Dotfiles for my Linux installation

For more information about Nix and NixOS check out my list of RESOURCES.md

Installation

Bootstrapping

sudo nixos-install --flake https://github.com/fabian-gubler/.dotfiles

Customized Build

Important Note: hardware-configuration.nix file must be customized to your system's hardware.

The following commands for a fresh system build:

# Clone the repository
nix-env -iA nixpkgs.git
git clone https://github.com/fabian-gubler/.dotfiles ~/.dotfiles

# Generate hardware-configuration and replace it
sudo nixos-generate config
cd ~/.dotfiles/
cp -f host/hardware-configuration /etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix 

# Install NixOS system
sudo nixos-install --flake .#<host>

Refactoring Ideas

Currently I am considering adding...

• git-credential-oauth using home-manager programs.git-credential-oauth
• toggle-theme to switch up aesthetics

Helpful tips

Running Non-Nix binaries

nix-shell -p steam-run --run "steam-run ./the-binary"

Check out many possible methods: Link

Structure

• host everything that is system based (e.g. hardware, system packages, window manager)
• shared home-manager and .dotfiles for my favorite programs
• scripts collection of personal or modified scripts
• templates reproducible development environments
• pkgs custom written packages
• overlays extend or change packages

TODO - Things I am considering at the moment

• Wayland: Porting my setup from dwm to dwl
  • Identify conflicting packages (e.g. xinit, dmenu etc.)
  • Porting dwm configuration & patches

Philosophy: Non Functional Properties

The following are some personal non-functional benefits of using a nix-based system.

(1) NixOS:

Declared Configuration

• Declared configuration for the entire system.
• Has to be written once, easily bootstrap anytime

Reproducibility

• Reproducible Builds using Lock files
• Easily go back to previous states of entire systems (like timeshift)

(2) Nixpkgs & Home-Manager:

Vast amount

• Biggest Offering of Packages (bigger than AUR)
• Fairly well maintained and up to date (otherwise create overlay to make changes)
• Quickly enable / try out packages in an isolated environment

Access on Multiple Hosts

• Reuse on all platforms: Linux, WSL, Darwin based systems
• Create alternative versions of configuration (e.g. server, desktop, laptop)

(3) Nix Language:

Package Management

• Distro-agnostic
• Nix is straight-forward for building & maintaining personal packages

Dev Environments

• Useful for reproducible development environments (with shell.nix)
• Replaces and extends virtual environments (e.g. conda)
• Use for Declarative containers (e.g. docker images)