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== FAQ and resources ==
[https://www.haskell.org/ Haskell] is a statically-typed, purely functional programming language with strong support for type inference and lazy evaluation.


* '''Official Docs:''' [https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/unstable/#haskell '''The Haskell section in the nixpkgs manual''']
For detailed information on Haskell support in Nixpkgs, refer to the official {{Nixpkgs Manual|name=Nixpkgs Manual: Chapter - Haskell|anchor=#haskell}}.
 
* [https://www.srid.ca/haskell-nix '''Nix recipes for Haskellers'''] aims to get a beginner comfortable managing simple Haskell programs and projects using Nix.
* [https://nixos.asia/en/nixify-haskell-nixpkgs '''Nixifying a Haskell project using nixpkgs'''] explains how to use Nix to package and develop Haskell projects using nothing but nixpkgs.
 
* [https://github.com/mhwombat/nix-for-numbskulls/blob/78bcc186f79931c0e4a1e445e2f6b1f12f6d46be/Haskell/ss-haskell-dev.md '''Super-Simple Haskell Development with Nix'''] (and [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/super-simple-haskell-development-with-nix/14287/2 discussion] that provides interesting alternative methods together with there pro and cons)
 
* [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-haskell-development-2020/6170 '''Nix Haskell Development (2020)''']
 
* [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/haskellpackages-stm-containers-fails-to-build/5416/4?u=srid '''How are Haskell packages managed in nixpkgs?''']
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLhkAEk8I20 '''How to fix broken Haskell packages?''' (video)]


== How to develop with Haskell and Nix ==
== How to develop with Haskell and Nix ==
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[[File:haskell_choice.png]]
[[File:haskell_choice.png]]


Note that in the following, <code>haskellPackages</code> is a synonym of <code>haskell.packages.ghcXYZ</code> where <code>XYZ</code> is the current default version of GHC in nixpkgs. However you can use a different version by replacing <code>haskellPackages</code> with the wanted package, for instance use <code>haskell.compiler.ghc884</code> to use GHC 8.8.4. You can get the full list of available GHC versions using:
{{Note|{{nixos:package|haskellPackages}} is a synonym of <code>haskell.packages.ghcXYZ</code> where <code>XYZ</code> is the current default version of GHC in nixpkgs. However you can use a different version by replacing <code>haskellPackages</code> with the wanted package, for instance use <code>haskell.compiler.ghc884</code> to use GHC 8.8.4. You can get the full list of available GHC versions using:


<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
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…
…
</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>
}}


=== Scripting ===
=== Scripting ===


For simple scripts, you can directly use nix-shell to get a redistributable Haskell script that you can run on any Nix system with <code>./my-script.hs</code>:
For simple scripts, you can directly use nix-shell to get a redistributable Haskell script that you can run on any Nix system with <code>./my-script.hs</code>:
<syntaxhighlight lang=bash>
<syntaxhighlight lang=haskell>
#!/usr/bin/env nix-shell
#!/usr/bin/env nix-shell
#!nix-shell --pure -i runghc -p "haskellPackages.ghcWithPackages (pkgs: [ pkgs.turtle ])"
#!nix-shell --pure -i runghc -p "haskellPackages.ghcWithPackages (pkgs: [ pkgs.turtle ])"


main = do
main = do
   # do stuff
   -- do stuff
   putStrLn "Hello world from a distributable Haskell script!"
   putStrLn "Hello world from a distributable Haskell script!"
</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>


Read below if some packages are broken.
To write inline Haskell scripts in nix-code, refer to [[Nix-writers#Haskell]].
 
Read [[#Overrides]] if some packages are broken.


=== Directly using cabal (no nix caching/reproducibility) ===
=== Directly using cabal (no nix caching/reproducibility) ===
Note that cabal is the basic Haskell tool used to configure builds and is internally used by all the Haskell's packaging methods (including stack and nix). If one does not care about the reproducibility/caching offered by nix, it is always possible to use cabal like in a normal system:
 
[https://www.haskell.org/cabal/ Cabal] is the basic Haskell tool used to configure builds and is internally used by all the Haskell's packaging methods (including stack and nix). If one does not care about the reproducibility/caching offered by nix, it is always possible to use cabal like in a normal system:
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
$  nix-shell -p "haskellPackages.ghcWithPackages (pkgs: with pkgs; [ cabal-install ])"
$  nix-shell -p "haskellPackages.ghcWithPackages (pkgs: with pkgs; [ cabal-install ])"
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</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>


Notes:
{{note|Some packages may need additional libraries/programs, notably <code>zlib</code>, you should be able to add them as additional programs in the nix-shell option.}}
* some packages may need additional libraries/programs, notably <code>zlib</code>, you should be able to add them as additional programs in the nix-shell option
{{note|Since Cabal 2.0, cabal has acquired caching similar to nix (but not as powerful) and reproducibility (via the cabal.project file and the index-state option). See [https://cabal.readthedocs.io/en/latest/cabal-project-description-file.html#cfg-field-index-state] for more information.}}
* since Cabal 2.0, cabal has acquired caching similar to nix (but not as powerful) and reproducibility (via the cabal.project file and the index-state option). See [https://cabal.readthedocs.io/en/latest/cabal-project-description-file.html#cfg-field-index-state] for more information.


=== Using Stack (no nix caching) ===
=== Using Stack (no nix caching) ===


Similarly you can use stack that let you find the appropriate version of the libraries for you if you do not want the caching offered by nix (stack will build all the dependencies):
Similarly you can use [https://docs.haskellstack.org/en/stable/ Stack] that let you find the appropriate version of the libraries for you if you do not want the caching offered by nix (stack will build all the dependencies):
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
$ nix-shell -p "haskellPackages.ghcWithPackages (pkgs: with pkgs; [ stack ])"
$ nix-shell -p "haskellPackages.ghcWithPackages (pkgs: with pkgs; [ stack ])"
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</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>


'''Disclaimer''': For users of a stable version of NixOS there could be a problem where Stack tries to use a GHC version that is not yet in the given channel of Nixpkgs. Example at the time of writing: When using NixOS 23.05, Stack defaults to using the LTS-21.10 resolver, which uses <code>ghc-9.4.6</code>. However, the newest version of GHC in the 23.05 channel is <code>ghc-9.4.4</code>, thus Stack fails to execute some commands.
{{note|For users of a stable version of NixOS there could be a problem where Stack tries to use a GHC version that is not yet in the given channel of Nixpkgs. Example at the time of writing: When using NixOS 23.05, Stack defaults to using the LTS-21.10 resolver, which uses <code>ghc-9.4.6</code>. However, the newest version of GHC in the 23.05 channel is <code>ghc-9.4.4</code>, thus Stack fails to execute some commands.<br/>
 
As a solution, [https://docs.haskellstack.org/en/stable/yaml_configuration/#resolver-or-snapshot specify a resolver in your <code>stack.yaml</code>] file that uses a GHC version available for your channel. You can find a list of snapshots on https://www.stackage.org/snapshots. Or alternatively, set the resolver as a command line argument, which is required for running commands such as <code>stack new</code>.}}
As a solution, [https://docs.haskellstack.org/en/stable/yaml_configuration/#resolver-or-snapshot specify a resolver in your <code>stack.yaml</code>] file that uses a GHC version available for your channel. You can find a list of snapshots on https://www.stackage.org/snapshots. Or alternatively, set the resolver as a command line argument, which is required for running commands such as <code>stack new</code>.


===  Using developPackage (use the nix packages set for haskell) ===
===  Using developPackage (use the nix packages set for haskell) ===
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or run a nix-shell to use the standard development tools provided by cabal:
or run a nix-shell to use the standard development tools provided by cabal:
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
$ nix-build
$ nix-shell
$ ./result/bin/yourprogram
$ cabal run
</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>


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You can also get more details in [https://srid.ca/haskell-nix this tutorial] or in [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/0ba44a03f620806a2558a699dba143e6cf9858db/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix#L230 pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix].
You can also get more details in [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/0ba44a03f620806a2558a699dba143e6cf9858db/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix#L230 pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix].


===  Using shellFor (multiple packages) ===
===  Using shellFor (multiple packages) ===
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=== Using haskell-flake (flake-parts) ===
=== Using haskell-flake (flake-parts) ===


[https://flake.parts/options/haskell-flake haskell-flake] aims to simplify writing Nix for Haskell development through use of flake-parts module system. It uses <code>callCabal2nix</code> and <code>shellFor</code> under the hood while exposing friendly module options API.
[https://community.flake.parts/haskell-flake haskell-flake] is a project that aims to simplify writing Nix for Haskell development through use of [[Flake Parts|flake-parts module system]]. It uses <code>callCabal2nix</code> and <code>shellFor</code> under the hood while exposing friendly module options API. For an overview of Flakes, see the [[Flakes]] wiki page.
 
* For existing Haskell projects, initialize with:
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
nix flake init -t github:srid/haskell-flake
</syntaxhighlight>
 
* For new Haskell projects, use the example template:
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
mkdir example && cd ./example
nix flake init -t github:srid/haskell-flake#example
</syntaxhighlight>
 
This command will generate a project template with additional configuration details, comments, and examples. Below is an example minimal flake definition for a simple project:
 
{{file|flake.nix|nix|
<nowiki>
{
  inputs = {
    nixpkgs.url = "github:nixos/nixpkgs/nixpkgs-unstable";
    flake-parts.url = "github:hercules-ci/flake-parts";
    haskell-flake.url = "github:srid/haskell-flake";
  };
  outputs = inputs@{ self, nixpkgs, flake-parts, ... }:
    flake-parts.lib.mkFlake { inherit inputs; } {
      systems = nixpkgs.lib.systems.flakeExposed;
      imports = [ inputs.haskell-flake.flakeModule ];
 
      perSystem = { self', pkgs, ... }: {
 
        haskellProjects.default = {
          # Project configurations such as GHC version and package overrides are defined here
          # See: https://flake.parts/options/haskell-flake
        };
 
        # haskell-flake doesn't set the default package, but you can do it here.
        packages.default = self'.packages.example;
      };
    };
}
</nowiki>
}}
 
Once configured, you can build and run the project with:
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
$ nix build # Build the project; the binary will be placed in ./result/bin
$ ./result/bin/example
 
$ nix run # Alternatively, run the default executable directly
</syntaxhighlight>
or enter a development shell to use the standard development tools provided by the flake:
<syntaxhighlight lang="console">
$ nix develop
$ cabal run
</syntaxhighlight>
 
The build process will use the <code>example.cabal</code> file and run the executable defined within it. A current limitation is that if your Cabal file contains multiple <code>executable</code> blocks, you can only assign one as the default package. This limitation also applies when using a <code>cabal.project</code>. To run a specific executable by name, use the following command <code>nix run .#another-example</code>. Below is an example cabal file defining two executables:
 
{{file|example.cabal|haskell|
<nowiki>
executable example
    main-is: Main.hs
    ...
 
executable another-example
    main-is: AnotherMain.hs
    ...
</nowiki>
}}
 
==== Further reading ====
 
* [https://github.com/srid/haskell-template/tree/master Example Haskell project with a development environment]
 
* [https://github.com/srid/haskell-multi-nix/tree/master Example cabal.project multi-package Haskell project]
 
* [https://community.flake.parts/haskell-flake/start Getting started with haskell-flake].
 
* [https://community.flake.parts/haskell-flake/dependency Overriding dependencies in a haskell-flake]
 
* [https://flake.parts/options/haskell-flake haskell-flake haskell-flake options reference]


== Overrides ==
== Overrides ==
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== Limitations ==
== Limitations ==


When using the <code>cabal2nix</code> tool, Nix does not pull a cabal package by respecting the constraint specified in the cabal file (see [https://github.com/chrissound/Cabal2NixLimitationExample example]). Issue is discussed [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/57441156/pulling-in-specific-haskell-packages-cabal-dependencies-with-nix here]. You should be using `callCabal2nix` anyway.
=== cabal2nix ===


== IFD and Haskell ==
When using the <code>cabal2nix</code> tool, Nix does not pull a cabal package by respecting the constraint specified in the cabal file (see [https://github.com/chrissound/Cabal2NixLimitationExample example]). Issue is discussed [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/57441156/pulling-in-specific-haskell-packages-cabal-dependencies-with-nix here]. You should be using <code>callCabal2nix</code> anyway.


<code>callCabal2nix</code>, which is implicitly used for building Haskell projects, uses IFD.[https://github.com/NixOS/templates/issues/28][https://discourse.nixos.org/t/another-simple-flake-for-haskell-development/18164/6]. This means that since IFD is disabled by default in certain nix commands,[https://github.com/NixOS/nix/pull/5253] the following commands will be broken for Haskell projects whose flake output specifies multiple system attributes:
=== IFD and Haskell ===
 
<code>callCabal2nix</code>, which is implicitly used for building Haskell projects, uses IFD. Refer to this [https://github.com/NixOS/templates/issues/28 github issue] and [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/another-simple-flake-for-haskell-development/18164/6 discourse thread] for additional context. This means that since IFD is disabled by default in certain nix commands,[https://github.com/NixOS/nix/pull/5253] the following commands will be broken for Haskell projects whose flake output specifies multiple system attributes:


* <code>nix flake show</code>
* <code>nix flake show</code>
* <code>nix flake check</code>
* <code>nix flake check</code>
=== GHCup ===
[https://www.haskell.org/ghcup/ GHCup] does not work properly on NixOS out of the box. NixOS cannot run dynamically linked executables built for generic Linux environments due to its runtime linker setup. For details and a workaround, see [https://nix.dev/guides/faq#how-to-run-non-nix-executables nix.dev's explanation of stub-ld].
In most cases there is little reason to use GHCup when working within a Nix-based system, as Nixpkgs can achieve the same goals such as managing multiple GHC versions and other Haskell tooling.
== FAQ and resources ==
* '''Official Docs:''' [https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/unstable/#haskell '''The Haskell section in the nixpkgs manual''']
* [https://nixos.asia/en/nixify-haskell-nixpkgs '''Nixifying a Haskell project using nixpkgs'''] explains how to use Nix to package and develop Haskell projects using nothing but nixpkgs.
* [https://github.com/mhwombat/nix-for-numbskulls/blob/78bcc186f79931c0e4a1e445e2f6b1f12f6d46be/Haskell/ss-haskell-dev.md '''Super-Simple Haskell Development with Nix'''] (and [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/super-simple-haskell-development-with-nix/14287/2 discussion] that provides interesting alternative methods together with there pro and cons)
* [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-haskell-development-2020/6170 '''Nix Haskell Development (2020)''']
* [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/haskellpackages-stm-containers-fails-to-build/5416/4 '''How are Haskell packages managed in nixpkgs?''']
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLhkAEk8I20 '''How to fix broken Haskell packages?''' (video)]


[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Applications]]
[[Category:Haskell]]
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