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NixOS 26.05

nixos.org

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Re: NixOS 26.05

#61

Post by zihotki »

mplanchard wrote: post #28
linsomniac wrote: post #16

I switched my workstation over to NixOS ~6 weeks ago and it's been really good, I'm a total convert. The thing that really got me over the hump was entirely configuring it using Claude Code. One unexpected benefit is that both my workstation and my backup laptop have the same setup, so I can run updates on the scratch box before doing my workstation. I decided to run the "latest" rather than 25.11 release, so it's ni…

I'm on year 6 and still feel the same way, using NixOS for all my machines, and also for my homelab servers (building on the main machine and then deploying over SSH). Everything else feels primitive by comparison. Rolling back is incredible. I have one github repo with a top-level flake containing system definitions for all of my machines. Much of my config is modularized, so it's easy to take custom stuff from one…

I'm building a homelab as well and fully second the ode. It feels incredible to do the setup via llm, like they are the perfect fit.

Re: NixOS 26.05

#62

Post by rhco »

linsomniac wrote: post #16

I switched my workstation over to NixOS ~6 weeks ago and it's been really good, I'm a total convert. The thing that really got me over the hump was entirely configuring it using Claude Code. One unexpected benefit is that both my workstation and my backup laptop have the same setup, so I can run updates on the scratch box before doing my workstation. I decided to run the "latest" rather than 25.11 release, so it's ni…

You could take this one step further using Syncthing to sync important data between the workstation and laptop.

That's how my devices are configured, and it's amazing - if I need to travel for work, I just pick up my laptop and go. NixOS makes sure the system itself is identical (apps, most of the code configs, etc), then any app-spcific config is handled by Syncthing. It was really magical the first few times I used my laptop on the road!

Also, if you aren't already across it, you should look into remote builds/deployments. Basically, the regular nixos-rebuild command supports deploying over SSH. It's nice because you can do the heavy work (nix evaluation, building non-cached packages, etc) on your grunty workstation, then have them pushed across to the laptop via SSH. Then, when you want to apply that build to your PC, it'll be super fast (since everything is already evaluated & built!).

Re: NixOS 26.05

#63

Post by yesbabyyes »

AyanamiKaine wrote: post #59
craftkiller wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Another underappreciated feature about NixOS is, that you can create a VM out of a NixOS config to locally test a server update/deployment. And similarly, you can generate a bootable ISO of your NixOS config. It's really nice for both testing things out and also as a recovery mechanism. Rather than booting some generic ISO, connecting to the internet, installing whatever recovery tools and filesystem drivers I need…

Ohh I didnt know that, but it makes sense that you would be able to create an ISO, good tip!

You can similarly create a docker image from a nix config. It's quite beautiful, nix is impressive.

Re: NixOS 26.05

#64

Post by bouk »

We use NixOS for all of our robots and servers at https://www.monumental.co, hard to imagine how we would do constant updates of our robot fleet without it.

If you're working on cloud systems it's easy enough to just throw away VMs all the time but you can't really do that with physical hardware that's on a construction site for months on end, where you only have a shared 5G connection. NixOS makes this all manageable!

Re: NixOS 26.05

#65

Post by Cyph0n »

LelouBil wrote: post #14

I would love a Bazzite-style nixos distribution. Like batteries-included for gaming. Is this kind of thing common in the NixOS space ? Like configs you can import that manage 99% of the os for you ?

Jovian is as close as you’ll get. Works like a charm and gives you a SteamOS-like experience on desktop.

Re: NixOS 26.05

#66

Post by allset_ »

> Removed 17532 outdated packages, in an effort to keep the package set maintainable and secure.

Thanks for this! I appreciate the acknowledgement that more software in nixpkgs is not necessarily better.

Re: NixOS 26.05

#67

Post by linsomniac »

rhco wrote: post #62
linsomniac wrote: post #16

I switched my workstation over to NixOS ~6 weeks ago and it's been really good, I'm a total convert. The thing that really got me over the hump was entirely configuring it using Claude Code. One unexpected benefit is that both my workstation and my backup laptop have the same setup, so I can run updates on the scratch box before doing my workstation. I decided to run the "latest" rather than 25.11 release, so it's ni…

You could take this one step further using Syncthing to sync important data between the workstation and laptop. That's how my devices are configured, and it's amazing - if I need to travel for work, I just pick up my laptop and go. NixOS makes sure the system itself is identical (apps, most of the code configs, etc), then any app-spcific config is handled by Syncthing. It was really magical the first few times I used…

Really solid advice.

Going to have to try that remote rebuild, because right now my 10yo T420 takes around an hour to rebuild gitbutler-cli (not yet packaged in NixOS), so that'd be real nice.

I know syncthing has a solid reputation, but I'm a bit reluctant to try it on my home directory (it's super mission critical). Does that interact well with home-manager+SOPS?

Mostly, when I'm away from my workstation, I just connect in from my personal macbook via the "wezterm tmux" feature, since most of what I do is either web or terminal. The need for a "pick up and go" copy is nice but not really necessary. Though in the event my main workstation fails, I should check to see how long an rsync from the restic backup would take. If it takes the better part of a day, that might be compelling to use syncthing, especially as my workstation is a 6+yo laptop.

Re: NixOS 26.05

#68

Post by linsomniac »

pmarreck wrote: post #49
linsomniac wrote: post #16

I switched my workstation over to NixOS ~6 weeks ago and it's been really good, I'm a total convert. The thing that really got me over the hump was entirely configuring it using Claude Code. One unexpected benefit is that both my workstation and my backup laptop have the same setup, so I can run updates on the scratch box before doing my workstation. I decided to run the "latest" rather than 25.11 release, so it's ni…

> The thing that really got me over the hump was entirely configuring it using Claude Code. I MOSTLY understood it before Claude Code, but WITH Claude Code it's almost a no-brainer for most people. All the upside with none of the downside.

Agreed, that's where I was as well. I had been dabbling in manual NixOS configs for ~2 years. I mostly felt like I understood it. But as you say, all upside.

Re: NixOS 26.05

#69

Post by linsomniac »

willx86 wrote: post #31
linsomniac wrote: post #16

I switched my workstation over to NixOS ~6 weeks ago and it's been really good, I'm a total convert. The thing that really got me over the hump was entirely configuring it using Claude Code. One unexpected benefit is that both my workstation and my backup laptop have the same setup, so I can run updates on the scratch box before doing my workstation. I decided to run the "latest" rather than 25.11 release, so it's ni…

I eventually gave up using mason and lsp servers and used nixvim https://github.com/will-x86/nixos-dotfiles ( ./home/base/nixvim)

That is really interesting, thanks for the pointer. I came across it a while ago when I was researching how to manually set up AstroVIM on NixOS and doing manually was a bit of a stretch for me at the time.

My setup right now is a fairly straightforward nix file listing the plugins and associated packages I want, and then an embedded long-ass lua config file, and I think the nixvim would just make that part of it declarative. I think I'll make a branch on my nixos repo and just have Claude try it. No reason not to.

Re: NixOS 26.05

#70

Post by linsomniac »

shevy-java wrote: post #27
linsomniac wrote: post #16

I switched my workstation over to NixOS ~6 weeks ago and it's been really good, I'm a total convert. The thing that really got me over the hump was entirely configuring it using Claude Code. One unexpected benefit is that both my workstation and my backup laptop have the same setup, so I can run updates on the scratch box before doing my workstation. I decided to run the "latest" rather than 25.11 release, so it's ni…

> entirely configuring it using Claude Code This scares me. I would not want AI to run my computer systems.

I'm a 35-year professional sys admin, so you'd think I'd have really strong opinions about how exactly it sets the system up. Or maybe I have enough experience that I can just eyeball what it's doing and feel comfortable? I'm not sure.

Kind of reminds me of the movie Ronin where the young guy is asking the seasoned CIA guy what gun he likes. "It doesn't matter, it's just a tool, I put it in my toolbox."

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