Adding programs to PATH - Revision history

Axka: Explain PATH

2026-02-08T13:10:03Z

Explain PATH

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:10, 8 February 2026
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	Here is a collection of methods to add a program to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable with [[Nix (package manager)]] with packages from [[Nixpkgs]].		Here is a collection of methods to add a program to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable with [[Nix (package manager)]] with packages from [[Nixpkgs]].

			The <code>PATH</code> environment variable (often referred to as "the PATH") is an environment variable that tells programs where to find other programs. When you run a command <code>hello</code> in a bash shell, it basically searches for an executable named <code>hello</code> in every directory listed in <code>PATH</code>.

	The NixOS method supports installing [[udev]] rules, which may be required for programs interacting with hardware. Services should be enabled and configured with NixOS options rather than by adding them manually to <code>environment.systemPackages</code>.		The NixOS method supports installing [[udev]] rules, which may be required for programs interacting with hardware. Services should be enabled and configured with NixOS options rather than by adding them manually to <code>environment.systemPackages</code>.

Axka: Mark as a tutorial

2026-02-08T13:04:49Z

Mark as a tutorial

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:04, 8 February 2026
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			[[Category:Tutorial]]

	Here is a collection of methods to add a program to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable with [[Nix (package manager)]] with packages from [[Nixpkgs]].		Here is a collection of methods to add a program to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable with [[Nix (package manager)]] with packages from [[Nixpkgs]].

Axka: Axka moved page Package installation to Adding programs to PATH: Better description of page contents

2026-02-08T12:12:28Z

Axka moved page Package installation to Adding programs to PATH: Better description of page contents

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:12, 8 February 2026
(No difference)

Axka: Add details about symlink trees

2026-02-08T11:57:40Z

Add details about symlink trees

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:57, 8 February 2026
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	== Persistent ==		== Persistent ==

	These methods install the packages globally (not local to a specific development shell), persist the installation between reboots and ~~link directories~~ together.		These methods install the packages globally (not local to a specific development shell), persist the installation between reboots and symlink paths together into a specific directory (see the NixOS options {{Nixos:option\|environment.systemPackages}} and {{Nixos:option\|environment.pathsToLink}} for details).

	=== NixOS ===		=== NixOS ===

Axka: Add shell session example to declarative Nix flake devshell

2026-02-08T11:47:43Z

Add shell session example to declarative Nix flake devshell

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
      devShells.x86_64-linux.default = pkgs.mkShellNoCC {
        packages = [ pkgs.hello ];
+     };
    };
-}|name=flake.nix|lang=nix}}
+}|name=flake.nix|lang=nix}}Here is an example of a it working:<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">

Axka: Add example of running hello in an ad-hoc flake-based devshell

2026-02-08T11:40:02Z

Add example of running hello in an ad-hoc flake-based devshell

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 8 February 2026
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	Run the following command to create a new shell with the <code>hello</code> package from the <code>nixpkgs</code> [[Flakes\|flake]] added to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable.<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">		Run the following command to create a new shell with the <code>hello</code> package from the <code>nixpkgs</code> [[Flakes\|flake]] added to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable.<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
	[username@hostname:~]$ nix shell nixpkgs\#hello		[username@hostname:~]$ nix shell nixpkgs\#hello

			[username@hostname:~]$ hello
			Hello, world!

	[username@hostname:~]$		[username@hostname:~]$

Axka: Put commands into code blocks

2026-02-08T11:39:01Z

Put commands into code blocks

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:39, 8 February 2026
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	=== Ad-hoc shell using <code>nix-shell -p</code> ===		=== Ad-hoc shell using <code>nix-shell -p</code> ===
	Run the following command to create a new shell with the <code>hello</code> package from Nixpkgs.		Run the following command to create a new shell with the <code>hello</code> package from Nixpkgs.<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
			[username@hostname:~]$ nix-shell -p hello

	~~<code>~~nix-shell -~~p hello~~</~~code~~>{{Expand\|reason=Compare <code>nix-shell -p</code> and <code>nix shell</code>. If I remember correctly, the former uses <code>pkgs.mkShell</code> and supports expressions and hooks (i.e. for extra environment variables).}}		[nix-shell:~]$ hello
			Hello, world!

			[nix-shell:~]$
			</syntaxhighlight>{{Expand\|reason=Compare <code>nix-shell -p</code> and <code>nix shell</code>. If I remember correctly, the former uses <code>pkgs.mkShell</code> and supports expressions and hooks (i.e. for extra environment variables).}}

	=== Ad-hoc shell using <code>nix shell</code> (Flakes) ===		=== Ad-hoc shell using <code>nix shell</code> (Flakes) ===

Axka: Put commands into code blocks

2026-02-08T11:37:36Z

Put commands into code blocks

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:37, 8 February 2026
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	=== Ad-hoc shell using <code>nix shell</code> (Flakes) ===		=== Ad-hoc shell using <code>nix shell</code> (Flakes) ===

	Run the following command to create a new shell with the <code>hello</code> package from the <code>nixpkgs</code> [[Flakes\|flake]] added to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable.		Run the following command to create a new shell with the <code>hello</code> package from the <code>nixpkgs</code> [[Flakes\|flake]] added to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable.<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
			[username@hostname:~]$ nix shell nixpkgs\#hello

	<code>nix shell nixpkgs\#hello~~</code>~~		[username@hostname:~]$
			</syntaxhighlight>You may also consider the <code>nix run</code> command useful. It reads the package's <code>meta.mainProgram</code> attribute and runs it.<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
			[username@hostname:~]$ nix run nixpkgs\#hello
			Hello, world!

	~~You can also use packages from a local flake with the following command~~:		[username@hostname:~]$
			</syntaxhighlight>
	~~<code>nix shell .\#my-package</code>~~

	~~You may also consider the <code>nix run</code> command useful. It reads the package's <code>meta.mainProgram</code> attribute and runs it.~~

	~~<code>nix run nixpkgs\#hello~~</~~code~~>

	=== Declarative shell using <code>shell.nix</code> and <code>nix-shell</code> ===		=== Declarative shell using <code>shell.nix</code> and <code>nix-shell</code> ===

Axka: Clarify flake devshell section

2026-02-08T11:29:49Z

Clarify flake devshell section

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:29, 8 February 2026
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	=== Declarative shell using <code>flake.nix</code> and <code>nix develop</code> (Flakes) ===		=== Declarative shell using <code>flake.nix</code> and <code>nix develop</code> (Flakes) ===
	{{Main\|Flakes}}		{{Main\|Flakes}}
	Below is a minimal example using flakes~~. See the main article for more information~~. Write the file below and run the command <code>nix develop</code>.{{File\|3={		Below is a minimal example using flakes. Write the file below and run the command <code>nix develop</code>.{{File\|3={
	description = "Minimal development shell using flakes";		description = "Minimal development shell using flakes";

			# Define Nixpkgs as a flake input
	inputs.nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";		inputs.nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";

	outputs = { nixpkgs, ... }: let		outputs = { nixpkgs, ... }: let
			# Get the Nixpkgs package set for the system x86_64-linux
	pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-linux;		pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-linux;
	in {		in {
			# Define a development shell for the system x86_64-linux
	devShells.x86_64-linux.default = pkgs.mkShellNoCC {		devShells.x86_64-linux.default = pkgs.mkShellNoCC {
	packages = [ pkgs.hello ];		packages = [ pkgs.hello ];

Axka: Clarify udev paragraph

2026-02-08T11:26:15Z

Clarify udev paragraph

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:26, 8 February 2026
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	Here is a collection of methods to add a program to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable with [[Nix (package manager)]] with packages from [[Nixpkgs]].		Here is a collection of methods to add a program to the <code>PATH</code> environment variable with [[Nix (package manager)]] with packages from [[Nixpkgs]].

	~~Only the~~ NixOS ~~and system-wide profiles (on NixOS) support~~ installing [[udev]] rules and ~~system-wide [[systemd]] units~~.		The NixOS method supports installing [[udev]] rules, which may be required for programs interacting with hardware. Services should be enabled and configured with NixOS options rather than by adding them manually to <code>environment.systemPackages</code>.

	Here we are using the package <code>hello</code> as an example. Unless stated otherwise, package attribute names (with necessary prefixes like <code>nixpkgs\#</code> or <code>pkgs.</code>) can be repeated to add more packages.		Here we are using the package <code>hello</code> as an example. Unless stated otherwise, package attribute names (with necessary prefixes like <code>nixpkgs\#</code> or <code>pkgs.</code>) can be repeated to add more packages.