Official NixOS Wiki

NixOS system configuration: Difference between revisions

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Create page, move some content from Flakes, NixOs as a desktop, and Overview of the NixOS Linux distributions pages to here
 
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m Right, that also needs buildPackages
 
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[[NixOS]] uses a declarative configuration system that allows users to manage their entire operating system setup including installed packages, system services, user accounts, hardware settings, and more through configuration files. This page serves as an overview of how to work with and manage NixOS system configurations.
[[NixOS]] uses a declarative configuration system that allows users to manage their entire operating system setup including installed packages, system services, user accounts, hardware settings, and more thorough configuration files. This page serves as an overview of how to work with and manage NixOS system configurations.


For an introduction to declarative configuration, see the [[Overview of the NixOS Linux distribution#Declarative Configuration]] and the {{NixOS Manual|name=NixOS official manual|anchor=#ch-configuration}}.
For an introduction to declarative configuration, see the [[Overview of the NixOS Linux distribution#Declarative Configuration]] and the {{NixOS Manual|name=NixOS official manual|anchor=#ch-configuration}}.
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== Defining NixOS as a flake ==
== Defining NixOS as a flake ==


[[Flakes]] offer an alternative, modern way to configure NixOS systems using a standardized and reproducible structure. With flakes, the system configuration — along with any additional inputs such as Nixpkgs or external modules — is managed declaratively within a <code>flake.nix</code> file.
[[Flakes]] offer an alternative way to configure NixOS systems using a standardized and reproducible structure. With flakes, the system configuration — along with any additional inputs such as Nixpkgs or external modules — is managed declaratively within a <code>flake.nix</code> file.


Unlike the traditional configuration model, which relies on <code>/etc/nixos/configuration.nix</code> and channels, flakes explicitly define their dependencies and configurations, making it easier to share, version, and reproduce complete NixOS system setups.
Unlike the traditional configuration model, which relies on <code>/etc/nixos/configuration.nix</code> and channels, flakes explicitly define their dependencies and configurations, making it easier to share, version, and reproduce complete NixOS system setups.
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<nowiki>
<nowiki>
{
{
   inputs.nixpkgs.url = github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable;
   inputs.nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
   outputs = { self, nixpkgs }: {
   outputs = { self, nixpkgs }: {
     # replace 'joes-desktop' with your hostname here.
     # replace 'joes-desktop' with your hostname here.
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{{file|flake.nix|nix|<nowiki>
{{file|flake.nix|nix|<nowiki>
{
{
   inputs.nixpkgs.url = github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable;
   inputs.nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
   inputs.home-manager.url = github:nix-community/home-manager;
   inputs.home-manager.url = "github:nix-community/home-manager";


   outputs = { self, nixpkgs, ... }@inputs: {
   outputs = { self, nixpkgs, ... }@inputs: {
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==== Importing packages from multiple nixpkgs branches ====
==== Importing packages from multiple nixpkgs branches ====


A NixOS config flake could be as follows (replace <hostname> with your hostname):
A NixOS config flake could be as follows (replace hostname with your hostname):


{{file|flake.nix|nix|<nowiki>
{{file|3=<nowiki>
{
{
   description = "NixOS configuration with two or more channels";
   description = "NixOS configuration with two or more channels";


  inputs = {
  inputs = {
     nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-24.11";
     nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-25.11";
     nixpkgs-unstable.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
     nixpkgs-unstable.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
   };
   };
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     { nixpkgs, nixpkgs-unstable, ... }:
     { nixpkgs, nixpkgs-unstable, ... }:
     {
     {
       nixosConfigurations."<hostname>" = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
       nixosConfigurations."hostname" = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
         modules = [
         modules = [
           {
           {
             nixpkgs.overlays = [
             nixpkgs.overlays = [
               (final: prev: {
               (final: prev: {
                 unstable = nixpkgs-unstable.legacyPackages.${prev.system};
                 unstable = import nixpkgs-unstable {
                # use this variant if unfree packages are needed:
                  inherit (final) config;
                # unstable = import nixpkgs-unstable {
                  inherit (final.stdenv.hostPlatform) system;
                #  inherit prev;
                 };
                #  system = prev.system;
                 #  config.allowUnfree = true;
                # };
               })
               })
             ];
             ];
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     };
     };
}
}
</nowiki>
</nowiki>|name=/etc/nixos/flake.nix|lang=nix}}
}}


{{file|flake.nix|nix|<nowiki>
{{file|3=<nowiki>
# can now use "pkgs.package" or "pkgs.unstable.package"
# can now use "pkgs.package" or "pkgs.unstable.package"
{ pkgs, ... }:
{ pkgs, ... }:
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   # ...
   # ...
}
}
</nowiki>
</nowiki>|name=/etc/nixos/configuration.nix|lang=nix}}
}}


If the variable <code>nixpkgs</code> points to the flake, you can also define <code>pkgs</code> with overlays with:
If the variable <code>nixpkgs</code> points to the flake, you can also define <code>pkgs</code> with overlays with:
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       path = pkgs.path;
       path = pkgs.path;
       narHash = builtins.readFile
       narHash = builtins.readFile
           (pkgs.runCommandLocal "get-nixpkgs-hash"
           (pkgs.buildPackages.runCommandLocal "get-nixpkgs-hash"
             { nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.nix ]; }
             { nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.buildPackages.nix ]; }
             "nix-hash --type sha256 --sri ${pkgs.path} > $out");
             "nix-hash --type sha256 --sri ${pkgs.path} > $out");
     };
     };
   };
   };
</nowiki>
</nowiki>
}}
|name=|lang=}}


This has the unfortunate side-effect of requiring import-from-derivation and slowing down build times, however it may greatly speed up almost every eval. Full-time flakes users may be able to just use <code>narHash = pkgs.narHash</code>.
This has the unfortunate side-effect of requiring import-from-derivation and slowing down build times, however it may greatly speed up almost every eval. Full-time flakes users may be able to just use <code>narHash = pkgs.narHash</code>.
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How to get a nix repl out of your system flake:
How to get a nix repl out of your system flake:


<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
$ nix repl
$ nix repl


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* [[Updating NixOS]] - Updating the set of [[Nixpkgs]] the system uses
* [[Updating NixOS]] - Updating the set of [[Nixpkgs]] the system uses


* [[NixOS as a dekstop]] - Configuration tips for setting up NixOS as a desktop
* [[NixOS as a desktop]] - Configuration tips for setting up NixOS as a desktop


* [[Nixos-rebuild]] - Command to apply changes to system configuration
* [[Nixos-rebuild]] - Command to apply changes to system configuration
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* [[NixOS configuration editors]] - Recommendations for improving NixOS configuration experience
* [[NixOS configuration editors]] - Recommendations for improving NixOS configuration experience


* [[Configuration Collection]] - Community member's NixOS confiugration files for inspiration
* [[Configuration Collection]] - Community member's NixOS configuration files for inspiration


[[Category:NixOS]]
[[Category:NixOS]]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.nixos.org/wiki/NixOS_system_configuration"