Install Brave Browser On Archcraft: A Quick Guide

Hey guys! Today, we're going to walk through the process of installing the Brave browser on Archcraft. Archcraft is a lightweight and customizable Linux distribution that's gaining popularity, and Brave is a fantastic, privacy-focused browser. Combining the two gives you a secure and efficient browsing experience. Let’s dive right in!

Why Brave on Archcraft?

Before we get started, let's quickly touch on why you might want to use Brave on Archcraft.

Privacy: Brave comes with built-in ad blockers and trackers, ensuring a cleaner and more private browsing experience right out of the box.
Performance: By blocking ads and trackers, Brave can significantly speed up page loading times.
Rewards: Brave Rewards allows you to earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) for viewing privacy-respecting ads.
Customization: Archcraft is all about customization, and Brave fits right in with its customizable settings and extensions.

Given these advantages, it’s no surprise that many Archcraft users opt for Brave as their primary browser. Now, let's get into the installation process.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

Archcraft Installed: Obviously, you need Archcraft up and running. If you don't have it yet, head over to the Archcraft website and follow their installation guide.
Internet Connection: You'll need a stable internet connection to download the Brave browser packages.
Terminal Access: We’ll be using the terminal for the installation, so make sure you're comfortable with basic terminal commands.
Sudo Privileges: You'll need sudo privileges to install software on Archcraft.

With these prerequisites in place, you're ready to proceed with the installation.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1: Update Your System

First, it’s always a good idea to update your system to ensure you have the latest packages and dependencies. Open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo pacman -Syu

This command synchronizes your package database and upgrades any outdated packages. It's a crucial step to avoid potential conflicts during the installation process. Type in your password when prompted, and let the update process complete.

Step 2: Install Yay (Yet Another Yogurt)

Archcraft, like many Arch-based distributions, benefits from using an AUR (Arch User Repository) helper. Yay is a popular choice. If you don't have Yay installed, you’ll need to install it first. Here’s how:

Install git: If you don't have Git installed, you'll need it to clone the Yay repository. Run:
```
sudo pacman -S git
```
Clone the Yay repository: Use Git to clone the Yay repository from GitHub:
```
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
```
Change to the Yay directory: Navigate into the cloned directory:
```
cd yay
```
Build and install Yay: Use the makepkg command to build and install Yay. Add the -si flags to automatically resolve dependencies and install the package:

makepkg -si ```

The makepkg command compiles the Yay package. The -s flag resolves any missing dependencies, and the -i flag installs the package. You’ll be prompted to confirm the installation; just follow the prompts.

Step 3: Install Brave Browser

Now that you have Yay installed, installing Brave is a breeze. Use the following command:

yay -S brave-bin

This command tells Yay to search for the brave-bin package in the AUR and install it. The -bin version is precompiled, which means it installs faster since you don’t have to build it from source. Yay will ask you to confirm the installation and may prompt you for your password. Just follow the prompts, and Brave will be installed on your system.

Step 4: Launch Brave Browser

Once the installation is complete, you can launch Brave in several ways:

From the terminal: Simply type brave-browser and press Enter.
```
brave-browser
```
From the application menu: Look for Brave in your application menu. The exact location may vary depending on your desktop environment, but it’s usually under the “Internet” or “Browsers” category.

| Read Also : IWorld: What Is It?
Using a launcher: If you use a launcher like Rofi or dmenu, you can type “brave” to find and launch the browser.

When you launch Brave for the first time, it will walk you through a quick setup process. You can customize your settings, import bookmarks from other browsers, and start enjoying a private and secure browsing experience.

Troubleshooting

Dependency Issues

If you encounter dependency issues during the installation, make sure you’ve updated your system as described in Step 1. You can also try installing missing dependencies manually using pacman:

sudo pacman -S <dependency_name>

Replace <dependency_name> with the name of the missing dependency.

Yay Not Working

If Yay isn’t working correctly, ensure you’ve followed the installation steps correctly. A common mistake is skipping the cd yay step before running makepkg -si. Also, make sure you have Git installed.

Brave Not Launching

If Brave installs but doesn’t launch, try running it from the terminal to see if any error messages are displayed. This can give you clues about what might be wrong. For example, missing libraries or configuration issues could prevent Brave from launching.

Customizing Brave on Archcraft

Now that you have Brave installed, let’s explore some ways to customize it to better suit your needs.

Extensions

Brave supports a wide range of extensions from the Chrome Web Store. To install extensions, simply visit the Chrome Web Store in Brave and install the extensions you want. Popular extensions include password managers, note-taking apps, and productivity tools.

Themes

Brave also supports themes, allowing you to customize the look and feel of the browser. You can find themes in the Chrome Web Store or use Brave’s built-in themes.

Brave Rewards

Don’t forget to check out Brave Rewards. You can earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) by viewing privacy-respecting ads. To enable Brave Rewards, go to brave://rewards in your browser and follow the instructions.

Brave Shields

Brave Shields is a powerful tool that blocks ads and trackers. You can customize Brave Shields settings by clicking on the lion icon in the address bar. Adjust the settings to balance privacy and website functionality.

Alternative Installation Methods

While using Yay and the AUR is the recommended way to install Brave on Archcraft, there are alternative methods you can use.

Using Snap

Snap is a package manager that’s available on many Linux distributions, including Archcraft. To install Brave using Snap, you first need to install Snap:

sudo pacman -S snapd
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

Then, install Brave:

sudo snap install brave

However, using Snap can result in a larger installation size and may not integrate as well with your system as the AUR package.

Manual Installation

You can also download the Brave browser package from the Brave website and install it manually. This involves downloading the appropriate package for your system architecture, extracting the files, and placing them in the correct directories. However, this method is more complex and not recommended for beginners.

Conclusion

Alright, guys, that’s it! You’ve successfully installed Brave browser on Archcraft. By following these steps, you can enjoy a private, secure, and efficient browsing experience. Remember to keep your system updated and explore Brave’s many customization options to make the most of your browsing experience. Whether you’re a long-time Archcraft user or just getting started, Brave is a great addition to your system.

Happy browsing!