FrosteArch is a custom Arch Linux distro built around a practical, opinionated setup for desktop, server, and appliance use.

There are three editions to choose:

• Desktop Edition
• Server Edition
• Node Edition

FrosteArch Desktop is a full daily-driver environment with programming, productivity, gaming, and creative tools already installed.

FrosteArch Server is a lean profile tuned for long-running services, including Plex defaults and enough local tooling to debug directly on the machine.

FrosteArch Node is a minimal profile whose only job is to boot, log in, and show a dashboard in Firefox.

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FrosteArch Desktop

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FrosteArch Server

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FrosteArch Node

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Roadmap

• Nvidia support

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Installation Guide

The FrosteArch install flow is mostly automated, while keeping the key Archinstall choices in your hands.

Before you begin

• Use a stable internet connection during install.
• Decide which ISO you want:
  • Desktop Edition: full daily-driver setup.
  • Server Edition: lightweight setup with server defaults.
  • Node Edition: minimal setup with just the base system and Firefox.

Step 1: Download the ISO

Download the Desktop, Server, or Node ISO from the Releases page.

Optional but recommended checksum verification:

sha256sum <your-iso-file>.iso

Step 2: Write the ISO to a USB

Use USBImager, Balena Etcher, or Rufus.

If you are on Linux and want to use dd:

sudo dd if=<your-iso-file>.iso of=/dev/<usb-device> bs=4M status=progress oflag=sync

Step 3: Boot from the USB

• Boot the target machine from the USB.
• Select the FrosteArch install option in the boot menu.
• The installer launcher should auto-start on tty1.

If it does not auto-start, run it manually:

/root/start-install.sh

Step 4: Complete Archinstall base configuration

In Archinstall, configure the basics:

• Mirror region
• Disk layout and mount points
• User account(s) and passwords
• Timezone and locale

Then let Archinstall complete the base system installation.

Step 5: Let FrosteArch finish setup

After Archinstall finishes, FrosteArch continues automatically and applies packages, services, and system configuration.

Install output is logged to:

/var/log/frostearch/install-<timestamp>.log

Step 6: Reboot into FrosteArch

Once setup fully completes:

• Reboot
• Remove the USB when prompted
• Log into your new system

Step 7: Quick post-install checks

• Confirm networking is up
• Run updates

yay

For troubleshooting logs:

cat /var/log/archinstall/install.log
ls -1 /var/log/frostearch/

Step 8: Success!

FrosteArch is now installed and ready to use, tweak, and build on.

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Music Production Support

Linux and music production have historically not gotten along, especially in the PulseAudio days. DAW support isn't great and wine tends to fight back. FrosteArch includes a dedicated setup script that handles the fiddly bits for you.

FL Studio + Hatsune Miku

fl-miku-setup creates a dedicated Wine prefix pre-configured for FL Studio and the Crypton Piapro Studio voicebank suite, including Japanese locale and font setup so the installers actually render correctly.

Supported:

• FL Studio 25
• Piapro Studio VST
• Hatsune Miku V4X voicebank
• Hatsune Miku V4 English voicebank

Note: Hatsune Miku V6 / Vocaloid 6 is currently broken on Linux under Wine and, whilst optionally included, will not properly work.

Setup

Download your installers and put them in the right place:

• The script will download FL Studio automatically.
• Place your SonicWire Miku V4X zip anywhere inside ~/Installers/Audio/MikuV4X/.

Then search for FL Miku Setup in KRunner, or run it from a terminal:

fl-miku-setup

It will walk you through everything interactively. You can re-run it at any time to install individual components, regenerate launchers, or activate voicebank licences.

After setup

The following entries will appear in KRunner:

• FL Studio — launch the DAW
• FL Miku Wine Config — open winecfg for the fl-miku prefix
• Kill FL Miku Wine — stop the Wine server

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FAQ

Why not use a headless server?

• No modern hardware has a meaningful loss from having something like plasma running in the background
  • Miku :)
• Sometimes it's easier to debug on-device and this is running on a spare laptop
  • Miku :D
• I can still SSH in
  • Miku :3
• I wanted an excuse to rice Arch again
  • Miku :0
• I have a staggering skill issue

How do I use my programs?

Pressing alt + space will open KRunner, which you can use to type in any program name or category and it will appear.

How do I update my programs?

Just type yay into the terminal, it will find and update everything for you. Very handy.

How do I get new programs?

Google "program you need or problem to solve Arch" and and it will probably appear. If it's part of the main Arch repos you can do

sudo pacman -S *packageName*

and if it's part of the AUR you can do

yay -S *packageName*

to install it.

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Credit where credit is due

Arch Linux

Obviously, this is built on top of Arch Linux. Thank you for every maintainer for their hard work!

https://archlinux.org/

Archinstall

My scripts and changes are stapled onto & around Archinstall. Without their incredible work this wouldn't be possible. Thanks!

https://archinstall.archlinux.page/

Wallpapers

• Ina: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/103938068
• Miku: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/73597952
• K-On!: https://www.kyotoanimation.co.jp/en/ Promo Image

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AI Usage Disclaimer

Yeah I used AI to assist in writing the code. Look at this repo, it sucks. But I program from 9-5 without it, so let me enjoy things in my downtime. Also debugging wine prefixes is the most boring thing ever.