Searching packages: Difference between revisions
imported>Rapenne-s add nix search |
imported>Fricklerhandwerk formatting and wording |
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There are | There are multiple ways to search for a package name in <code>nixpkgs</code>. | ||
== Using <code>search.nixos.org</code> == | |||
There is a web service to search for | |||
* Nix packages at [https://search.nixos.org/packages search.nixos.org/packages] | |||
* NixOS options at [https://search.nixos.org/options search.nixos.org/options] | |||
* pros: | |||
** easy to use | |||
** allows filters | |||
* cons: | |||
** requires Internet connection | |||
== Using <code>nix search</code> command == | |||
== Using nix search command == | |||
While this command is still experimental, you can use it to search for a package. It may be slow the first time, but further runs will use cached results. | While this command is still experimental, you can use it to search for a package. It may be slow the first time, but further runs will use cached results. | ||
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</pre> | </pre> | ||
== Using the nix-env command == | == Using the <code>nix-env</code> command == | ||
It's possible to search for a package using <code>nix-env -qaP</code> | It's possible to search for a package using <code>nix-env -qaP</code> | ||
* pros | * pros: | ||
** works offline | ** works offline | ||
* cons | * cons: | ||
** it's very slow and requires a lot of memory | ** it's very slow and requires a lot of memory | ||
== Interactive package browsing with | == Interactive package browsing with <code>nix repl</code> == | ||
You can | You can start <code>nix repl</code> to load the <code>nixpkgs</code> repository and then use auto completion to search for packages. | ||
<pre> | <pre> | ||
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== Reverse search: searching which package provides a file == | == Reverse search: searching which package provides a file == | ||
There is a third party program [https://github.com/bennofs/nix-index nix-index] to find which package provides a given file. This is particularly useful when you are looking for a very specific file but you don't know which package installs it. | |||
[[Category:Reference]] | [[Category:Reference]] | ||
[[Category:Nixpkgs]] | |||
Revision as of 12:45, 4 August 2022
There are multiple ways to search for a package name in nixpkgs.
Using search.nixos.org
There is a web service to search for
- Nix packages at search.nixos.org/packages
- NixOS options at search.nixos.org/options
- pros:
- easy to use
- allows filters
- cons:
- requires Internet connection
Using nix search command
While this command is still experimental, you can use it to search for a package. It may be slow the first time, but further runs will use cached results.
$ nix --extra-experimental-features "nix-command flakes" search nixpkgs firefox
Using the nix-env command
It's possible to search for a package using nix-env -qaP
- pros:
- works offline
- cons:
- it's very slow and requires a lot of memory
Interactive package browsing with nix repl
You can start nix repl to load the nixpkgs repository and then use auto completion to search for packages.
$ nix repl Welcome to Nix 2.8.1. Type :? for help. nix-repl> :load <nixpkgs> Added 16519 variables. nix-repl> firef[PRESS TAB]
Reverse search: searching which package provides a file
There is a third party program nix-index to find which package provides a given file. This is particularly useful when you are looking for a very specific file but you don't know which package installs it.