Nix

The grand unification of configuration.

Not on NixOS?

Install Nix using Determinate Systems's installer:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.determinate.systems/nix | sh -s -- install

And install Home Manager in standalone mode:

NixOS

nixos-rebuild --flake git+https://git.lyte.dev/lytedev/nix switch

Remotely

nixos-rebuild --flake git+https://git.lyte.dev/lytedev/nix#host \
  --target-host root@host --build-host root@host \
  switch

Home Manager

This can be used on non-NixOS hosts:

home-manager switch --flake .#daniel

Remotely

ssh daniel@host 'home-manager switch --flake git+https://git.lyte.dev/lytedev/nix#daniel'

Provisioning New NixOS Hosts

Documented below is my process for standing up a new NixOS node configured and managed by this flake from scratch.

Network Access

Boot a NixOS ISO and establish network access:

# plug in ethernet or do the wpa_cli song and dance for wifi access
wpa_cli scan # if you need to
wpa_cli scan_results

wpa_cli add_network 0
wpa_cli set_network 0 ssid "MY_SSID"
wpa_cli set_network 0 psk "MY_WIFI_PASSWORD"
wpa_cli enable_network 0
wpa_cli save_config

Partition disk(s) and mount up however you like. Preferably, though, use a disko configuration from this flake like so:

# TODO: I'm relatively certain this can be simplified to a single `nix run` command
sudo nix-shell --packages git --run "nix run \
  --extra-experimental-features nix-command \
  --extra-experimental-features flakes \
  github:nix-community/disko -- \
    --flake 'git+https://git.lyte.dev/lytedev/nix#standard' \
    --mode disko \
    --arg disks '[ \"/dev/your_disk\" ]'"

And finally install NixOS as specified by this flake:

nix-shell --packages git \
  --run "sudo nixos-install \
    --flake 'git+https://git.lyte.dev/lytedev/nix#yourNixosConfig'"

NOTE: This takes a while, mostly due to building Helix myself on each box. I really need to figure out a good local caching setup.

NOTE: since the disko setup should be included in the nixosConfiguration, I would like to know how to do this all in one go -- maybe even building my own live media?

Other To Dos

• Local Nix substitute/cache setup?
• Pre-commit checks with nix flake check?