# Install yay (requires base-devel and git)
sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si # Build and install
# Search for packages (official repos + AUR)
yay searchterm # Interactive search with results
# Search only in AUR
yay -a searchterm # AUR packages only
# Search for exact package name
yay -Ss ^packagename$ # Regex search
# Install a package
yay -S package-name # Install from repos or AUR
# Install without confirmation
yay -S --noconfirm package-name # Skip prompts
# Install and clean build files
yay -S --cleanafter package-name # Remove build files after install
# Install specific version
yay -S package-name-1.2.3 # Specify version
# Update all packages (official + AUR)
yay # Same as yay -Syu
# Update with development packages
yay -Syu --devel # Include *-git packages
# Update only AUR packages
yay -Sua # Skip official repos
# Update and show diffs
yay -Syu --combinedupgrade # Review PKGBUILD changes
# Remove a package
yay -R package-name # Remove package only
# Remove with dependencies
yay -Rs package-name # Remove package + unused deps
# Remove with all dependencies
yay -Rns package-name # Remove package + deps + config files
# Remove orphaned packages
yay -Yc # Clean unneeded dependencies
# Show package information
yay -Si package-name # Show package details
# Show installed package info
yay -Qi package-name # Query installed package
# List files in package
yay -Ql package-name # List all files
# Check which package owns a file
yay -Qo /path/to/file # Find package owner
# Clean package cache
yay -Sc # Remove old packages from cache
# Clean all cached packages
yay -Scc # Remove all packages from cache
# Remove unneeded dependencies
yay -Yc # Clean orphaned packages
# Clean build files
yay -Y --clean # Remove cached build files
# Show yay statistics
yay -Ps # Package statistics
# List explicitly installed packages
yay -Qe # Show user-installed packages
# List AUR packages
yay -Qm # Show foreign/AUR packages
# Check for updates without installing
yay -Qu # List available updates
# Answer yes to all prompts
yay -S --noconfirm package # Skip confirmation prompts
# Edit PKGBUILD before building
yay -S --editmenu package # Review build files
# Rebuild package from AUR
yay -S --rebuild package # Force rebuild
# Skip dependency checks
yay -S --nodeps package # Install without checking deps
# Download only (don't install)
yay -G package-name # Get PKGBUILD and files
# Edit yay config
yay --save --combinedupgrade # Save as default behavior
# Show current configuration
yay -P -g # Display config
# Reset yay configuration
yay --gendb # Regenerate development database
# Full system update with cleaning
yay -Syu --cleanafter # Update and clean build files
# Search, review, and install
yay -S package # Interactive install with review
# List and remove orphans
yay -Qtdq | yay -Rns - # Remove all orphaned packages
# Update only development packages
yay -Syu --devel --timeupdate # Update *-git packages
# Package Installation
pacman -S package # Pacman: Official repos only
yay -S package # Yay: Official repos + AUR
# System Update
pacman -Syu # Pacman: Update official packages
yay -Syu # Yay: Update official + AUR packages
yay # Yay: Shorthand for full update
# Search
pacman -Ss searchterm # Pacman: Search official repos
yay searchterm # Yay: Search repos + AUR (interactive)
# Removing Orphans
pacman -Qtdq | pacman -Rns - # Pacman: Manual pipe required
yay -Yc # Yay: Built-in orphan removal
# PKGBUILD Review
# Pacman: Manual download & review
yay -S --editmenu package # Yay: Interactive PKGBUILD editor
# Key Differences:
# - Yay wraps pacman and adds AUR support
# - Yay uses pacman syntax (same flags)
# - Yay provides interactive search/install
# - Yay handles PKGBUILD review automatically
# - Both require sudo for system operations
# - Pacman is official, yay is community tool