As an avid note-taker and organizer, I’ve always sought out the best tools to streamline my workflow. Joplin, a versatile and open-source note-taking app, quickly became my go-to choice. However, setting it up on my Arch-based Garuda Linux system proved to be quite the challenge.

I tried several methods to install Joplin, following guides from the Joplin website and various AUR packages, but I consistently ran into errors. It was a frustrating experience, and I was almost ready to give up.

The Solution: Joplin Beta from Chaotic AUR

After some research and discussions in online forums, I discovered the Chaotic AUR, a pre-built repository for Arch-based systems that simplifies the installation of many packages. To my delight, I found a beta version of Joplin available in Chaotic AUR.

Here’s how I successfully installed Joplin using Chaotic AUR:

Step 1: Check for Joplin in Chaotic AUR

Before proceeding, you can check if Chaotic AUR has Joplin available. Open a terminal and run:

pacman -Ss joplin

Look for entries from the [chaotic-aur] repository. If you see joplin-beta listed, you're good to go.

Step 2: Enable Chaotic AUR

Next, enable Chaotic AUR on your Garuda system. This involves editing the /etc/pacman.conf file.

1. Open a terminal and use your favorite text editor to open /etc/pacman.conf. For example, using nano:

sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf

2. Scroll to the bottom of the file and add the following lines:

[chaotic-aur]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/chaotic-mirrorlist

Save the file and exit the text editor. If you’re using nano, you can do this by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y, and finally Enter.

3. Update your package database:

sudo pacman -Sy

Step 3: Install Joplin Beta

With Chaotic AUR enabled, installing Joplin is straightforward. Use the following command:

sudo pacman -S joplin-beta

This command installs the beta version of Joplin along with all necessary dependencies, without any errors.

Why This Method Works

The Chaotic AUR repository provides pre-built packages, which means you don’t have to deal with the complexities of building packages from source. This significantly reduces the chances of encountering dependency issues or build errors, making the installation process smoother and more reliable.

Conclusion

Setting up Joplin on Garuda Linux was initially a challenging task, with several failed attempts using various methods. However, the Joplin beta available in Chaotic AUR provided a hassle-free solution that worked perfectly for me. If you’re facing similar issues, I highly recommend giving this method a try.

Happy note-taking!