How To Fix Broken Pacman In Arch Linux

This weekend took a turn for the worse. I inadvertently removed the libalpm library from my Arch Linux system, rendering Pacman, Paru, and Yay unusable. Attempting any package management operation resulted in this error:

<code>pacman: error while loading shared libraries: libalpm.so.15: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory</code>

Deleting essential libraries like libalpm can cripple your Arch Linux package managers. Fortunately, a full system reinstall isn't necessary. This guide details how to repair a broken Pacman using pacman-static.

Table of Contents

- Understanding libalpm.so.15

• The "libalpm.so.15: cannot open shared object file" Error
• Resolving the Error with pacman-static
  • Step 1: Downloading the Precompiled Binaries
  • Step 2: Setting pacman-static as Executable
  • Step 3: Reinstalling Pacman with pacman-static
  • Step 4: Verification
  • Step 5: Rebuilding Paru and Yay
• Conclusion

Understanding libalpm.so.15

libalpm.so.15 is a shared library crucial for the Arch Linux package manager, Pacman. It's the Arch Linux Package Management Library, and its absence prevents Pacman from functioning.

The "libalpm.so.15: cannot open shared object file" Error

The error "libalpm.so.15: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory" indicates Pacman can't locate the necessary shared library. This usually occurs due to accidental deletion or system corruption.

Resolving the Error with pacman-static

Pre-compiled pacman-static binaries are accessible via the AUR. These statically linked versions of Pacman are independent of shared libraries. Here's how to use them:

Step 1: Downloading the Precompiled Binaries

Download the pre-compiled binaries from [this link](insert actual link here if available, otherwise remove this bracketed section).

curl -O https://pkgbuild.com/~morganamilo/pacman-static/x86_64/bin/pacman-static

Step 2: Setting pacman-static as Executable

Make the binary executable:

chmod +x pacman-static

Step 3: Reinstalling Pacman with pacman-static

Use pacman-static to reinstall Pacman and its dependencies, including libalpm:

sudo ./pacman-static -S pacman

This reinstalls Pacman and resolves the missing libalpm.so.15 issue.

Step 4: Verification

Verify Pacman's functionality:

sudo pacman -Syu

A successful, error-free execution indicates a restored system.

Step 5: Rebuilding Paru and Yay

With Pacman working, rebuild Paru:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/paru.git
cd paru/
makepkg -si

And Yay:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay/
makepkg -si

Conclusion

While deleting essential libraries like libalpm is alarming, recovery without a complete system reinstall is achievable. pacman-static offers a swift and effective solution to the "libalpm.so.15: No such file or directory" error. Following these steps restores Pacman, Paru, and Yay functionality.

Further Reading:

• How To Restore Broken Arch Linux To Previous Working State
• How To Fix “unable to lock database” Error In Arch Linux
• How To Fix “invalid or corrupted package (PGP signature)” Error In Arch Linux
• How To Solve “Starting full system upgrade… there is nothing to do” Issue In Arch Linux
• How To Solve “error: failed to commit transaction (conflicting files)” In Arch Linux
• How To Fix Broken Ubuntu OS Without Reinstalling It

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