nixos#

the nixos config for my PC, laptops, and whatever else I can find

General Config Overview#

The unified flake provides a mkSystem function. The hostname is automatically derived from the attribute name. It accepts:

• username: The primary user's username
• isWorkDevice: If true, work-only apps and no personal/sops (default: false, i.e. personal device)

General Commands#

• rb: Alias for rebuilding the current system
• fu: Alias for updating the flake

Adding New Machines#

1. Add Configuration to flake.nix#

Edit flake.nix and add a new configuration. The hostname is automatically derived from the attribute name:

darwinConfigurations = nixpkgs.lib.mapAttrs mkSystem {
  "new-hostname" = {
    username = "your-username";
    # isWorkDevice = true;  # only for work machines (no personal apps/sops)
  };
};

# Or for NixOS:
nixosConfigurations = nixpkgs.lib.mapAttrs mkSystem {
  "new-hostname" = {
    username = "your-username";
  };
};

2. Set Up#

On macOS (Darwin)#

Set the path to your repository and create symlinks:

# Set repository path
NIXOS_REPO="/path/to/your/nixos/repo"

# Create Darwin symlinks
sudo ln -sf "$NIXOS_REPO/flake.nix" /etc/nix-darwin/flake.nix
sudo ln -sf "$NIXOS_REPO/flake.lock" /etc/nix-darwin/flake.lock

One-time Homebrew install (required for darwin/homebrew)#

The darwin/homebrew module expects Homebrew to already be installed. Do this once per machine as your normal user (no sudo):

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

First-time nix-darwin activation#

Once Homebrew is installed:

# First time use
sudo -H nix run nix-darwin/master#darwin-rebuild \
  --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' \
  -- switch --flake .#your-darwin-hostname

# Or use the alias (after first build)
rb

On NixOS#

Set the path and create symlinks:

# Set repository path and this host's name (must match flake.nix nixosConfigurations key)
export NIXOS_REPO="/path/to/your/nixos/repo"
export HOSTNAME="nixos"   # e.g. nixos, laptop, etc.

# Create NixOS configuration symlinks
sudo ln -sf "$NIXOS_REPO/flake.nix" /etc/nixos/flake.nix
sudo ln -sf "$NIXOS_REPO/flake.lock" /etc/nixos/flake.lock

Each NixOS host has its own hardware config at nixos/hardware/<hostname>.nix. Generate it once (or after hardware changes) and write it into the repo.

# Generate hardware config into the repo (recommended: single copy, no drift)
sudo nixos-generate-config --show-hardware-config > "$NIXOS_REPO/nixos/hardware/$HOSTNAME.nix"

# During installation from chroot/mounted system:
sudo nixos-generate-config --root /mnt
# then copy or symlink the generated hardware-configuration.nix into the repo:
sudo cp /mnt/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix "$NIXOS_REPO/nixos/hardware/$HOSTNAME.nix"

Then build and switch:

# First time use (from the repo directory)
cd "$NIXOS_REPO"
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake --experimental-features 'flakes'

# Or use the alias (after first build)
rb