I wish I new how to easily install an AUR package manager when I first started.

Step 1: go to the AUR and choose a package manager. I recommend paru, but there are plenty of others.

Step 2: install git using pacman

sudo pacman -S git 

Step 3: copy the git clone URL for paru and pull it

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/paru.git

Step 4: CD into the new directory

cd paru

Step 5: install paru

makepkg -si

Now when you find a package from the AUR you want, you can easily install it.

paru -S [package]

Also, when you update your system, you only need to run paru -Syu. You don’t need to run both pacman -Syu and paru -Syu.

There is Lawnchair, which is a stock-experience while still being extremely customizable, and Kvaesitso, which is search based and might be worth checking out if you want to try something different. Can you share which features you are interested in, so we can give more relevant recommendations ?

Why won’t a disclaimer cut it? I didn’t know that FUTO intentionally misconstrued the term open-source until now. What else am I supposed to do than admit I was wrong and correct my comment?

Thanks! I’ve added a disclaimer to my original comment. I was also mistakenly under the impression it was open-source.

Removed by mod

I’m not 100% certain if it’s fully private, but I’ve been using a VPN and LibreWolf + uBlock Origin. I watch what I want to and reset my browsing session when I’m done.

Not anymore after they got acquired