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https://github.com/slice/nixfiles

skip's machines
https://github.com/slice/nixfiles

nix nix-darwin

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skip's machines

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# `nixfiles`



[Nix] code that is responsible for managing the configuration and environment of

my personal machines.



Mostly documented for my own sake. I am trapped in a prison of my own design.



[nix]: https://nixos.org

[home-manager]: https://github.com/nix-community/home-manager

[nix-darwin]: https://github.com/LnL7/nix-darwin



## Bringup



> [!WARNING]

> This procedure has only been tested on Macs with Apple silicon.



> [!IMPORTANT]

> [nix-darwin] configurations will only work if your hostname matches a

> corresponding configuration in [`flake.nix`](./flake.nix).



1. [Install Nix](https://nixos.org/download/):



   ```

   sh <(curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install)

   ```



   The installer will describe what it intends to do before prompting you to

   continue. However, in general, it:



   - Creates a new APFS volume for the Nix store.

   - Creates and registers Launch Daemons that mount the volume and spawn the

     Nix daemon.

   - Downloads and unpacks Nix.

   - Creates Nix build users and groups.

   - Writes the necessary shell profiles to make Nix usable.



1. Clone this repository to `~/src/prj/nixfiles`. (As you might guess, this path

   is _also_ hardcoded. For now. Maybe.)



1. Pop open a fresh shell so the computer knows where `nix` lives. Then,

   bootstrap [Home Manager][home-manager] and [nix-darwin]:



   ```

   nix run home-manager/master -- switch --flake ~/src/prj/nixfiles

   nix run nix-darwin -- switch --flake ~/src/prj/nixfiles

   ```



   You will likely have to mess with some files in `/etc` to let nix-darwin

   manage the environment.



1. Change your shell:



   ```

   sudo chsh -s ~/.nix-profile/bin/fish $USER

   ```



1. If you set up nix-darwin, then you probably have

   [two Nix installations](https://github.com/LnL7/nix-darwin/issues/931) now,

   which needs to be somehow fixed.



   (Nix is required to bootstrap nix-darwin, but nix-darwin essentially acts as

   a Nix installation in and of itself by managing a Nix daemon for you.

   Furthermore, a nix-darwin module is used to version-manage Nix, which will

   conflict with the Nix binary that was previously used to bootstrap this

   entire setup.)



   - Use `nix doctor` to verify that you don't have conflicting `nix` binaries

     in your `PATH`.

   - Use `launchctl` to ensure that you only have a single Nix daemon (e.g.

     `launchctl print system`, `launchctl disable system/…`, etc.)



1. All done.



## Usage



This repository is a [flake] mostly because it makes pinning dependencies

easier. However, `flake.nix` doesn't do much; in fact, it can largely be boiled

down to:



[flake]: https://nixos.wiki/wiki/Flakes



```nix

outputs = inputs: {

  packages.aarch64-darwin.homeConfigurations.skip = import ./home/bootstrap.nix {

    inherit inputs;

    system = "aarch64-darwin";

    username = "skip";

  };



  packages.x86_64-linux.homeConfigurations.skip = import ./home/bootstrap.nix {

    inherit inputs;

    system = "x86_64-linux";

    username = "skip";

  };



  # ... etc. ...

};

```



To instantiate the `homeManagerConfiguration` outside of a flake context,

[`home/bootstrap.nix`](./home/bootstrap.nix) can be used like so:



```nix

import "${}/home/bootstrap.nix" {

  system = "aarch64-darwin";

  inputs = {

    inherit nixpkgs home-manager; # etc.

  };

  server = "infer"; # all Macs are workstations

};

```



Check out that file for more details.