Nix (package manager): Difference between revisions

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Nix is a package manager and build system that parses reproducible build instructions specified in the [[Nix Expression Language]], a pure functional language with lazy evaluation. Nix expressions are pure functions<ref>Values cannot change during computation. Functions always produce the same output if their input does not change. </ref>taking dependencies as arguments and producing a ''derivation'' specifying a reproducible build environment for the package. Nix stores the results of the build in unique addresses specified by a hash of the complete dependency tree, creating an immutable package store that allows for atomic upgrades, rollbacks and concurrent installation of different versions of a package, essentially eliminating [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_hell dependency hell].

Nix is a package manager and build system that parses reproducible build instructions specified in the [[Nix Expression Language]], a pure functional language with lazy evaluation. Nix expressions are pure functions<ref>Values cannot change during computation. Functions always produce the same output if their input does not change. </ref>taking dependencies as arguments and producing a ''derivation'' specifying a reproducible build environment for the package. Nix stores the results of the build in unique addresses specified by a hash of the complete dependency tree, creating an immutable package store (aka the [[#Nix store|nix store]]) that allows for atomic upgrades, rollbacks and concurrent installation of different versions of a package, essentially eliminating [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_hell dependency hell].

== Usage ==

Revision as of 04:11, 11 April 2024 view source Fidgetingbits (talk \| contribs) 58 edits Add a note for what a pure function is since it's likely overwhelming to new people. Wording taken from https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/language/index.html Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit ← Older edit		Revision as of 04:37, 11 April 2024 view source Fidgetingbits (talk \| contribs) 58 edits Note that the "immutable package store" is the Nix store and link to it, as it's more clear for new users Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Newer edit →
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	Nix is a package manager and build system that parses reproducible build instructions specified in the [[Nix Expression Language]], a pure functional language with lazy evaluation. Nix expressions are pure functions<ref>Values cannot change during computation. Functions always produce the same output if their input does not change. </ref>taking dependencies as arguments and producing a ''derivation'' specifying a reproducible build environment for the package. Nix stores the results of the build in unique addresses specified by a hash of the complete dependency tree, creating an immutable package store that allows for atomic upgrades, rollbacks and concurrent installation of different versions of a package, essentially eliminating [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_hell dependency hell].		Nix is a package manager and build system that parses reproducible build instructions specified in the [[Nix Expression Language]], a pure functional language with lazy evaluation. Nix expressions are pure functions<ref>Values cannot change during computation. Functions always produce the same output if their input does not change. </ref>taking dependencies as arguments and producing a ''derivation'' specifying a reproducible build environment for the package. Nix stores the results of the build in unique addresses specified by a hash of the complete dependency tree, creating an immutable package store (aka the [[#Nix store\|nix store]]) that allows for atomic upgrades, rollbacks and concurrent installation of different versions of a package, essentially eliminating [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_hell dependency hell].

	== Usage ==		== Usage ==