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Can one use the benefits of Nix provisioning while using other linux distro, Debian specifically?

by ewuhic 4y ago

PufPufPuf 4y ago
You can install Nix package manager on any system, but the packages will be separate from system packages. You can try it and switch to full NixOS if you like it
mschwaig 4y ago
If you are talking about provisioning dot files and command line applications you want to have available on all you machines then take a look at home-manager. https://github.com/nix-community/home-manager https://github.com/nix-community/home-manager I use it on NixOS. It should absolutely work on other distros unfortunately I don't have any first hand experience with that or with what the best way is to set it up on other distos (I think there are few options for how to do it).
- chrisweekly 4y ago
  > "there are few options" I'm curious about your phrasing. In idiomatic English, this says "there are _not many_ options", IOW options are limited. It emphasizes the constraints. OTOH had you written "there are _a_ few options", it'd emphasize the existence of more than one option, with a positive connotation. From context I infer you meant the latter, is that right?
  - mschwaig 4y ago
    Yes sorry. This was a typo. I meant to write 'a few options'.
rgoulter 4y ago
Yes. I think it's a good way to get started with Nix. e.g. with nix installed, you'll be able to use the nix-shell to get the development dependencies without having to install system wide, if a shell.nix or flake.nix has been written for it. (e.g. for repos like https://github.com/helix-editor/helix https://github.com/helix-editor/helix). You'll be able to use the `nix shell` command to try out a program without needing it installed system wide. Or you can figure out how to write your own nix-shells etc. I think Home Manager is worth trying only once you're otherwise familiar with Nix (or if you find a good config to copy-paste from, though), since Nix's error messages and debugging still aren't great.
SuperSandro2000 4y ago
Did you ever try to patch a software in debian or create your own package? Debian had no native and easy way to do that unless nix. If you have a standard cmake project you can be done in 10 minutes packaging it. Also applying patches is very easy with overlays while also keeping your software up to date and propogate the changes through the dependency chain.

Can one use the benefits of Nix provisioning while using other linux distro, Debian specifically?

by ewuhic 4y ago

Can one use the benefits of Nix provisioning while using other linux distro, Debian specifically?

You can install Nix package manager on any system, but the packages will be separate from system packages. You can try it and switch to full NixOS if you like it

mschwaig 4y ago

If you are talking about provisioning dot files and command line applications you want to have available on all you machines then take a look at home-manager. https://github.com/nix-community/home-manager https://github.com/nix-community/home-manager I use it on NixOS. It should absolutely work on other distros unfortunately I don't have any first hand experience with that or with what the best way is to set it up on other distos (I think there are few options for how to do it).

chrisweekly 4y ago
> "there are few options" I'm curious about your phrasing. In idiomatic English, this says "there are _not many_ options", IOW options are limited. It emphasizes the constraints. OTOH had you written "there are _a_ few options", it'd emphasize the existence of more than one option, with a positive connotation. From context I infer you meant the latter, is that right?
- mschwaig 4y ago
  Yes sorry. This was a typo. I meant to write 'a few options'.

rgoulter 4y ago

Yes. I think it's a good way to get started with Nix. e.g. with nix installed, you'll be able to use the nix-shell to get the development dependencies without having to install system wide, if a shell.nix or flake.nix has been written for it. (e.g. for repos like https://github.com/helix-editor/helix https://github.com/helix-editor/helix). You'll be able to use the `nix shell` command to try out a program without needing it installed system wide. Or you can figure out how to write your own nix-shells etc. I think Home Manager is worth trying only once you're otherwise familiar with Nix (or if you find a good config to copy-paste from, though), since Nix's error messages and debugging still aren't great.

SuperSandro2000 4y ago

Did you ever try to patch a software in debian or create your own package? Debian had no native and easy way to do that unless nix. If you have a standard cmake project you can be done in 10 minutes packaging it. Also applying patches is very easy with overlays while also keeping your software up to date and propogate the changes through the dependency chain.