While Arch Linux primarily uses the .tar.zst package format, occasionally, you might find software only available in Debian’s .deb format. One such example is DevKinsta, a popular local WordPress development tool officially supported only on macOS, Windows, and Ubuntu.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through installing .deb packages on Arch Linux using debtap, using DevKinsta as an example.

Step 1: Download the .deb Package

For this guide, we’ll be using DevKinsta as an example. Head over to the DevKinsta download page and download the .deb file. You might need to sign in or create a free account first. Save the file to a location like your Downloads directory.

This process would be similar for any other .deb package you intend to install.

Step 2: Install Debtap

Debtap is a script that converts .deb packages into Arch Linux compatible packages. It can be installed from the AUR (Arch User Repository) using an AUR helper like yay. If you don’t have yay installed, you can install it using pacman:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Now install debtap with yay:

yay -S debtap

Step 3: Convert .deb Package to Arch Package

First, navigate to the directory where your .deb file is located, and update debtap. This is an essential step to ensure it can accurately convert .deb packages:

cd ~/Downloads
sudo debtap -u

Now, use debtap to convert the .deb file to an Arch compatible package:

debtap DevKinsta.deb

The output will be a .pkg.tar.zst file with a similar but more elabourate name in the same directory.

Step 4: Install the Package

You can install the newly converted .pkg.tar.zst package using pacman:

sudo pacman -U dev-kinsta-2.11.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

Replace dev-kinsta-2.11.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst with the name of your converted package.

Step 5: Install and Setup Polkit

Some applications, like DevKinsta, may require polkit for proper functionality. I like to use polkit-gnome, which will work on your system even if you don’t use the gnome window manager/desktop environment. If not already installed, you can install it using pacman:

sudo pacman -S polkit-gnome

You can start polkit using the following command:

/usr/lib/polkit-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1

Although it may make your life easier if you instruct your system to launch polkit at start up to avoid any potential issues. Distros like Ubuntu come with polkit preinstalled and running at all times, but as Arch is stripped back it does not, so we have to do it ourselves.

Now, polkit-gnome running we can ensure a smooth operation of applications like DevKinsta.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues while starting DevKinsta or deploying sites, examining logs and verifying if Polkit is running can be beneficial.

Checking the Logs: DevKinsta logs can provide valuable insights. They are typically located at /var/log/dev-kinsta.log and ~/.config/DevKinsta/log.log.

Verifying Polkit is Running: If Polkit isn’t running, you might encounter errors with DevKinsta.

Remember, this guide should work for most .deb packages on Arch Linux. If you still experience problems, consider seeking help from the software’s developers or the community. Happy Linux-ing!