Template talk:Nixos:package

Deletion candidate

Completely disagree about deleting this template.

• Template:Nixpkgs links to the github page. That is not user friendly. Someone should not have to read source code files to understand module package options and descriptions. The UI on search.nixos.org is much more user friendly.
• It is not LMGTFY as packages are not always indexed on search engines. It took me a long time as a NixOS user to learn about the existence of search.nixos.org, it should not be assumed that everyone is familiar with this service.
• This is one of the most used templates on the wiki.

If anything, in my opinion we should be encouraging {{{1}}} over the use of Template:Nixpkgs unless if there is a specific reason that a user would find the source code important. Pigs (talk) 05:31, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

I would agree with you if the core of the argument was implemented properly on the search page. I am 100% on the same page that we should aim for readability and user friendliness here. But that's exactly why I don't think this template hits the mark on that front.

Someone should not have to read source code files to understand module package options and descriptions.</blockquote

That's exactly the thing: the search functionality doesn't expose package options at all. The only way an user can learn about them is by reading the source code. Is that ideal? Of course not, but it is currently what it is.

As for the description part, I would say in 99% of the time when this template is used, it's used either in the corresponding package's article, or in a context where adding the package description is trivial.

For the second point, I think we should definitely be improving the main page itself to point the user to the search functionality as an option, as well as improving NixOS search.

For the third point, I don't think a package's current usage is an argument for or against its deletion. DoggoBit (talk) 17:10, 8 June 2025 (UTC)