
paru -S package-name
# Using pikaur
pikaur -S package-name
# Using aura
aura -S package-name
# yay - include AUR upgrades
yay -Syu
# paru - same interface
paru -Syu
# pikaur
pikaur -Syu
# aura
aura -Syu
# Search AUR
yay -Ss search-term
paru -Ss search-term
pikaur -Ss search-term
# Search official repos
yay -Ss ^term
paru -Ss ^term
# Remove with dependencies
yay -Rs package-name
paru -Rs package-name
# Remove completely
yay -Rns package-name
paru -Rns package-name
# yay
yay -Sp package-name
# paru
paru -Sp package-name
# pikaur
pikaur -Sp package-name
# yay - automatic
yay -S package-name --editmenu
# paru - automatic
paru -S package-name --editmenu
# yay
yay -C package-name
# Direct URL
xdg-open https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/package-name/
# pikaur - vote from CLI
pikaur --vote package-name
# Refresh keys
yay --refresh --gpgdir /etc/pacman.d/gnupg
# Or use pacman directly
pacman-key --refresh-keys
# Clean cache
yay -Scc
paru -Scc
pikaur -Scc
# Rebuild from scratch
yay -S package-name --rebuild
# Clean build
yay -Scc && yay -S package-name
# Skip dependency check
yay -S package-name --nodepcheck
# Install deps only
makepkg -s
# Always view before install
yay -S package-name --editmenu
paru -S package-name --editmenu
# Enable checking
yay --pgpfetch
paru --pgpfetch
| Action | yay | paru | pikaur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade | -Syu | -Syu | -Syu |
| Install | -S | -S | -S |
| Search | -Ss | -Ss | -Ss |
| Remove | -R | -R | -R |
| Clean | -Scc | -Scc | -Scc |
| View PKGBUILD | -Sp | -Sp | -Sp |