NixOS configuration editors

Creating graphical editors for NixOS configuration is hard, because the Nix language is complex.

So, either you get a Nix text editor with a language server (autocomplete and suggestions, based on the NixOS config schema), or you get a graphical config manager, which cannot express all features of Nix.

Implementations

nix-gui by lapp0

• https://github.com/nix-gui/nix-gui
• https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-gui-use-nixos-without-coding/15409
• python + qt5 desktop app
• 520 github stars

nixos-manager by pmiddend

• https://github.com/pmiddend/nixos-manager
• https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-manager-manage-your-nixos-configuration-graphically/6685
• haskell + gtk desktop app
• 150 github stars

nixos-conf-editor by vlinkz

• https://github.com/vlinkz/nixos-conf-editor
• https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-conf-editor-a-gtk4-libadwaita-configuration-editor/19426
• https://www.reddit.com/r/NixOS/comments/w1pwmd/nixos_configuration_editor_a_gtk4libadwaita_app/
• rust + gtk4 desktop app
• 50 github stars

backend tool: https://github.com/vlinkz/nix-editor

Nixos-Gui by Celestialme

• https://github.com/Celestialme/Nixos-Gui
• https://www.reddit.com/r/NixOS/comments/vfywyv/nix_gui_application_to_manage_nixos_build_with/
• svelte + tauri desktop app
• 15 github stars

See also

• https://www.reddit.com/r/NixOS/comments/cu4dle/should_nix_have_a_gui/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/nosyntax - structural editors
• Editor Modes for Nix Files