NixOS Wiki/getting started/en

Getting started

The official NixOS Wiki includes topics not covered in the NixOS Manual, such as NixOS user guides, configuration examples, troubleshooting tips, etc.

NixOS is a Linux operating system based on the Nix package manager and the Nixpkgs package repository.

Newcomers to NixOS are encouraged to read the Nix Core Ecosystem overview article to get a comprehensive orientation. For more specific introductions, see:

• NixOS
• Nix package manager
• Nixpkgs package repository
• Nix Language

If you want to try Nix standalone in another Linux distribution or on a Mac, take your first steps on nix.dev.

Many great additional tools exist in the Nix ecosystem, such as:

• Home Manager, a system for managing user profile & home directory contents
• Nix Flakes, an experimental feature for managing dependencies of Nix projects

These add complexity and may be confusing at first, and you may even decide that you don't need them. Start with plain Nix/NixOS, and only integrate Home Manager and/or Flakes into your setup once you're confident with Nix/NixOS and comprehend their significance.