Terms and Definitions in Nix Project - Revision history

DHCP: use syntaxhighlight=console for shell command

2026-07-19T15:19:06Z

use syntaxhighlight=console for shell command

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:19, 19 July 2026
Line 41:		Line 41:
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| A ''store path'' produced by a derivation. These are generally analogous to built packages, or pieces of them.		\|\| A ''store path'' produced by a derivation. These are generally analogous to built packages, or pieces of them.
	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	$ ls -ld /nix/store/-firefox-9/		$ ls -ld /nix/store/-firefox-9/
	dr-xr-xr-x ... /nix/store/v4b8...3d0w-firefox-92.0/		dr-xr-xr-x ... /nix/store/v4b8...3d0w-firefox-92.0/

DHCP: use syntaxhighlight=console for shell command

2026-07-19T15:18:31Z

use syntaxhighlight=console for shell command

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:18, 19 July 2026
Line 21:		Line 21:
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| Profiles simplify managing and switching between ''user environments'', and thus control which applications and system configurations are in active use. Generally, a ''profile'' is a link to a ''generation'', and the corresponding '''profiles''' folder collects a list of generations. A standalone Nix installation (i.e. on a Linux distro that is not NixOS) operates mainly on ''user'' profiles. In NixOS, there is also a ''system'' profile that manages the system-wide configuration (e.g. ''/etc'', the kernel, ''initrd'', ''systemd''). Other tools like [[Home Manager]] may also have their own profiles. By default, a user's active profile is stored at ''~/.nix-profile'':		\|\| Profiles simplify managing and switching between ''user environments'', and thus control which applications and system configurations are in active use. Generally, a ''profile'' is a link to a ''generation'', and the corresponding '''profiles''' folder collects a list of generations. A standalone Nix installation (i.e. on a Linux distro that is not NixOS) operates mainly on ''user'' profiles. In NixOS, there is also a ''system'' profile that manages the system-wide configuration (e.g. ''/etc'', the kernel, ''initrd'', ''systemd''). Other tools like [[Home Manager]] may also have their own profiles. By default, a user's active profile is stored at ''~/.nix-profile'':
	<syntaxHighlight lang=~~shell~~>		<syntaxHighlight lang=console>
	$ ls -l ~/.nix-profile		$ ls -l ~/.nix-profile
	lrwxrwxrwx ... /home/username/.nix-profile ->		lrwxrwxrwx ... /home/username/.nix-profile ->

Pigs: Add category Nix

2025-05-18T18:15:32Z

Add category Nix

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:15, 18 May 2025
Line 111:		Line 111:
	\|}		\|}
	</translate>		</translate>

			[[Category:Nix]]

Mayer at 12:31, 25 February 2025

2025-02-25T12:31:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:31, 25 February 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	</~~languages~~>		<languages/>
	<translate>		<translate>
	<!--T:1-->		<!--T:1-->

Mayer at 12:29, 25 February 2025

2025-02-25T12:29:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:29, 25 February 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
			</languages>
	<translate>		<translate>
	<!--T:1-->		<!--T:1-->

Mayer: Marked this version for translation

2025-02-25T12:24:57Z

Marked this version for translation

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 25 February 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	<translate>		<translate>
			<!--T:1-->
	If you come across a term or word you don't know, add it here.		If you come across a term or word you don't know, add it here.

			<!--T:2-->
	<!-- README: Rows in this table with named divs have been linked to in other pages. Avoid renaming or removing any of the divs. -->		<!-- README: Rows in this table with named divs have been linked to in other pages. Avoid renaming or removing any of the divs. -->
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Mayer at 12:24, 25 February 2025

2025-02-25T12:24:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:24, 25 February 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
			<translate>
	If you come across a term or word you don't know, add it here.		If you come across a term or word you don't know, add it here.

Line 106:		Line 107:
	-->		-->
	\|}		\|}
			</translate>

SigmaSquadron: Minor wording changes and an updated link to the manual page on recursive sets.

2024-09-02T15:21:38Z

Minor wording changes and an updated link to the manual page on recursive sets.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 2 September 2024
Line 16:		Line 16:
	\|\| (User) Profile		\|\| (User) Profile
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| Profiles simplify managing and switching between ''user environments'', and thus control which applications and system configurations are in active use. Generally, a ''profile'' is a link to a ''generation'', and the corresponding '''profiles''' folder collects a list of generations. A standalone Nix installation (i.e. on a Linux distro that is not NixOS) operates mainly on ''user'' profiles. In NixOS, there is also a ''system'' profile that manages system-wide configuration (e.g. ''/etc'', the kernel, ''initrd'', ''systemd''). Other tools like [[Home Manager]] also have their own profiles. By default, a user's active profile is stored at ''~/.nix-profile'':		\|\| Profiles simplify managing and switching between ''user environments'', and thus control which applications and system configurations are in active use. Generally, a ''profile'' is a link to a ''generation'', and the corresponding '''profiles''' folder collects a list of generations. A standalone Nix installation (i.e. on a Linux distro that is not NixOS) operates mainly on ''user'' profiles. In NixOS, there is also a ''system'' profile that manages the system-wide configuration (e.g. ''/etc'', the kernel, ''initrd'', ''systemd''). Other tools like [[Home Manager]] may also have their own profiles. By default, a user's active profile is stored at ''~/.nix-profile'':
	<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>		<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>
	$ ls -l ~/.nix-profile		$ ls -l ~/.nix-profile
Line 31:		Line 31:
	\|\| Derivation		\|\| Derivation
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers. High-level derivations (such as the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]]) get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations''), for instance by using the <code>nix-instantiate</code> command. <code>nix-store --realise</code> ~~run~~ the build commands described in the derivation, producing one or more ''output paths''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous two commands.		\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers. High-level derivations, such as the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]], get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations''), for instance by using the <code>nix-instantiate</code> command. <code>nix-store --realise</code> runs the build commands described in the low-level derivation, producing one or more ''output paths''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous two commands.
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]
	\|--------		\|--------
Line 46:		Line 46:
	\|\| Nix expressions		\|\| Nix expressions
	\|\| The <code>{ }</code> block contains "mutually recursive" attributes, which means they can refer to each other.		\|\| The <code>{ }</code> block contains "mutually recursive" attributes, which means they can refer to each other.
	\|\| [~~http~~://~~nixos~~.~~org~~/nix/~~manual~~/#ex-~~hello-composition Composing the Hello Package~~]		\|\| [https://nix.dev/manual/nix/2.24/language/syntax.html#recursive-sets Nix Manual: Syntax and semantics: Recursive sets]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| <code>expression evaluator</code>		\|\| <code>expression evaluator</code>

Mth: Fix broken nix manual link

2024-07-13T09:48:37Z

Fix broken nix manual link

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:48, 13 July 2024
Line 27:		Line 27:
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| An instance of a ''user environment''. When a user makes any change to their environment, such as installing or removing packages, a new ''generation'' of the environment is created instead of modifying the environment in-place. This ensures that updates are atomic and the user can easily roll-back to any previous generation if something goes wrong. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently active user profile.		\|\| An instance of a ''user environment''. When a user makes any change to their environment, such as installing or removing packages, a new ''generation'' of the environment is created instead of modifying the environment in-place. This ensures that updates are atomic and the user can easily roll-back to any previous generation if something goes wrong. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently active user profile.
	\|\| [~~http~~://~~nixos~~.~~org~~/nix/~~manual~~/~~#sec~~-profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]		\|\| [https://nix.dev/manual/nix/stable/package-management/profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| Derivation		\|\| Derivation
Line 65:		Line 65:
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| attribute path		\|\| attribute path
	\|\| nix-env takes this if you pass the `-A` flag [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#opt-attr]		\|\| nix-env takes this if you pass the `-A` flag [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#opt-attr]
	\|\| an unambiguous identifier for a package		\|\| an unambiguous identifier for a package
	\|\|		\|\|
Line 81:		Line 81:
	\|\| selection path		\|\| selection path
	\|\| nix-shell error message [https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/bdc4a0b54d54146448061dd9a248212f98a9f801/src/libexpr/attr-path.cc#L73]		\|\| nix-shell error message [https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/bdc4a0b54d54146448061dd9a248212f98a9f801/src/libexpr/attr-path.cc#L73]
	\|\| see "attribute path"[http://nixos.org/irc/logs/log.20151103]		\|\| see "attribute path"[http://nixos.org/irc/logs/log.20151103]
	\|\|		\|\|
	\|--------		\|--------

Sdht0: Copy edit

2024-04-06T17:17:43Z

Copy edit

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:17, 6 April 2024
Line 26:		Line 26:
	\|\| <div id="generation"></div>Generation		\|\| <div id="generation"></div>Generation
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| ~~A revision~~ of a ''user environment''~~, newly created every time the system is updated (with old ones being preserved until manually removed)~~. ~~Technically, each generation is simply~~ a ~~link~~ to a ~~specific~~ ''~~user environment~~'' in ~~the Nix store~~. This ~~term connotes~~ the ~~cloning and modification of an existing~~ user ~~environment. Nix's environment rollback facilities rely on Generations~~. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently ~~selected ''~~user ~~environment'', and is generally selected via the ''active~~ profile~~'' (which is just a symlink, normally in ''/nix/var/nix/profiles/'')~~.		\|\| An instance of a ''user environment''. When a user makes any change to their environment, such as installing or removing packages, a new ''generation'' of the environment is created instead of modifying the environment in-place. This ensures that updates are atomic and the user can easily roll-back to any previous generation if something goes wrong. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently active user profile.
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#sec-profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#sec-profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| Derivation		\|\| Derivation
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. High-level derivations (~~like~~ the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]]), get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations'' ~~— because they wind up in~~ the ~~''Nix store'').~~ <code>nix-instantiate</code> ~~is the~~ command ~~which translates high-level derivations into low-level ones~~. <code>nix-store --realise</code> ~~can then check and finish their~~ build ~~for~~ the ~~''nix store''~~, producing ''output ~~path(s)~~''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous commands~~. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers~~.		\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers. High-level derivations (such as the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]]) get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations''), for instance by using the <code>nix-instantiate</code> command. <code>nix-store --realise</code> run the build commands described in the derivation, producing one or more ''output paths''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous two commands.
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| Output path		\|\| Output path
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| A ''store path'' produced by a derivation. These are generally analogous to built packages, or pieces of them.~~<br>~~<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>❯ ls -ld /nix/store/-firefox-9/		\|\| A ''store path'' produced by a derivation. These are generally analogous to built packages, or pieces of them.
	dr-xr-xr-x ... /nix/store/v4b8...3d0w-firefox-92.0/</syntaxHighlight>		<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>
			$ ls -ld /nix/store/-firefox-9/
			dr-xr-xr-x ... /nix/store/v4b8...3d0w-firefox-92.0/
			</syntaxHighlight>
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]
	\|--------		\|--------

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 2 September 2024
Line 16:		Line 16:
	\|\| (User) Profile		\|\| (User) Profile
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| Profiles simplify managing and switching between ''user environments'', and thus control which applications and system configurations are in active use. Generally, a ''profile'' is a link to a ''generation'', and the corresponding '''profiles''' folder collects a list of generations. A standalone Nix installation (i.e. on a Linux distro that is not NixOS) operates mainly on ''user'' profiles. In NixOS, there is also a ''system'' profile that manages system-wide configuration (e.g. ''/etc'', the kernel, ''initrd'', ''systemd''). Other tools like [[Home Manager]] also have their own profiles. By default, a user's active profile is stored at ''~/.nix-profile'':		\|\| Profiles simplify managing and switching between ''user environments'', and thus control which applications and system configurations are in active use. Generally, a ''profile'' is a link to a ''generation'', and the corresponding '''profiles''' folder collects a list of generations. A standalone Nix installation (i.e. on a Linux distro that is not NixOS) operates mainly on ''user'' profiles. In NixOS, there is also a ''system'' profile that manages the system-wide configuration (e.g. ''/etc'', the kernel, ''initrd'', ''systemd''). Other tools like [[Home Manager]] may also have their own profiles. By default, a user's active profile is stored at ''~/.nix-profile'':
	<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>		<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>
	$ ls -l ~/.nix-profile		$ ls -l ~/.nix-profile
Line 31:		Line 31:
	\|\| Derivation		\|\| Derivation
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers. High-level derivations (such as the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]]) get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations''), for instance by using the <code>nix-instantiate</code> command. <code>nix-store --realise</code> ~~run~~ the build commands described in the derivation, producing one or more ''output paths''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous two commands.		\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers. High-level derivations, such as the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]], get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations''), for instance by using the <code>nix-instantiate</code> command. <code>nix-store --realise</code> runs the build commands described in the low-level derivation, producing one or more ''output paths''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous two commands.
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]
	\|--------		\|--------
Line 46:		Line 46:
	\|\| Nix expressions		\|\| Nix expressions
	\|\| The <code>{ }</code> block contains "mutually recursive" attributes, which means they can refer to each other.		\|\| The <code>{ }</code> block contains "mutually recursive" attributes, which means they can refer to each other.
	\|\| [~~http~~://~~nixos~~.~~org~~/nix/~~manual~~/#ex-~~hello-composition Composing the Hello Package~~]		\|\| [https://nix.dev/manual/nix/2.24/language/syntax.html#recursive-sets Nix Manual: Syntax and semantics: Recursive sets]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| <code>expression evaluator</code>		\|\| <code>expression evaluator</code>

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:48, 13 July 2024
Line 27:		Line 27:
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| An instance of a ''user environment''. When a user makes any change to their environment, such as installing or removing packages, a new ''generation'' of the environment is created instead of modifying the environment in-place. This ensures that updates are atomic and the user can easily roll-back to any previous generation if something goes wrong. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently active user profile.		\|\| An instance of a ''user environment''. When a user makes any change to their environment, such as installing or removing packages, a new ''generation'' of the environment is created instead of modifying the environment in-place. This ensures that updates are atomic and the user can easily roll-back to any previous generation if something goes wrong. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently active user profile.
	\|\| [~~http~~://~~nixos~~.~~org~~/nix/~~manual~~/~~#sec~~-profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]		\|\| [https://nix.dev/manual/nix/stable/package-management/profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| Derivation		\|\| Derivation
Line 65:		Line 65:
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| attribute path		\|\| attribute path
	\|\| nix-env takes this if you pass the `-A` flag [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#opt-attr]		\|\| nix-env takes this if you pass the `-A` flag [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#opt-attr]
	\|\| an unambiguous identifier for a package		\|\| an unambiguous identifier for a package
	\|\|		\|\|
Line 81:		Line 81:
	\|\| selection path		\|\| selection path
	\|\| nix-shell error message [https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/bdc4a0b54d54146448061dd9a248212f98a9f801/src/libexpr/attr-path.cc#L73]		\|\| nix-shell error message [https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/bdc4a0b54d54146448061dd9a248212f98a9f801/src/libexpr/attr-path.cc#L73]
	\|\| see "attribute path"[http://nixos.org/irc/logs/log.20151103]		\|\| see "attribute path"[http://nixos.org/irc/logs/log.20151103]
	\|\|		\|\|
	\|--------		\|--------

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:17, 6 April 2024
Line 26:		Line 26:
	\|\| <div id="generation"></div>Generation		\|\| <div id="generation"></div>Generation
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| ~~A revision~~ of a ''user environment''~~, newly created every time the system is updated (with old ones being preserved until manually removed)~~. ~~Technically, each generation is simply~~ a ~~link~~ to a ~~specific~~ ''~~user environment~~'' in ~~the Nix store~~. This ~~term connotes~~ the ~~cloning and modification of an existing~~ user ~~environment. Nix's environment rollback facilities rely on Generations~~. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently ~~selected ''~~user ~~environment'', and is generally selected via the ''active~~ profile~~'' (which is just a symlink, normally in ''/nix/var/nix/profiles/'')~~.		\|\| An instance of a ''user environment''. When a user makes any change to their environment, such as installing or removing packages, a new ''generation'' of the environment is created instead of modifying the environment in-place. This ensures that updates are atomic and the user can easily roll-back to any previous generation if something goes wrong. The ''current generation'' is a user's currently active user profile.
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#sec-profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#sec-profiles Nix Manual: Profiles]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| Derivation		\|\| Derivation
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. High-level derivations (~~like~~ the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]]), get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations'' ~~— because they wind up in~~ the ~~''Nix store'').~~ <code>nix-instantiate</code> ~~is the~~ command ~~which translates high-level derivations into low-level ones~~. <code>nix-store --realise</code> ~~can then check and finish their~~ build ~~for~~ the ~~''nix store''~~, producing ''output ~~path(s)~~''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous commands~~. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers~~.		\|\| A Nix expression which describes a build action. Derivations are analogous to package definitions in other package managers. High-level derivations (such as the ones describing packages in [[Nixpkgs]]) get evaluated into low-level derivations (called ''store derivations''), for instance by using the <code>nix-instantiate</code> command. <code>nix-store --realise</code> run the build commands described in the derivation, producing one or more ''output paths''. <code>nix-build</code> is a user-friendly wrapper for the previous two commands.
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#gloss-derivation Nix Manual: Glossary - Derivation] <br> [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]
	\|--------		\|--------
	\|\| Output path		\|\| Output path
	\|\| Nix		\|\| Nix
	\|\| A ''store path'' produced by a derivation. These are generally analogous to built packages, or pieces of them.~~<br>~~<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>❯ ls -ld /nix/store/-firefox-9/		\|\| A ''store path'' produced by a derivation. These are generally analogous to built packages, or pieces of them.
	dr-xr-xr-x ... /nix/store/v4b8...3d0w-firefox-92.0/</syntaxHighlight>		<syntaxHighlight lang=shell>
			$ ls -ld /nix/store/-firefox-9/
			dr-xr-xr-x ... /nix/store/v4b8...3d0w-firefox-92.0/
			</syntaxHighlight>
	\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]		\|\| [http://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ssec-derivation Nix Manual: Derivation]
	\|--------		\|--------