arch-linux-triage

Overview of arch-linux-triage skill

What arch-linux-triage does

arch-linux-triage is a focused troubleshooting skill for Arch Linux problems that need more than a generic “try reinstalling” answer. It steers an agent toward Arch-specific diagnosis with pacman, systemctl, journalctl, reboot awareness, and rollback or cleanup guidance.

Who should use it

This skill fits users debugging broken updates, failed services, boot regressions, package conflicts, or unclear post-upgrade behavior on Arch Linux. It is most useful for people who want copy-paste-ready commands and a safer troubleshooting sequence, not just a high-level explanation.

The real job to be done

The practical job is to turn a vague report like “audio broke after update” or “service won’t start” into a structured triage workflow with commands, checkpoints, and validation. That matters on Arch because rolling-release issues often depend on recent updates, system state, and whether a reboot or kernel mismatch is involved.

Why this skill is better than a plain prompt

A normal prompt may produce Linux advice that is too generic, distro-mixed, or missing validation steps. arch-linux-triage explicitly pushes the agent to:

• confirm update timing and environment assumptions
• use Arch-relevant tools first
• provide remediation commands you can run directly
• verify each major change
• include rollback or cleanup steps

What is missing from the repository

The repository is intentionally minimal: only SKILL.md exists. That makes the arch-linux-triage skill easy to inspect, but it also means there are no helper scripts, canned diagnostics, or reference docs bundled with it. Output quality depends heavily on the snapshot and problem summary you provide.

How to Use arch-linux-triage skill

Read SKILL.md first

Start with skills/arch-linux-triage/SKILL.md in the upstream repository. It defines the inputs, the required troubleshooting sequence, and the expected output structure. Because there are no supporting files, reading that one file gives you nearly the full contract of the skill.

Know the three inputs that matter

The skill is built around three inputs:

• ProblemSummary for the symptom and recent change
• ArchSnapshot for system context
• Constraints for what you can or cannot do

If you only provide one thing, make it a precise ProblemSummary. If you want better results, add a compact system snapshot.

What to include in ProblemSummary

Strong arch-linux-triage usage starts with a problem statement that names the failing component, timing, and impact. Good examples:

• “After pacman -Syu yesterday, sshd fails to start and port 22 is closed.”
• “Laptop boots, but graphical login loops after NVIDIA update.”
• “PipeWire audio disappeared after kernel upgrade; speakers and Bluetooth both fail.”

Weak input:

• “Arch is broken.”

What to include in ArchSnapshot

For arch-linux-triage for Debugging, the snapshot should reduce guesswork. Include only what changes diagnosis:

• recent pacman -Syu timing
• kernel version and whether you rebooted
• affected package or service name
• relevant error text from systemctl status or journalctl
• desktop environment or hardware detail if relevant
• whether this is bare metal, VM, or remote host

Add constraints before the agent suggests risky steps

Use Constraints to prevent unsafe or impractical advice. Examples:

• “Remote server; avoid reboot until last resort.”
• “No network access except local console.”
• “Encrypted root; do not suggest reinstall.”
• “Need minimal downtime; prefer reversible fixes.”

This is one of the highest-leverage parts of the arch-linux-triage guide.

Turn a rough goal into a strong prompt

A strong invocation usually has four parts: symptom, trigger, evidence, and limits. Example:

“Use arch-linux-triage. Problem: nginx.service stopped starting after a full system update today. Snapshot: Arch x86_64, kernel 6.x, rebooted once, systemctl status nginx shows config or dependency failure, journalctl -u nginx -b available. Constraints: production host, avoid package removal unless necessary. Give triage steps, remediation commands, validation after each change, and rollback options.”

Expect a good output shape

The skill directs the agent to return:

• Summary
• Triage Steps
• Remediation Commands
• Validation
• Rollback/Cleanup

That structure is useful because it separates diagnosis from action. If an answer skips validation or rollback, ask the agent to regenerate in the exact skill format.

Best workflow for real incidents

Use the arch-linux-triage skill in this order:

1. describe symptoms and recent updates
2. collect one or two real command outputs
3. let the agent propose a triage sequence
4. run only the first safe diagnostic steps
5. feed results back
6. ask for narrowed remediation and verification

This beats asking for a full fix upfront, especially when the first hypothesis may be wrong.

Repository path and install reality

There is no install command documented in SKILL.md, and the repository evidence shows no extra resources or scripts. Treat arch-linux-triage install as “add the skill through your skills-enabled client, then inspect SKILL.md.” If your environment supports GitHub-based skills, the relevant source path is skills/arch-linux-triage/SKILL.md.

Practical tips that improve output quality

For better arch-linux-triage usage, provide:

• exact package names instead of broad categories
• one real error line instead of paraphrasing
• whether the issue appeared before or after reboot
• whether this is a package problem, service problem, boot problem, or hardware regression
• what you already tried, so the agent avoids loops

arch-linux-triage skill FAQ

Is arch-linux-triage only for package issues

No. It clearly targets pacman, systemd, and rolling-release troubleshooting, so it also fits service failures, post-update regressions, boot-adjacent issues, and cases where logs matter more than package state.

When is this better than a normal Linux troubleshooting prompt

Use arch-linux-triage when Arch-specific sequencing matters. Generic prompts often miss package database state, reboot implications after kernel updates, or the importance of checking journalctl and systemctl before proposing fixes.

Is the skill beginner-friendly

Yes, with one caution: it gives command-driven remediation, so beginners should paste exact outputs back instead of improvising. The skill is safer when used interactively, one step at a time, rather than as a bulk “fix everything” script.

When should you not use arch-linux-triage

Do not rely on it for non-Arch systems, broad security incident response, or hardware repair that lacks Linux observability data. It is also a poor fit if you cannot provide logs, service names, update timing, or any concrete symptom details.

Does it help with remote servers

Yes, especially if you state remote-only constraints early. The skill can then prioritize inspection, reversible commands, and reboot awareness instead of assuming local desktop recovery.

Does the repository include automated diagnostics

No. The repository contains only the skill definition. There are no bundled shell scripts, log collectors, rules, or references, so the agent cannot automatically inspect your system unless you provide outputs.

How to Improve arch-linux-triage skill

Give evidence, not just conclusions

The fastest way to improve arch-linux-triage results is to paste short raw outputs:

• systemctl status <service>
• journalctl -u <service> -b
• the failing pacman message
• kernel or reboot status

Raw evidence helps the agent distinguish between dependency issues, config breakage, package conflicts, and stale-runtime problems.

Separate diagnosis from remediation

Ask the skill for “triage first, fix second” when the situation is risky. That reduces bad suggestions in production or on remote hosts. It also makes rollback planning more realistic.

Tell the agent what changed recently

Arch issues are often update-driven. Mention:

• last successful state
• packages updated before failure
• whether a reboot happened
• whether the issue is new or intermittent

This is one of the strongest ways to improve the arch-linux-triage skill without changing the repository.

Watch for common failure modes

The skill can still underperform if you provide:

• no package or service names
• no logs
• a mixed Arch and non-Arch environment description
• vague goals like “optimize my system”
• constraints only after the agent suggests disruptive steps

Ask for verification after every fix

The skill already expects validation, but you get better results by demanding explicit checkpoints such as:

• “show me what success looks like after each command”
• “include one validation command per change”
• “add rollback if the validation fails”

That makes arch-linux-triage for Debugging more reliable in live troubleshooting.

Iterate with the first command output

The best second prompt is usually not “that didn’t work,” but “here is the exact output from step 1.” This lets the skill refine the path based on real state instead of guessing from the original symptom.

Improve the repository if you maintain it

If you want to make arch-linux-triage easier to adopt, the highest-value additions would be:

• example input bundles for package, service, and boot issues
• a short “safe on remote host” pattern
• sample journalctl and systemctl driven workflows
• guidance for post-pacman -Syu regressions and reboot checks

Those additions would materially improve installation confidence and first-run quality more than extra marketing text.