Arch Linux is an independently developed lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.

Arch Linux defines simplicity as without unnecessary additions or modifications. It ships software as released by the original developers (upstream) with minimal distribution-specific (downstream), changes: patches not accepted by upstream are avoided, and Arch's downstream patches consist almost entirely of backported bug fixes that are obsoleted the project's next release.

Arch ships the configuration files provided by upstream with changes limited to distribution-specific issues like adjusting the system file paths. It does not add automation features such as enabling a service simply because the package was installed.

Packages are only split when compelling advantages exist, such as saving disk space in bad cases of waste. GUI configuration utilities are not officially provided, encouraging users to perform most system configurations from the shell and a text editor.

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