Where Does Artix Linux Keep Services and Package Cache?
Artix caches pacman packages in /var/cache/pacman/pkg like Arch, and keeps service definitions in /etc/runit/sv or /etc/init.d depending on which init you installed.
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Artix is Arch without systemd, which changes service management but not package storage. Downloads still land in /var/cache/pacman/pkg and trim the same way with paccache. Anyone arriving from Arch already knows this half.
Services are the Artix specific part. There is no systemctl. Which folder holds your services depends on the init you picked at install: runit, OpenRC, s6, or dinit. Runit and OpenRC cover most installs, with symlinks doing the enabling on runit and rc-update on OpenRC.
Where Artix Linux stores this, by platform
/var/cache/pacman/pkg
Standard pacman download cache, same as Arch. Trim with paccache -rk2. Artix changes nothing about this folder.
/etc/runit/sv
Runit service definitions, one folder per service. Enable by symlinking into /run/runit/service. Only applies to runit installs, check your init first.
/etc/init.d
OpenRC service scripts with matching config files in /etc/conf.d. Manage with rc-service and rc-update. Only applies to OpenRC installs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I manage services on Artix?
Check which init you run first with cat /proc/1/comm or ps -p 1. Runit services live in /etc/runit/sv, OpenRC scripts in /etc/init.d with config in /etc/conf.d. The Artix wiki documents each init separately since commands differ.
How do I enable a service at boot?
For runit use sudo ln -s /etc/runit/sv/<service> /run/runit/service to enable and sv down to stop. For OpenRC use sudo rc-update add <service> default and sudo rc-service <service> start. Mixing the two command sets is the usual beginner mistake.
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