🐧 ArchLinuxARM Docker Builder

Reproducible ArchLinuxARM builds for ARM boards and emulators — right from Docker.

---

📦 Overview

This project automates building and exporting ArchLinuxARM root filesystems and Raspberry Pi images using multi-stage Docker builds.

You can build:

• 🧱 Minimal ArchLinuxARM base rootfs
• ⚙️ Full system with kernel, SSH, and systemd networking
• 🌌 AstroArch — a KDE-based astrophotography environment (KStars, INDI, PHD2, etc.)
• 💾 Ready-to-flash .img files for Raspberry Pi or for generic aarch64 devices

All builds are reproducible and run entirely on x86_64 using QEMU emulation.

---

🚀 Quick Start

Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/devDucks/ArchLinuxARM.git
cd ArchLinuxARM

Enable QEMU for cross-architecture builds

docker run --rm --privileged multiarch/qemu-user-static --reset -p yes

Build the minimal ArchLinuxARM image

make build-minimal

Build the full ArchLinuxARM (with kernel, SSH, networking)

make build-aarch64

Build AstroArch (KDE + astrophotography tools)

make build-astroarch

Each build exports its rootfs tarball (/archlinuxarm-aarch64-rootfs.tar or /astroarch-rootfs.tar).

---

🧰 Make Targets

Target	Description
build-minimal	Minimal base ArchLinuxARM rootfs (Dockerfile.base).
build-aarch64	Full ArchLinuxARM with kernel, SSH, locale, DHCP.
build-aarch64-rootfs	Exports the aarch64 rootfs tarball.
build-astroarch	AstroArch desktop with KDE + INDI stack.
build-astroarch-rootfs	Exports the AstroArch rootfs tarball.
prepare-rpi-img	Creates a bootable Raspberry Pi image (archarm-rpi-aarch64.img).

---

🧱 Image Structure

🔹 dockerfiles/Dockerfile.base

• Based on Alpine
• Installs pacman, arch-install-scripts
• Bootstraps ArchLinuxARM aarch64 rootfs
• Exports /archlinuxarm-aarch64-rootfs.tar

🔹 dockerfiles/Dockerfile.aarch64

• Based on archlinuxarm-basic
• Sets mirrors and initializes pacman keys
• Installs: glibc, linux-aarch64, nano, openssh
• Configures systemd-networkd (DHCP)
• Enables SSH (root/alarm)
• Fixes locale (locale.gen rebuild)

🔹 dockerfiles/Dockerfile.astroarch

• Adds AstroMatto repository
• Tweaks pacman (ILoveCandy, disable timeout)
• Installs:
  • KDE Plasma desktop
  • KStars + Ekos
  • INDI drivers
  • PHD2 guiding
  • VNC tools (tigervnc)
  • XRDP to access the environment via RDP
• Exports /astroarch-rootfs.tar

🔹 scripts/build_img.sh

• Creates a bootable .img (archarm-rpi-aarch64.img)
• Partitions disk → /boot (FAT32), / (ext4)
• Copies rootfs
• Applies UUIDs, mount points, fsck, etc.

---

💾 Build an AstroArch Raspberry Pi Image

make prepare-rpi-img

The result is:

archarm-rpi-aarch64.img

You can now boot the .img just created using qemu, run ./scripts/start_qemu.sh you can then login into the system make your changes and shutdown now. This will leave you with a ready to be flashed image wich includes your custom changes

Flash it to an SD card:

sudo dd if=archarm-rpi-aarch64.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
sync

Then insert the SD card into your Pi and boot — SSH will be ready via DHCP.

---

🔐 Default Credentials

Image	User	Password	Notes
ArchLinuxARM	root	alarm	SSH enabled by default
--------------	------	-------	------------------------
AstroArch	astronaut	astro	SSH enabled by default

---

---

🌍 Mirror List

Mirrors used during build (/etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist):

Server = http://dk.mirror.archlinuxarm.org/$arch/$repo
Server = http://de3.mirror.archlinuxarm.org/$arch/$repo
Server = http://eu.mirror.archlinuxarm.org/$arch/$repo
Server = http://fl.us.mirror.archlinuxarm.org/$arch/$repo

You can modify mirrors in Dockerfiles or via build args.

---

🪐 AstroArch at a Glance

AstroArch is a preconfigured ArchLinuxARM environment for astrophotography setups.

Includes:

• 🪩 KDE Plasma Desktop
• 🌠 KStars + Ekos
• 🔭 INDI drivers
• 📷 PHD2 guiding
• 🖥️ Remote access via VNC or RDP

Built for Raspberry Pi 5 observatories and headless rigs.

---

📁 Project Layout

├── dockerfiles/
│   ├── Dockerfile.base
│   ├── Dockerfile.aarch64
│   └── Dockerfile.astroarch
├── scripts/
│   └── build_img.sh
├── Makefile
└── README.md

---

🧾 License & Credits

• License: MIT
• Maintainers: devDucks 🦆
• Based on: ArchLinuxARM
• Inspired by: AstroArch Linux Distro

---

“Build once, flash anywhere — the Arch way.”

✨ Made with ❤️ by devDucks