Nixpkgs/Patching Nixpkgs - Revision history

N0099: replace importing nixpkgs: https://discourse.nixos.org/t/1000-instances-of-nixpkgs/17347 with existing NixOS module param `pkgs`, and replace fetchurl with fetchpatch2 that will do normalization on generated patch

2026-01-13T20:16:49Z

replace importing nixpkgs: https://discourse.nixos.org/t/1000-instances-of-nixpkgs/17347 with existing NixOS module param `pkgs`, and replace fetchurl with fetchpatch2 that will do normalization on generated patch

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:16, 13 January 2026
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	First you will need to apply the Nixpkgs PR patch to some copy of Nixpkgs. In this example we will assume a ~~Flake (<code>flake.nix</code>) that~~ has ~~an input~~ <code>~~nixpkgs-unstable~~</code> pointing to <code>nixos-unstable</code>:		First you will need to apply the Nixpkgs PR patch to some copy of Nixpkgs. In this example we will assume a NixOS modules has parameter <code>pkgs</code> pointing to <code>nixos-unstable</code>.

	~~<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>~~
	~~inputs = {~~
	~~# ...~~
	~~nixpkgs-unstable~~.~~url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";~~
	~~# ...~~
	};
	~~</syntaxHighlight>~~

	We will use the [https://noogle.dev/f/pkgs/applyPatches <code>applyPatches</code>] function to apply the unmerged PR changes to		We will use the [https://noogle.dev/f/pkgs/applyPatches <code>applyPatches</code>] function to apply the unmerged PR changes to
	<code>nixpkgs-unstable</code>. First we need to covert the PR to a patch, which can be done by appending		<code>nixpkgs-unstable</code>. First we need to covert the PR to a patch, which can be done by appending
	<code>.patch</code> to the github PR		<code>.patch</code> to the github PR
	url. This will redirect to another link, for example https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch will		url. This will redirect to another link, for example https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch will
	redirect to https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch. We can use ~~the latter~~.		redirect to https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch. Then we can use <code>[https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/stable/#fetchpatch fetchpatch]</code> or <code>[https://noogle.dev/f/pkgs/fetchpatch2 fetchpatch2]</code> to normalize this patch that generated by GitHub:

	<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">		<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
			{ pkgs, ... }:

	let		let
	nixpkgs-~~unstable' =~~		nixpkgs-344917-drv =
	~~((import nixpkgs~~-~~unstable {~~		pkgs.applyPatches {
	~~system~~ = ~~"x86_64-linux";~~		src = pkgs.path;
	}).applyPatches		patches = [
	{		(pkgs.fetchpatch2 {
	~~name = "nixpkgs-unstable-patched";~~		url = "https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch";
	src = ~~inputs~~.~~nixpkgs-unstable~~;		sha256 = "sha256-aws9J5ZNUyz4Z2RqPVEovBTNng4AdhzS03Bqg8jejWQ=";
	patches = [		})
	(~~builtins~~.~~fetchurl~~ {		];
	url = "https://~~patch-diff.githubusercontent~~.com~~/raw~~/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch";		};
	sha256 = "sha256-aws9J5ZNUyz4Z2RqPVEovBTNng4AdhzS03Bqg8jejWQ=";		nixpkgs-344917 = import nixpkgs-344917-drv { inherit (pkgs.stdenv) system; };
	})		in
	];
	});
	~~lib =~~ nixpkgs-~~unstable'.src.lib;~~
	~~pkgs-unstable-patched~~ = import nixpkgs-~~unstable'~~ {
	system ~~= "x86_64-linux"~~;
	};
	# ...		# ...
	</syntaxhighlight>		</syntaxhighlight>

	In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>nixpkgs-~~unstable'~~</code>. Pay attention we take the <code>src</code> attribute to get back the ~~top-level~~ (unpatched) nixpkgs~~. We can then access <code>lib</code> functions normally~~. We then import that new		In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>nixpkgs-344917-drv</code>. Pay attention we take the <code>src</code> attribute to get back the original (unpatched) nixpkgs. We then import that new derivation which we assign to <code>nixpkgs-344917</code>. Now we can use <code>nixpkgs-344917</code> to access the
	derivation which we assign to <code>~~pkgs-unstable~~-~~patched~~</code>. Now we can use <code>~~pkgs-unstable~~-~~patched~~</code> to access the
	Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.		Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.

Hustlerone: oops 2

2026-01-05T11:41:17Z

oops 2

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:41, 5 January 2026
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	})		})
	];		];
	})~~.src~~;		});
	lib = nixpkgs-unstable'.lib;		lib = nixpkgs-unstable'.src.lib;
	pkgs-unstable-patched = import nixpkgs-unstable' {		pkgs-unstable-patched = import nixpkgs-unstable' {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";

Hustlerone: oops

2026-01-05T11:38:48Z

oops

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:38, 5 January 2026
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	];		];
	}).src;		}).src;
	~~patched~~ = nixpkgs-unstable'.lib;		lib = nixpkgs-unstable'.lib;
	pkgs-unstable = import nixpkgs-unstable' {		pkgs-unstable-patched = import nixpkgs-unstable' {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
	};		};
Line 52:		Line 52:

	In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>nixpkgs-unstable'</code>. Pay attention we take the <code>src</code> attribute to get back the top-level (unpatched) nixpkgs. We can then access <code>lib</code> functions normally. We then import that new		In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>nixpkgs-unstable'</code>. Pay attention we take the <code>src</code> attribute to get back the top-level (unpatched) nixpkgs. We can then access <code>lib</code> functions normally. We then import that new
	derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable</code> to access the		derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable-patched</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable-patched</code> to access the
	Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.		Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.

Hustlerone: nixpkgs-unstable'.src leads you back to nixpkgs-unstable. Might as well just use nixpkgs-unstable.

2026-01-05T11:38:04Z

nixpkgs-unstable'.src leads you back to nixpkgs-unstable. Might as well just use nixpkgs-unstable.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:38, 5 January 2026
Line 44:		Line 44:
	];		];
	}).src;		}).src;
	patched~~-lib~~ = nixpkgs-unstable'.lib;		patched = nixpkgs-unstable'.lib;
	pkgs-unstable = import nixpkgs-unstable' {		pkgs-unstable = import nixpkgs-unstable' {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
Line 51:		Line 51:
	</syntaxhighlight>		</syntaxhighlight>

	In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>nixpkgs-unstable'</code>. Pay attention we take the <code>src</code> attribute to get back the top-level nixpkgs. We can then access <code>lib</code> functions normally. We then import that new		In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>nixpkgs-unstable'</code>. Pay attention we take the <code>src</code> attribute to get back the top-level (unpatched) nixpkgs. We can then access <code>lib</code> functions normally. We then import that new
	derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable</code> to access the		derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable</code> to access the
	Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.		Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.

Ibizaman: Add more versatile way of using applyPatches.

2025-07-27T19:53:55Z

Add more versatile way of using applyPatches.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:53, 27 July 2025
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	redirect to https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch. We can use the latter.		redirect to https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch. We can use the latter.

	<~~syntaxHighlight~~ lang=nix>		<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
	let		let
	~~pkgs~~-unstable' =		nixpkgs-unstable' =
	(import nixpkgs-unstable {		((import nixpkgs-unstable {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
	}).applyPatches		}).applyPatches
Line 43:		Line 43:
	})		})
	];		];
	};		}).src;
	pkgs-unstable = import ~~pkgs~~-unstable' {		patched-lib = nixpkgs-unstable'.lib;
			pkgs-unstable = import nixpkgs-unstable' {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
	};		};
	# ...		# ...
	</~~syntaxHighlight~~>		</syntaxhighlight>

	In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>~~pkgs~~-unstable'</code>. We then import that new		In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>nixpkgs-unstable'</code>. Pay attention we take the <code>src</code> attribute to get back the top-level nixpkgs. We can then access <code>lib</code> functions normally. We then import that new
	derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable</code> to access the		derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable</code> to access the
	Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.		Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.

FliegendeWurst: fix indent of example code

2025-01-12T09:35:38Z

fix indent of example code

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:35, 12 January 2025
Line 16:		Line 16:
	<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>		<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>
	inputs = {		inputs = {
	# ...		# ...
	nixpkgs-unstable.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";		nixpkgs-unstable.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
	# ...		# ...
	};		};
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>
Line 29:		Line 29:

	<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>		<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>
	let		let
	pkgs-unstable' =		pkgs-unstable' =
	(import nixpkgs-unstable {		(import nixpkgs-unstable {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
	}).applyPatches		}).applyPatches
	{		{
	name = "nixpkgs-unstable-patched";		name = "nixpkgs-unstable-patched";
	src = inputs.nixpkgs-unstable;		src = inputs.nixpkgs-unstable;
	patches = [		patches = [
	(builtins.fetchurl {		(builtins.fetchurl {
	url = "https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch";		url = "https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch";
	sha256 = "sha256-aws9J5ZNUyz4Z2RqPVEovBTNng4AdhzS03Bqg8jejWQ=";		sha256 = "sha256-aws9J5ZNUyz4Z2RqPVEovBTNng4AdhzS03Bqg8jejWQ=";
	})		})
	];		];
	};
	~~pkgs-unstable = import pkgs-unstable' {~~
	~~system = "x86_64-linux"~~;
	};		};
	# ...		pkgs-unstable = import pkgs-unstable' {
			system = "x86_64-linux";
			};
			# ...
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>

Line 58:		Line 58:
	The following are resources that go into more depth on this topic.		The following are resources that go into more depth on this topic.

	# [https://ertt.ca/nix/patch-nixpkgs/ Patching <nixpkgs>]		* [https://ertt.ca/nix/patch-nixpkgs/ Patching <nixpkgs>]

Fidgetingbits: More indenting tweaks

2024-10-07T00:49:01Z

More indenting tweaks

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:49, 7 October 2024
Line 30:		Line 30:
	<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>		<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>
	let		let
	pkgs-unstable' =		pkgs-unstable' =
	(import nixpkgs-unstable {		(import nixpkgs-unstable {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
	}).applyPatches		}).applyPatches
	{		{
	name = "nixpkgs-unstable-patched";		name = "nixpkgs-unstable-patched";
	src = inputs.nixpkgs-unstable;		src = inputs.nixpkgs-unstable;
	patches = [		patches = [
	(builtins.fetchurl {		(builtins.fetchurl {
	url = "https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch";		url = "https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917.patch";
	sha256 = "sha256-aws9J5ZNUyz4Z2RqPVEovBTNng4AdhzS03Bqg8jejWQ=";		sha256 = "sha256-aws9J5ZNUyz4Z2RqPVEovBTNng4AdhzS03Bqg8jejWQ=";
	})		})
	];		];
	};		};
	pkgs-unstable = import pkgs-unstable' {		pkgs-unstable = import pkgs-unstable' {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
	};		};
	# ...		# ...
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>

Fidgetingbits: Fix indenting in code example

2024-10-07T00:46:59Z

Fix indenting in code example

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:46, 7 October 2024
Line 44:		Line 44:
	];		];
	};		};
	pkgs-unstable = import pkgs-unstable' {		pkgs-unstable = import pkgs-unstable' {
	system = "x86_64-linux";		system = "x86_64-linux";
	};		};
	# ...		# ...
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>

Fidgetingbits: nixpkgs to Nixpkgs

2024-10-07T00:45:15Z

nixpkgs to Nixpkgs

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:45, 7 October 2024
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	Sometimes it may be required to patch ~~nixpkgs~~ directly, rather than use an overlay to patch an individual package. One scenario of where this might happen is if ~~nixpkgs~~ doesn't contain a change you need, but you find some		Sometimes it may be required to patch a copy of Nixpkgs directly, rather than use an overlay to patch an individual package. One scenario of where this might happen is if Nixpkgs doesn't contain a change you need, but you find some
	existing PR that has yet to be merged, and so want to leverage those changes prior to them being merged.		existing PR that has yet to be merged, and so want to leverage those changes prior to them being merged.

	For the sake of example, let's say you are using the software package Ghidra, and the latest version available on		For the sake of example, let's say you are using the software package Ghidra, and the latest version available on
	~~nixpkgs~~ unstable is [https://search.nixos.org/packages?channel=unstable&from=0&size=50&sort=relevance&type=packages&query=ghidra Ghidra 11.1.2].		Nixpkgs unstable is [https://search.nixos.org/packages?channel=unstable&from=0&size=50&sort=relevance&type=packages&query=ghidra Ghidra 11.1.2].
	You know that the Ghidra developers have recently released 11.2, and want to use it before it's in ~~nixpkgs~~. You could try to create an overlay and manually update the package, but maybe in the process you realize it is not a		You know that the Ghidra developers have recently released 11.2, and want to use it before it's in Nixpkgs. You could try to create an overlay and manually update the package, but maybe in the process you realize it is not a
	trivial update. You may find there is already a pending PR to ~~nixpkgs~~ with the updated version and		trivial update. You may find there is already a pending PR to Nixpkgs with the updated version and
	changes you want, such as [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917 this] PR introducing Ghidra 11.2. If you didn't		changes you want, such as [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/344917 this] PR introducing Ghidra 11.2. If you didn't
	want to wait for this PR to be merged into ~~nixpkgs~~, you could apply the PR patch directly to your ~~nixpkgs~~ instead. Which we will do below.		want to wait for this PR to be merged into Nixpkgs, you could apply the PR patch directly to your Nixpkgs instead. Which we will do below.

	There are of course other reasons you may wish to use a patched ~~nixpkgs~~ and the method applies to any of those cases.		There are of course other reasons you may wish to use a patched Nixpkgs and the method applies to any of those cases.


	First you will need to apply the ~~nixpkgs~~ PR patch to some copy of ~~nixpkgs~~. In this example we will assume a <code>flake.nix</code> that has an input <code>nixpkgs-unstable</code> ~~that is~~ pointing to <code>nixos-unstable</code>:		First you will need to apply the Nixpkgs PR patch to some copy of Nixpkgs. In this example we will assume a Flake (<code>flake.nix</code>) that has an input <code>nixpkgs-unstable</code> pointing to <code>nixos-unstable</code>:

	<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>		<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>

Fidgetingbits: Formatting

2024-10-06T09:07:24Z

Formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:07, 6 October 2024
Line 52:		Line 52:
	In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>pkgs-unstable'</code>. We then import that new		In the above example we create a derivation with the patch applied, called <code>pkgs-unstable'</code>. We then import that new
	derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable</code> to access the		derivation which we assign to <code>pkgs-unstable</code>. Now we can use <code>pkgs-unstable</code> to access the
	Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.		Ghidra 11.2 package, as well as any other packages normally available in nixpkgs.

	== Resources ==		== Resources ==