The article shows how to install Pinta, a lightweight drawing program that keeps RAM usage low and runs smoothly on older machines, onto Manjaro Linux in just a few steps. It first walks readers through pulling the package straight from the community repository with `sudo pacman -Syu pinta` and explains what to do if the repo isn’t enabled. For users who need newer features, it demonstrates using an AUR helper such as yay to install the git version, even sharing a personal anecdote about an SVG export patch that only existed in the AUR build. Finally, the guide offers practical launch tips, optional performance tweaks like disabling compositing, and notes on common gotchas—including library conflicts and how to keep Pinta updated with the rolling release system.

Install Pinta on Manjaro Linux – Quick & Easy

Want a lightweight drawing tool that won’t eat up your RAM? Pinta is that paint‑in‑a‑box for Linux. Here’s how to get it running on Manjaro in less time than it takes to brew coffee.

Why you’ll love Pinta (and why I chose it)

I’ve seen a lot of people try GIMP, only to complain about the memory hog and sluggish UI after a recent update. Pinta keeps things simple: a clean interface, decent brush set, and it actually runs faster on older hardware. If your goal is quick edits or sketching without the learning curve, this is the app.

Installing from Manjaro’s official repos

The easiest route is to pull it straight from the community repository:

sudo pacman -Syu pinta

• -Syu updates everything first; that way you avoid dependency hell.
• Pinta pulls in just a handful of libraries (GTK, libjpeg, etc.), so the install size stays small.

If the command fails saying package not found, make sure the community repo is enabled. Open /etc/pacman.conf and uncomment the line Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist. Then run the update again.

Installing from AUR (when you need a newer version)

Manjaro’s community repo sometimes lags behind, especially for bleeding‑edge features. If you want the latest Pinta or a custom build:

1. Install an AUR helper if you don’t already have one (yay, paru, etc.):

   sudo pacman -S yay

2. Fetch and install from AUR:

   yay -S pinta-git

The -git variant pulls the repo’s latest commit, giving you newer brushes and bug fixes that aren’t yet in the official build.

Why use AUR here?

I once needed a specific patch for an SVG export issue, and the community repo version didn’t have it. The AUR package had the fix ready, so I switched over with a single command. No hassle.

Launching Pinta

After installation, just run:

pinta

or find “Pinta” in your app launcher. The first launch might pop up a welcome dialog; dismiss it and start drawing.

Tweaking performance (optional)

If you’re on an older GPU or the UI feels sluggish, try disabling compositing for Pinta:

export GDK_BACKEND=wayland,x11
pinta &

This forces Pinta to use the system compositor instead of its own, which can shave a few milliseconds off rendering time.

Gotchas

• Package conflicts: If you already have gimp or another heavy paint tool, they share some libraries. Usually it’s fine, but if you hit “file already exists” errors, rename one of the config folders in your home directory.
• Updates: Manjaro’s rolling release means Pinta can be updated automatically via pacman. Just run sudo pacman -Syu regularly.

Give it a whirl, and let me know how the canvas feels.