Feature: Support NixOS

[wvhulle]

Describe the bug
The current architecture of the application prevents it from being build with Nix.

I managed to get the build working, but it crashes right after startup.

Environment:

• OS: Linux NixOS 25.05
• Version: 0.20.0

To Reproduce

1. Build with nix-build
2. Launch aider-desk

Expected behavior

It should not crash on launch because uv missing.

Additional context

Output

❯ /nix/store/2gvgjka47m69s4l9ck438g4czvxwyggs-aider-desk-0.20.0/bin/aider-desk
info: ------------ Starting AiderDesk... ------------ {"timestamp":"2025-07-06T14:46:23.692Z"}
info: Initializing fix-path... {"timestamp":"2025-07-06T14:46:23.693Z"}
(node:87417) electron: Failed to load URL: file:///nix/store/2gvgjka47m69s4l9ck438g4czvxwyggs-aider-desk-0.20.0/lib/aider-desk/main/src/renderer/progress.html with error: ERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND
(Use `electron --trace-warnings ...` to show where the warning was created)
info: Starting AiderDesk setup process {"timestamp":"2025-07-06T14:46:24.985Z"}
info: Checking uv availability {"timestamp":"2025-07-06T14:46:25.986Z"}
error: uv is not available or not working {"error":{"cmd":"\"/nix/store/2gvgjka47m69s4l9ck438g4czvxwyggs-aider-desk-0.20.0/lib/resources/linux/uv\" --version","code":127,"killed":false,"signal":null,"stderr":"/bin/sh: line 1: /nix/store/2gvgjka47m69s4l9ck438g4czvxwyggs-aider-desk-0.20.0/lib/resources/linux/uv: No such file or directory\n","stdout":""},"timestamp":"2025-07-06T14:46:25.997Z"}
error: AiderDesk setup failed {"error":{},"timestamp":"2025-07-06T14:46:25.997Z"}

[wvhulle]

This is the build definition for NixOS that got it building. Notice how complex it is:

https://github.com/wvhulle/nixpkgs/blob/45867dcc0f610fe91f605877aa80fdea14628176/pkgs/by-name/ai/aider-desk/package.nix

[wladimiiir]

I notice in your build definition that you are trying to copy uv from resources/linux when it exists. Is the issue that the file does not exist there?
I am not familiar with the NixOS or its build process, but you can try to make sure that scripts/download-uv.mjs is executed during the build, if that's the case.

[wvhulle]

Yes, that was a mistake and I fixed it. But I have not been successful yet in launching it, even when uv is installed properly because of dynamic linking.

[wladimiiir]

Thanks for the effort.

I will have a look, but given my limited knowledge with NixOS build system, I am not sure I will be of any help.

Please keep a track of progress here, if possible, thank you.

[wvhulle]

I only have a NixOS system now so I don’t know how the standard installation procedure is. It seems like a lot of installation is done after the npm build during launch right? This is kind of hard to do in NixOS since it goes against the philosophy.

[wladimiiir]

Yes, that's correct. A dedicated Python virtual environment is created for Aider's use within AiderDesk. While this typically shouldn't be an issue, I'm uncertain whether a NixOS system might encounter problems with this approach.

[wvhulle]

If the dependencies could all be installed at once during installation and uv was not necessary, packaging would maybe be easier for NixOS and maybe other distributions.