Getting started with Arch on a Macbook pro 2012 (9,2)

Dec 27, 2021 · 215 words · 2 minute read

Enable tap to click and natural scrolling ##

install libinput
paste the following in your shell:

 1mkdir /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d;
 2echo 'Section "InputClass"
 3        Identifier "libinput touchpad catchall"
 4        MatchIsTouchpad "on"
 5        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
 6        Driver "libinput"
 7        Option "Tapping" "on"
 8        Option "NaturalScrolling" "on"
 9EndSection' > /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/40-libinput.conf;
10systemctl restart lightdm

Link to Source ¹

Get wireless running (the GUI method) ##

install yay
install broadcom-wl
reboot
ip addr should now display wlan0
install NetworkManager
and run the following to enable and start the networkmgr use

1    systemctl enable NetworkManager.service
2    systemctl start NetworkManager.service

install and run nm-connection-editor
add a new connection in the bottom left and choose WIFI
enter your wifi ssid and password, disable ipv6 (optional)

Link to Source²

Change screen and keyboard backlight brightness ##

install brightnessctl and xev
check what keys your macbook uses to manage the screen and keyboard backlight brightness:

1xev | awk -F'[ )]+' '/^KeyPress/ { a[NR+2] } NR in a { printf "%-3s %s\n", $5, $8 }'

press the keys for screen brightness and keyboard brightness
copy the key names
Paste them in your i3 config:

Keyboard backlight: ###

1bindsym XF86KbdBrightnessUp exec brightnessctl --device='smc::kbd_backlight' set +10
2bindsym XF86KbdBrightnessDown exec brightnessctl --device='smc::kbd_backlight' set 10-

Screenbrightness: ###

1bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec brightnessctl set +300
2bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec brightnessctl set 300-