NixOS-based distributions

NixOS has spawned a number of distributions and distribution-like projects throughout its existence. This page is intended to record details about notable Linux distributions related to nix and NixOS in some capacity whether they are forks, downstreams, starter configurations that yield a NixOS environment, independent OS projects merely built with nix, or some combination thereof.

Entries on this page are categorized by their relation to nix, their release status, and a brief description of what the project aims to do, or any other notable differences between it and NixOS.

When appropriate, entries are noted as having significant deviations from NixOS, such as having an alternate kernel, an alternate init system (PID 1), or whether some part of the nix project was forked in order to create it.

Linux distributions and their relation to NixOS

This table lists a non-exhaustive selection of Linux distributions based on NixOS, forked from NixOS, or derived from Nix or NixOS in any other way.

Distribution	Repository	Relation to NixOS	Status	Notes
Asterinas NixOS	https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas	Based on NixOS Alternate kernel	Released	Asterinas is a hybrid kernel written in rust with the aim of replicating Linux at the syscall level. Asterinas NixOS is an operating system built using nix and nixpkgs, but with the Asterinas kernel instead of the Linux kernel.
Athena OS	https://github.com/Athena-OS/athena	Based on NixOS	Pre-release	For pentesting. Currently available under both Arch and Nix/NixOS
Auxolotl	https://git.auxolotl.org/auxolotl	Built with nix Alternative to nixpkgs	Work in progress (WIP)	Auxolotl (or aux) is a community-made alternative to nixpkgs. It borrows some ideas from Guix, such as a binary bootstrap. It is also working to improve on the developer experience of nixpkgs. Not yet ready for daily use.
Bureautix	https://github.com/cloud-gouv/bureautix-example	Based on NixOS	Beta	Bureautix is a working implementation of Sécurix for use in office workstations, IT operations, and bureaucratic institutions who want a secure operating system.
Cosmix Saigon	https://codeberg.org/thesaigoneer/cosmix-saigon	Based on NixOS	Released	A spin of the Nixbook project with Cosmic as the primary desktop environment.
CTRL-OS	N/A	Based on NixOS LTS of nixpkgs	Open Beta	CTRL-OS is a commercially supported downstream distribution of NixOS focused on embedded devices. Offers a 5 year long-term support release that meets the conditions of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
Darnix	https://github.com/jonhermansen/darnix	Built with nix Alternative kernel Alternative PID 1	Work in Progress (WIP)	A working Darwin environment built using nix. Includes a working Darwin kernel and XNU. Not yet ready for daily use.
EduOS	https://gitlab.com/eduos2/EduOS	Based on NixOS	Released	A purpose-built operating system used for administering the high-school French national exam in computer science.
Finix	https://github.com/finix-community/finix	Based on NixOS Alternative PID 1 Soft fork of nixpkgs	Work in progress (WIP)	NixOS with finit as PID 1. Currently working in an experimental capacity with most systems.
GLF OS	https://framagit.org/gaming-linux-fr/glf-os/glf-os	Based on NixOS	Released	Community distro for beginners and gaming oriented
Guix System	https://codeberg.org/guix/guix.git	Fork of nix Alternative kernel Alternative package set	Released	NixOS but Guile Scheme instead of Nix and GNU underpinnings. Forked via "Developer & code sharing, project merging".
Liminix	https://gti.telent.net/dan/liminix	Based on NixOS	Work in progress (WIP)	Nix-based OpenWRT-style embedded Linux system for configuring consumer wifi routers.
Jovian-NixOS	https://github.com/Jovian-Experiments/Jovian-NixOS/	Based on NixOS	Released	A set of configuration and packages for running NixOS on a Steamdeck.
Mobile NixOS	https://github.com/mobile-nixos/mobile-nixos	Based on NixOS	Released	A mobile-phone operating system built using NixOS. Works only on select devices.
NixBook	https://github.com/mkellyxp/nixbook	Based on NixOS	Released	Self-updating, simple, minimal, set-and-forget, Chromebook-like NixOS operating system for total beginners. Offers "standard" and "minimal" flavors. Aims to be a replacement to Windows and MacOS for average users.
NixBSD	https://github.com/nixos-bsd/nixbsd/	Fork of nixpkgs Alternative kernel	Released	Unofficial NixOS fork with a FreeBSD kernel.
NixNG	https://github.com/nix-community/NixNG/	Based on NixOS Alternative PID 1	Work in progress (WIP)	Lightweight NixOS for containers with multiple non-systemd init systems and a "minimal by default" package set.
NASty	https://github.com/nasty-project/nasty	Based on NixOS	WIP but released ;)	NAS operating system built on NixOS and bcachefs.
Sécurix	https://github.com/cloud-gouv/securix	Based on NixOS	Beta	Sécurix is a NixOS-based secure operating system tailored for small to medium-sized teams. It provides a minimal, hardened environment with strong isolation, reproducibility, and policy-driven configurations to ensure operational security and compliance.
sixos	https://codeberg.org/amjoseph/sixos	Based on NixOS Alternative PID 1	Work in progress (WIP)	NixOS with s6 as the init system. Also includes an alternative to the overlay system, and an alternative boot manager, ownerboot.
SnowflakeOS	https://github.com/snowfallorg	Based on NixOS	Alpha	For beginners. Not yet ready for daily use.
Spectrum	https://spectrum-os.org/git/	Includes nixpkgs	Work in progress (WIP)	Spectrum is a project that aims to create a computer operating system, based on the principle of security by compartmentalization, that has a lower barrier to entry and is easier to use and maintain than other such systems.
vpsAdminOS	https://github.com/vpsfreecz/vpsadminos	Based on NixOS	Released	vpsAdminOS is a small OS serving as a host for unprivileged Linux system containers. It is based on NixOS and not-os.

Deprecated distributions

Entries in this list are deprecated, unmaintained, under-maintained, or suspected abandoned. Some active distributions may still continue development of these projects as a fork.

Distribution	Repository	Relation to NixOS	Reason Deprecated	Notes
not-os	https://github.com/noteed/not-os/	Based on NixOS	Unmaintained	An operating system builder for embedded systems.
RedNixOS	https://github.com/redcode-labs/RedNixOS/	Based on NixOS	Unmaintained	A NixOS build for cybersecurity enthusiasts.