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One of Nix's benefits is it aims to isolate where programs are installed; so you can have multiple versions of the same program available without conflict. (e.g
by rgoulter 4y ago
One of Nix's benefits is it aims to isolate where programs are installed; so you can have multiple versions of the same program available without conflict. (e.g. programs built with different feature flags, or multiple minor versions).
Nix achieves this by storing packages in a path as some hash of its inputs. -- This then allows either compiling or downloading a package, with confidence that it will behave the same way regardless.
But, since the files were under /nix, if you put them under /opt, then you wouldn't be able to make use of the compilation caches for /nix.
- chrisseaton 4y agoI guess I don't understand what you meant by 'The compromise was putting /nix on a separate directory' then?
- rgoulter 4y agoOops. Wrong word. I meant "separate volume". /nix could still be used if it's on a separate volume. Which still seems less nice than just having /nix on the same volume.
- microtonal 4y agoBut, since the files were under /nix, if you put them under /opt, then you wouldn't be able to make use of the compilation caches for /nix. Until a very short time ago there was no binary cache for Apple Silicon Macs.
- lilyball 4y agoThere are for anything you run as x86_64 (using Rosetta). It's also important if you're cross-compiling anything.
- microtonal 4y agoSure. But I think 90% of the Nix on Apple Silicon users does not compare about cross-compiling or running x86_64 binaries with Nix. So, everyone is worse off for supporting minor use cases.
- WastingMyTime89 4y agoYes but they found a solution which works for 100% of users. I don’t really understand the complain in this thread. Using an APFS volume just works and is entirely transparent to the user. People could just learn instead of complaining they don’t understand.