introduction to nixOS 2021-01-12
Notes for a talk I gave on nixOS to the plug community.
outline
-
introduce me, GNU style
-
introduce NixOS, Linux style
- define jargon
- NixOS tradeoffs
-
nix package manager
- works on other distros, macOS
-
share my daily experiences
- NixOS commands
-
demonstrate declarative development environments
nix-shell
me in GNU terms
- tried Ubuntu 7.04 in 2007, NeoOffice too.
- why pay to play?
- I own the hardware and will not pay for your software thank you.
NixOS, nix, and friends
- declarative GNU/Linux distribution
- nix its package manager
- Nix expression language
jargon
- nix
- the package manager or expression language
- channel
- repository with software packages
- nix store
/nix/store
; place where installed software goes
tradeoffs
- old problems solved
- dependency hell
- rummager system management
- new problems to solve
- kindawell documented language for system management
nix standalone
- the isolated saved a complicated apache httpd installation on a strange centos 6 derivative
- macOS support ok
security related qa
- can I use LUKS?
- yes. The NixOS manual has a dedicated section here.
- can I use a Yubikey or other hardware key?
- yes. Declare udev integration optionally in alternate
.nix
file
- yes. Declare udev integration optionally in alternate
Hyperlinks Now!
- NixOS
- Project home page.
- NixOS documentating landing page
- nix pills
- These are beginner tutorials.
- discourse
- Discourse discussion forum. nixos.org details other community channels too.