Need Help understanding yay

General system Newbie
1

So I learned on here I can update as easy as typing yay
But I see I can also do yay -Sua
that only updates the packages would that be my normal update if I don’t want to update the OS constantly.
or is it better to just type yay

My other question is what do you do on the rebuild deppendcy part do I hit enter to type n for none or I for installed or a for all? this part has me lost ?

Last is what is the proper way to search stuff I been using “yay tlp” as a example and typing the number for the one I want.

So far I love this os! Im sold on keeping it just need to find my way around yay

2

yay -Syu : upgrades packages that are in the official repos

yay -Sua : upgrades only AUR packages

yay : equivalent to running both of the above commands (i.e., it’s the same as yay -Syu && yay -Sua).

I think you will find that most EOS users simply run yay.

yay -Ss is the search function, for example, yay -Ss vlc will search both the repos and the AUR for packages containing the term “vlc.”

Personally I use the web interfaces to search packages.

Arch repos:

https://archlinux.org/packages/

AUR:

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages

I assume you mean the cleanbuild prompt - usually a cleanbuild is not needed, that’s why the default option (if you simply hit Enter) is no.

3

I usally use yay for updating my system.

More info in wiki:
https://discovery.endeavouros.com/aur/yay-an-aur-helper-written-in-go/2021/03/

4

ahh ok so just hit enter and it will be ok

5

Normally, yes.

Occasionally the build will fail, and a cleanbuild is generally the first thing to try when that happens (it’s more complicated, but I don’t have time at the moment to write a detailed explanation).

Just say “yes” and if you ever encounter a problem building an AUR package, post on the forum and you’ll get help.

6

I think your other questions have been answered but I would just add that, yes, this is the best way to search and install packages with yay if you don’t know the exact name of the package.

7

Mostly use pacseek now with an icon on the panel. Typing yay is 3 keystrokes and pacseek is one and I’m still using yay. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

8

I type paru :crazy_face:

9

Thanks for this explanation!

This should go on a prominent place in the wiki to make the start for beginners much easier.

10

You can also use the eos-updater. I have an alias in my .zshrc something like:

alias upd=‘eos-update’

That doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with yay specifically.
It’s just a hint from me on how to update EOS