Comparison of secret managing schemes - Revision history

Raboof: recommend agenix and sops-nix before getting into the nitty-gritty details.

2025-11-13T12:13:58Z

recommend agenix and sops-nix before getting into the nitty-gritty details.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:13, 13 November 2025
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	While this paradigm is still available to NixOS users, a Nix-managed system is in an unique position to leverage <b>secret managing schemes</b>: special software capable of deploying secret information securely. Instead of writing the secret information unencrypted to a NixOS configuration, the software described below can decrypt the relevant secrets and deploy them at various stages of the NixOS system deployment process. This advanced form of secrets configuration is even more important for NixOS configurations tracked with Git or [[Flakes]], as one will be able to store these encrypted secrets in the Git repository and still be able to upload the repository on the public Internet.		While this paradigm is still available to NixOS users, a Nix-managed system is in an unique position to leverage <b>secret managing schemes</b>: special software capable of deploying secret information securely. Instead of writing the secret information unencrypted to a NixOS configuration, the software described below can decrypt the relevant secrets and deploy them at various stages of the NixOS system deployment process. This advanced form of secrets configuration is even more important for NixOS configurations tracked with Git or [[Flakes]], as one will be able to store these encrypted secrets in the Git repository and still be able to upload the repository on the public Internet.

			The most popular options for secrets management are [[Agenix]], [https://github.com/Mic92/sops-nix sops-nix] or the secrets management solution native to the deployment tool you chose. Below follows a more in-depth comparison including less well-known solutions.

	== Definitions ==		== Definitions ==

Malix: /* Comparison */ fix table

2025-11-08T15:47:50Z

Comparison: fix table

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:47, 8 November 2025
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	\| Yes		\| Yes
	\| No		\| No
			\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| <code>[https://github.com/oddlama/agenix-rekey agenix-rekey]</code>		\| <code>[https://github.com/oddlama/agenix-rekey agenix-rekey]</code>
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	\| Yes		\| Yes
	\| No		\| No
			\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [https://github.com/yaxitech/ragenix ragenix]		\| [https://github.com/yaxitech/ragenix ragenix]
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	\| Yes		\| Yes
	\| No		\| No
			\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| [https://github.com/Mic92/sops-nix sops-nix]		\| [https://github.com/Mic92/sops-nix sops-nix]

SigmaSquadron: Rewrite to follow the Manual of Style and a general cleanup of outdated information. TODO: the rest of the table needs a cleanup.

2025-02-23T17:46:31Z

Rewrite to follow the Manual of Style and a general cleanup of outdated information. TODO: the rest of the table needs a cleanup.

Show changes

Timka: grammar

2024-12-28T23:38:58Z

grammar

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:38, 28 December 2024
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	: the name of the scheme, if possible a link to the official website or source, maybe a short description		: the name of the scheme, if possible a link to the official website or source, maybe a short description
	; pre build		; pre build
	: Where does the secret reside before the configuration is ~~build~~? In a file, in a nix expression, in an external database (password manager)? Is it encrypted?		: Where does the secret reside before the configuration is built? In a file, in a nix expression, in an external database (password manager)? Is it encrypted?
	; build time		; build time
	: what happens at build time, is the secret decrypted or encrypted, which master passwords, passphrases or helper programs are needed		: what happens at build time, is the secret decrypted or encrypted, which master passwords, passphrases or helper programs are needed

Secirian: /* Comparison */ migrate changes from old wiki

2024-12-09T10:03:57Z

Comparison: migrate changes from old wiki

@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 | yes
 | no
+|
 |-
 | [https://github.com/Mic92/sops-nix sops-nix]
@@ Line 121: / Line 140: @@
 | no
 | Focuses on trying to keep secrets decrypted for a minimal amount of time
 |-
 |[https://github.com/brizzbuzz/opnix brizzbuzz/opnix]

1abcdef: add two opnix projects

2024-11-23T07:13:01Z

add two opnix projects

@@ Line 121: / Line 121: @@
 | no
 | Focuses on trying to keep secrets decrypted for a minimal amount of time
 |-
 ! scheme

Tboston: align wording

2024-08-11T13:14:45Z

align wording

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:14, 11 August 2024
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	! encryption technology		! encryption technology
	! "official" project		! "official" project
	! ~~templates~~		! templating support
	! notes		! notes
	\|-		\|-

Tboston: that a header cell

2024-08-11T13:12:19Z

that a header cell

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:12, 11 August 2024
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	! "official" project		! "official" project
	! templating support		! templating support
	\|'''notes'''		!'''notes'''
	\|}		\|}

	[[Category:Guide]]		[[Category:Guide]]

Tboston: add missing footer

2024-08-11T13:11:33Z

add missing footer

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:11, 11 August 2024
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	! encryption technology		! encryption technology
	! "official" project		! "official" project
	! notes		! templating support
			\|'''notes'''
	\|}		\|}

	[[Category:Guide]]		[[Category:Guide]]

Mic92: drop obsolete link

2024-04-01T14:07:15Z

drop obsolete link

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:07, 1 April 2024
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	== Comparison ==		== Comparison ==

	~~In case this table is difficult to read with the default theme, try [https://nixos.wiki/index.php?title=Comparison_of_secret_managing_schemes&useskin=vector#Comparison the vector theme].~~

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"