Introduction to Parch

Parch GNU/Linux is an Arch Linux-based distribution that pairs the Arch package ecosystem with opinionated defaults: a curated desktop experience, KDE Plasma as the flagship environment, and first-class Persian-language support for Iran and Persian speakers worldwide.

What Parch adds to Arch

Layer	Arch provides	Parch adds
Packages	core, extra, multilib repos	world repo with Parch-built packages
ISO images	upstream archiso profiles	Per-edition profiles (parch-iso-plasma, Parch-iso-gnome, …)
Installer	archinstall / manual install	Calamares (Parch flavor) with fa_IR defaults
Desktop	stock KDE/GNOME/XFCE	Parch themes: parch-sddm, parch-grub-theme, parch-plymouth, gnome-parch
First-party apps	none	Pastor (Store), parch-welcome, parch-update, PKM, mirrorman, and more
Localization	upstream i18n	Persian fonts (Estedad), fa_IR locale defaults, RTL-aware tooling

Rolling release, Arch-based

Parch follows the Arch rolling-release model: there are no version numbers to upgrade across, and packages track upstream closely. The practical consequences for developers:

• Test against a current system. Build and run on an up-to-date machine; pacman -Syu before building (never -Sy alone, which creates partial upgrades).
• Expect upstream change. Library sonames, Python versions, and kernel ABI move under you; packages must rebuild when they do.
• Parch layers on top, it does not fork. Most packages come unmodified from Arch repositories. Parch-specific packages live in world, and Parch-modified packages (like the Parch-flavored Calamares) are rebuilt with downstream patches.

The ecosystem map

• Distribution: ISO profiles, installer, themes (see Platform Architecture).
• Applications: Pastor and friends (see Application Development).
• Infrastructure: the world repository, mirrors (see Distribution Development).
• Community: forum.parchlinux.com, wiki.parchlinux.com, Matrix, GitHub organization.

Who this portal is for

Application developers, package maintainers, ISO builders, designers, and distribution contributors. Start with Set up your workstation, then follow your path from the portal home.