Editor Modes for Nix Files

Nix language has decent syntax highlighting (SH) support among popular code editors, but refactoring/autocomplete is still rare. Below is a list of editor modes for Nix syntax.

Emacs

• nix-mode official available in melpa
• @marsam's nix-mode
• nix-buffer
• nix-update-el
• rnix-lsp

Vim

rnix-lsp

• rnix-lsp on github

instructions are in the readme

vim-addon-nix

This plugin supports syntax highlighting and simple syntax and undeclared variable checking.

• vim-addon-nix on github

Usage with VAM package manager:

{ # /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
  environment.systemPackages = [
    (pkgs.vim_configurable.customize {
      name = "vim";
      vimrcConfig.vam.pluginDictionaries = [
        # vim-nix handles indentation better but does not perform sanity
        { names = [ "vim-addon-nix" ]; ft_regex = "^nix\$"; }
      ];
    })
  ];
}

vim-nix

vim-nix *only* supports syntax-highighting.

• vim-nix on github

Usage with vim package manager:

{ # /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
  environment.systemPackages = [
    (pkgs.vim_configurable.customize {
      name = "vim";
      vimrcConfig.packages.myplugins = with pkgs.vimPlugins; {
        start = [ vim-nix ]; # load plugin on startup
      };
    })
  ];
}

IntelliJ IDEA

• nix-idea on github

Eclipse

• nix-eclipse - development stopped in 2010

Sublime Text

• sublime-nix on github

Atom

• atom-nix on github

Visual Studio Code

• vscode-nix on github
• vscode-nix-ide on GitHub and VSCode Store with support to format and lint

Howl

• howl-nix on github

Far2l

• far2l with nix syntax highlighting patch in nixpkgs

nano

• nanonix

Relevant pages

• Overview of the Nix Expression Language
• Nix Expression Language: Tips & Tricks
• Learning resources