NixOS - Revision history

DHCP: use "console" as syntax highlighting language for shell commands (Note: comments that start at beginnig of line aren't highlighted as comments, it's aka superuser sign. The use of `sudo cmd` vs `# cmd` across the wiki is inconsistent and `#` being used for comments is definitely more common. Can we somehow tweak the to treat `#` as comment and ask editors to use `sudo` to mark privilege escalation?)

2026-05-20T23:43:21Z

use "console" as syntax highlighting language for shell commands (Note: comments that start at beginnig of line aren't highlighted as comments, it's aka superuser sign. The use of `sudo cmd` vs `# cmd` across the wiki is inconsistent and `#` being used for comments is definitely more common. Can we somehow tweak the <syntaxhighlight> to treat `#` as comment and ask editors to use `sudo` to mark privilege escalation?)

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:43, 20 May 2026
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	<!--T:53-->		<!--T:53-->
	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	$ nix-env --rollback # roll back a user environment		$ nix-env --rollback # roll back a user environment
	$ nixos-rebuild switch --rollback # roll back a system environment		$ nixos-rebuild switch --rollback # roll back a system environment
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	</translate>		</translate>

	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	$ /run/current-system/bin/switch-to-configuration boot		$ /run/current-system/bin/switch-to-configuration boot
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>
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	<!--T:56-->		<!--T:56-->
	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	# delete generations older than 30 days		$ # delete generations older than 30 days
	$ nix-collect-garbage --delete-older-than 30d		$ nix-collect-garbage --delete-older-than 30d

	<!--T:57-->		<!--T:57-->
	# delete ALL previous generations - you can no longer rollback after running this		$ # delete ALL previous generations - you can no longer rollback after running this
	$ nix-collect-garbage -d		$ nix-collect-garbage -d
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>
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	<!--T:58-->		<!--T:58-->
	List generations:		List generations:
	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	# as root		$ # as root
	$ nix-env --list-generations --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system		$ nix-env --list-generations --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>
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	<!--T:59-->		<!--T:59-->
	Switch generations:		Switch generations:
	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	# as root switch to generation 204		$ # as root switch to generation 204
	$ nix-env --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --switch-generation 204		$ nix-env --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --switch-generation 204
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>
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	<!--T:60-->		<!--T:60-->
	delete broken generation(s):		delete broken generation(s):
	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	# as root delete broken generations 205 and 206		$ # as root delete broken generations 205 and 206
	$ nix-env --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --delete-generations 205 206		$ nix-env --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --delete-generations 205 206
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>

DHCP: update links (mostly changed wikipedia.org to interwiki links); Note: the interwiki links are not labeled with an "arrow" denoting external website. ArchWiki enables that and it really helps distinguishing links. This may be something subjective, but i consider it worth enabling in NixOS wiki!

2026-05-13T18:23:56Z

update links (mostly changed wikipedia.org to interwiki links); Note: the interwiki links are not labeled with an "arrow" denoting external website. ArchWiki enables that and it really helps distinguishing links. This may be something subjective, but i consider it worth enabling in NixOS wiki!

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:23, 13 May 2026
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	<!--T:2-->		<!--T:2-->
	[https://nixos.org/ NixOS] is a Linux distribution based on the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] package manager and build system. It supports [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declarative_programming~~ declarative] system-wide [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Configuration_management~~ configuration management] as well as [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomicity_~~(database_systems) atomic] upgrades and rollbacks, although it can additionally support [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperative_programming~~ imperative] package and user management. In NixOS, all components of the distribution — including the [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel~~ kernel], installed [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_manager~~ packages] and system configuration files — are built by [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] from [[Wikipedia:Pure function\|pure functions]] called [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix ~~Expression Language~~\|Nix expressions]].		[https://nixos.org/ NixOS] is a Linux distribution based on the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] package manager and build system. It supports [[Wikipedia:Declarative programming\|declarative]] system-wide [[Wikipedia:Configuration management\|configuration management]] as well as [[Wikipedia:Atomicity (database_systems)\|atomic]] upgrades and rollbacks, although it can additionally support [[Wikipedia:Imperative programming\|imperative]] package and user management. In NixOS, all components of the distribution — including the [[Wikipedia:Linux kernel\|kernel]], installed [[Wikipedia:Package manager\|packages]] and system configuration files — are built by [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] from [[Wikipedia:Pure function\|pure functions]] called [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix (language)\|Nix expressions]].

	<!--T:3-->		<!--T:3-->
	Since Nix uses [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Executable binary] caching, this provides a unique compromise between the binary-oriented approach used by distributions such as Debian and the [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_code~~ source]-oriented approach used by distributions such as Gentoo. Binaries can be used for standard components, and custom-built packages and modules can be used automatically when a pre-built binary is not available.		Since Nix uses [[Wikipedia:Executable\|binary]] caching, this provides a unique compromise between the binary-oriented approach used by distributions such as Debian and the [[Wikipedia:Source code\|source]]-oriented approach used by distributions such as Gentoo. Binaries can be used for standard components, and custom-built packages and modules can be used automatically when a pre-built binary is not available.

	<!--T:4-->		<!--T:4-->
	Stable NixOS releases are delivered twice a year (around the end of May and the end of November). NixOS was created by [https://edolstra.github.io/ Eelco Dolstra] and [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armijn_Hemel~~ Armijn Hemel], and initially released in 2003. It is community developed and maintained under the stewardship of the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix_Community#NixOS_Foundation\|NixOS Foundation]].		Stable NixOS releases are delivered twice a year (around the end of May and the end of November). NixOS was created by [https://edolstra.github.io/ Eelco Dolstra] and [[Wikipedia:Armijn Hemel\|Armijn Hemel]], and initially released in 2003. It is community developed and maintained under the stewardship of the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix_Community#NixOS_Foundation\|NixOS Foundation]].

	== Installation == <!--T:5-->		== Installation == <!--T:5-->
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	<!--T:36-->		<!--T:36-->
	For more information on using and configuring nix channels, refer to [[Special:MyLanguage/~~channel~~ branches\|channel branches]].		For more information on using and configuring nix channels, refer to [[Special:MyLanguage/Channel branches\|channel branches]].

	== Internals == <!--T:37-->		== Internals == <!--T:37-->
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	<!--T:40-->		<!--T:40-->
	The main difference between NixOS and other Linux distributions is that NixOS does not follow the [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Standard_Base~~ Linux Standard Base] file system structure. On LSB-compliant systems software is stored under <code>/{,usr}/{bin,lib,share}</code> and configuration is generally stored in <code>/etc</code>. Software binaries are available in the user environment if they are placed in one of the LSB's <code>/bin</code> directories. When a program references dynamic libraries it will search for the required libraries in the LSB folders (<code>/lib</code>, <code>/usr/lib</code>).		The main difference between NixOS and other Linux distributions is that NixOS does not follow the [[Wikipedia:Linux Standard Base \|Linux Standard Base ]] file system structure. On LSB-compliant systems software is stored under <code>/{,usr}/{bin,lib,share}</code> and configuration is generally stored in <code>/etc</code>. Software binaries are available in the user environment if they are placed in one of the LSB's <code>/bin</code> directories. When a program references dynamic libraries it will search for the required libraries in the LSB folders (<code>/lib</code>, <code>/usr/lib</code>).

	<!--T:41-->		<!--T:41-->
	In NixOS however <code>/lib</code> and <code>/usr/lib</code> do not exist. Instead all system libraries, binaries, kernels, firmware and configuration files are placed in the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix#Nix store\|Nix store]]. The files and directories in <code>/nix/store</code> are named by hashes of the information describing the built data. All of the files and directories placed in the Nix store are immutable. <code>/bin</code> and <code>/usr/bin</code> are almost absent: they contain only <code>/bin/sh</code> and <code>/usr/bin/env</code> respectively, to provide minimal compatibility with existing scripts using shebang lines. User-level environments are implemented using a large number of symbolic links to all required packages and auxiliary files. These environments are called [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix#Profiles\|profiles]] and are stored in <code>/nix/var/nix/profiles</code>, each user having their own profiles. Structuring the system in this way is how NixOS obtains its key advantages over conventional Linux distributions, such as atomicity and rollback support.		In NixOS however <code>/lib</code> and <code>/usr/lib</code> do not exist. Instead all system libraries, binaries, kernels, firmware and configuration files are placed in the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix (package_manager)#Nix store\|Nix store]]. The files and directories in <code>/nix/store</code> are named by hashes of the information describing the built data. All of the files and directories placed in the Nix store are immutable. <code>/bin</code> and <code>/usr/bin</code> are almost absent: they contain only <code>/bin/sh</code> and <code>/usr/bin/env</code> respectively, to provide minimal compatibility with existing scripts using shebang lines. User-level environments are implemented using a large number of symbolic links to all required packages and auxiliary files. These environments are called [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix#Profiles\|profiles]] and are stored in <code>/nix/var/nix/profiles</code>, each user having their own profiles. Structuring the system in this way is how NixOS obtains its key advantages over conventional Linux distributions, such as atomicity and rollback support.

	=== Usage of the Nix store === <!--T:42-->		=== Usage of the Nix store === <!--T:42-->
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	<!--T:49-->		<!--T:49-->
	See the [https://nixos.org/nixos/~~manual~~/index.html#sec-writing-modules Modules section of the NixOS Manual] for more details.		See the [https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/stable/index.html#sec-writing-modules Modules section of the NixOS Manual] for more details.

	=== Generations === <!--T:50-->		=== Generations === <!--T:50-->

Nanucq at 14:19, 12 May 2026

2026-05-12T14:19:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:19, 12 May 2026
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	<!--T:63-->		<!--T:63-->
	* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS modules\|~~Modules~~ NixOS]], ~~une bibliothèque d'~~expressions ~~Nix modulaires qui sous-tend~~ [[#declarative-configuration\|la configuration ~~déclarative de~~ NixOS]].		* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS modules\|NixOS modules]], a library for modular [[Special:MyLanguage/Overview of the Nix Expression Language#Expressions\|Nix expressions]] which powers [[#declarative-configuration\|the declarative configuration of NixOS]].
	* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS VM tests\|~~Tests~~ NixOS VM]], ~~une bibliothèque permettant de créer des~~ tests ~~d'infrastructure reproductibles~~, ~~basée sur~~ [[Special:MyLanguage/Nixpkgs\|Nixpkgs]], [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS\|NixOS]], QEMU et Perl.		* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS VM tests\|NixOS VM tests]], a library for creating reproducible infrastructure tests, based on [[Special:MyLanguage/Nixpkgs\|Nixpkgs]], [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS\|NixOS]], QEMU and Perl.
	* [https://github.com/ryan4yin/nixos-and-flakes-book NixOS & Flakes Book] (Ryan4yin, 2023) - 🛠️ ❤️ ~~Un livre non officiel sur~~ NixOS et Flakes ~~destiné aux débutants~~.		* [https://github.com/ryan4yin/nixos-and-flakes-book NixOS & Flakes Book] (Ryan4yin, 2023) - 🛠️ ❤️ An unofficial NixOS & Flakes book for beginners.

	</translate>		</translate>

Nanucq at 14:05, 12 May 2026

2026-05-12T14:05:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:05, 12 May 2026
Line 244:		Line 244:

	<!--T:63-->		<!--T:63-->
	* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS modules\|NixOS ~~modules~~]], ~~a library for modular [[Special:MyLanguage/Overview of the~~ Nix ~~Expression Language#Expressions\|Nix expressions]] which powers~~ [[#declarative-configuration\|~~the declarative~~ configuration of NixOS]].		* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS modules\|Modules NixOS]], une bibliothèque d'expressions Nix modulaires qui sous-tend [[#declarative-configuration\|la configuration déclarative de NixOS]].
	* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS VM tests\|NixOS VM ~~tests~~]], ~~a library for creating reproducible~~ infrastructure ~~tests~~, ~~based on~~ [[Special:MyLanguage/Nixpkgs\|Nixpkgs]], [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS\|NixOS]], QEMU ~~and~~ Perl.		* [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS VM tests\|Tests NixOS VM]], une bibliothèque permettant de créer des tests d'infrastructure reproductibles, basée sur [[Special:MyLanguage/Nixpkgs\|Nixpkgs]], [[Special:MyLanguage/NixOS\|NixOS]], QEMU et Perl.
	* [https://github.com/ryan4yin/nixos-and-flakes-book NixOS & Flakes Book] (Ryan4yin, 2023) - 🛠️ ❤️ ~~An unofficial~~ NixOS & Flakes ~~book for beginners~~.		* [https://github.com/ryan4yin/nixos-and-flakes-book NixOS & Flakes Book] (Ryan4yin, 2023) - 🛠️ ❤️ Un livre non officiel sur NixOS et Flakes destiné aux débutants.

	</translate>		</translate>

Ardenet: Marked this version for translation

2025-10-07T20:53:48Z

Marked this version for translation

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 7 October 2025
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	There used to be limited support for MIPS architectures in NixOS, and remnants of this support may still be found in Nixpkgs. However, there is no official support.		There used to be limited support for MIPS architectures in NixOS, and remnants of this support may still be found in Nixpkgs. However, there is no official support.

	==== RISC-V architectures ====		==== RISC-V architectures ==== <!--T:64-->

	</translate>		</translate>
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	<translate>		<translate>

			<!--T:65-->
	NixOS does not provide official support for RISC-V devices. However, several devices may benefit from community support.		NixOS does not provide official support for RISC-V devices. However, several devices may benefit from community support.

Weijia: Add support status on RISC-V

2025-08-29T07:39:29Z

Add support status on RISC-V

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:39, 29 August 2025
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	<!--T:22-->		<!--T:22-->
	There used to be limited support for MIPS architectures in NixOS, and remnants of this support may still be found in Nixpkgs. However, there is no official support.		There used to be limited support for MIPS architectures in NixOS, and remnants of this support may still be found in Nixpkgs. However, there is no official support.

			==== RISC-V architectures ====

			</translate>
			{{Main\|RISC-V}}
			<translate>

			NixOS does not provide official support for RISC-V devices. However, several devices may benefit from community support.

	== Usage == <!--T:23-->		== Usage == <!--T:23-->

Ardenet: Marked this version for translation

2025-08-21T15:51:57Z

Marked this version for translation

Show changes

Ardenet at 15:50, 21 August 2025

2025-08-21T15:50:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 21 August 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	<languages/>		<languages/>
			<translate>
	{{Navbox Nix}}		{{Navbox Nix}}
	{{Expansion\|reason=It needs to be an easy introduction, because its one of the first articles new users read here. Thats why it needs to be simplified a bit and more complex topics should be moved to other articles.}}		{{Expansion\|reason=It needs to be an easy introduction, because its one of the first articles new users read here. Thats why it needs to be simplified a bit and more complex topics should be moved to other articles.}}
	~~<translate>~~

	[https://nixos.org/ NixOS] is a Linux distribution based on the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] package manager and build system. It supports [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declarative_programming declarative] system-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Configuration_management configuration management] as well as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomicity_(database_systems) atomic] upgrades and rollbacks, although it can additionally support [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperative_programming imperative] package and user management. In NixOS, all components of the distribution — including the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel kernel], installed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_manager packages] and system configuration files — are built by [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] from [[Wikipedia:Pure function\|pure functions]] called [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix Expression Language\|Nix expressions]].		[https://nixos.org/ NixOS] is a Linux distribution based on the [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] package manager and build system. It supports [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declarative_programming declarative] system-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Configuration_management configuration management] as well as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomicity_(database_systems) atomic] upgrades and rollbacks, although it can additionally support [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperative_programming imperative] package and user management. In NixOS, all components of the distribution — including the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel kernel], installed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_manager packages] and system configuration files — are built by [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix\|Nix]] from [[Wikipedia:Pure function\|pure functions]] called [[Special:MyLanguage/Nix Expression Language\|Nix expressions]].
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	NixOS also places entries for previous generations in the bootloader menu, so as a last resort you can always revert to a previous configuration by rebooting. To set the currently booted generation as the default run		NixOS also places entries for previous generations in the bootloader menu, so as a last resort you can always revert to a previous configuration by rebooting. To set the currently booted generation as the default run
			</translate>

	<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>		<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>
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	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>

			<translate>
	Because NixOS keeps previous generations of system state available in case rollback is desired, old package versions aren't deleted from your system immediately after an update. You can delete old generations manually:		Because NixOS keeps previous generations of system state available in case rollback is desired, old package versions aren't deleted from your system immediately after an update. You can delete old generations manually:

Ardenet: Prepared the page for translation

2025-08-21T15:44:12Z

Prepared the page for translation

Show changes

DoggoBit: add navbox

2025-06-19T13:30:35Z

add navbox

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:30, 19 June 2025
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	{{Expansion\|~~Incomplete (~~reason~~: it~~ needs to be an easy introduction, because its one of the first articles new users read here. Thats why it needs to be simplified a bit and more complex topics should be moved to other articles))}}		{{Navbox Nix}}
			{{Expansion\|reason=It needs to be an easy introduction, because its one of the first articles new users read here. Thats why it needs to be simplified a bit and more complex topics should be moved to other articles.}}

	[https://nixos.org/ NixOS] is a Linux distribution based on the [[Nix]] package manager and build system. It supports [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declarative_programming declarative] system-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Configuration_management configuration management] as well as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomicity_(database_systems) atomic] upgrades and rollbacks, although it can additionally support [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperative_programming imperative] package and user management. In NixOS, all components of the distribution — including the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel kernel], installed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_manager packages] and system configuration files — are built by [[Nix]] from [[Wikipedia:Pure function\|pure functions]] called [[Nix Expression Language\|Nix expressions]].		[https://nixos.org/ NixOS] is a Linux distribution based on the [[Nix]] package manager and build system. It supports [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declarative_programming declarative] system-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Configuration_management configuration management] as well as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomicity_(database_systems) atomic] upgrades and rollbacks, although it can additionally support [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperative_programming imperative] package and user management. In NixOS, all components of the distribution — including the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel kernel], installed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_manager packages] and system configuration files — are built by [[Nix]] from [[Wikipedia:Pure function\|pure functions]] called [[Nix Expression Language\|Nix expressions]].