README.md: be more concise

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README.md
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# Introduction
This project is under construction as a rewrite of my [legacy][old]
NixOS configuration using the experimental [flakes][rfc] mechanism. Its aim is
to provide a generic template repository which neatly separates concerns and
allows one to get up and running with NixOS faster than ever.
A NixOS configuration template using the experimental [flakes][rfc] mechanism.
Its aim is to provide a generic repository which neatly separates concerns
and allows one to get up and running with NixOS faster than ever.
Flakes are still an experimental feature, but once they finally get merged
even more will become possible, including [nixops](https://nixos.org/nixops)
even more will become possible, i.e. [nixops](https://nixos.org/nixops)
support.
#### [Flake Talk][video]
# Usage
Enter a nix-shell either manually or automatically using [direnv][direnv]. This
will set up the experimental nix features that need to be available to use
[flakes][pr].
```sh
# not needed if using direnv
nix-shell
Start a new branch based on the template branch:
```
git checkout -b <new_branch> template
```
git checkout -b $new_branch template
You may want to use a generated hardware config for your machine:
```
nixos-generate-config --show-hardware-config > ./hosts/<new_host>.nix
```
# generate hardware config
nixos-generate-config --show-hardware-config > ./hosts/${new_host}.nix
A basic `rebuild` command is included in the shell to replace
`nixos-rebuild` for now:
# wrapper for `nix build` bypassing `nixos-rebuild`
# Usage: rebuild [([host] {switch|boot|test|dry-activate})|iso]
# You can specify any of the host configurations living in the ./hosts
# directory. If omitted, it will default to your systems current hostname.
rebuild $new_host switch
```
Usage: rebuild [host] {switch|boot|test}
#example using above generated config
rebuild <new_host> switch
```
You can specify one of the host configurations from the [hosts](hosts)
directory. If omitted, it will default to your systems current hostname.
And now you should be ready to start writing your nix configuration or import
some of the already existing profiles. Review [contributing](#contributing)
below on how to structure your expressions. And be sure to update the
[locale.nix](local/locale.nix) for your region.
your current one. Review [structure](#structure) below on how to build your
layout. And be sure to update the [locale.nix](local/locale.nix) for your
region.
You can always check out my personal branch
[`nrdxp`](https://github.com/nrdxp/nixflk/tree/nrdxp), for concrete examples.
You can always checkout my personal branch
[`nrdxp`](https://github.com/nrdxp/nixflk/tree/nrdxp) for more concrete examples.
## Additional Capabilities
Making iso images:
```
```sh
# make an iso image based on ./hosts/niximg.nix
rebuild iso
# install any package the flake exports
nix profile install ".#packages.x86_64-linux.myPackage"
```
Will make a minimal and bootable iso image of the [niximg](hosts/niximg.nix)
configuration. You can customize the image by editing this file.
this flake exports overlays and modules as well:
```nix
# external flake.nix
{
# ...
inputs.nixflk.url = "github:nrdxp/nixflk";
outputs = { self, nixpkgs, nixflk }: {
nixosConfigurations.myConfig = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
system = "x86_64-linux";
modules = [
{ nixpkgs.overlays = nixflk.overlays; }
nixflk.nixosModules.myModule
];
};
};
}
You can also install the packages declared in [pkgs](pkgs) without needing
to install NixOS. For example:
```
# from top-level
nix profile install ".#packages.x86_64-linux.purs"
```
A similar mechanism exists to import the modules and overlays declared in the
flake to allow for seamless sharing between configurations.
# Structure
# Structure and Layout
The purpose of this repository is to provide a standardized template structure
for NixOS machine expressions, thus enabling simpler sharing and reuse of nix
expressions.
Say your friend and you are using this repository, each with your own unique
nix expressions. By simply importing your friends flake from `flake.nix` as an
input, you can have access to all of the packages, modules, overlays, and even
entire system configurations your friend has defined!
The structure is here to keep things simple and clean. Anything sufficiently
generic can ultimately be exported for use in other flakes without getting
tied up in user concerns. An additional bonus of is the ability to trivially
swap or combine [profiles](#profiles).
## Hosts
Distributions for particular machines should be stored in the [hosts](hosts)
directory. Every file in this directory will be added automatically to the
the `nixosConfigurations` flake output. See the
the `nixosConfigurations` flake output and thus deployable. See the
[`default.nix`](hosts/default.nix) for the implementation details.
## Profiles
More abstract configurations suitable for reuse by multiple machines should
go in the [profiles](profiles) directory. A distinction is made between a module
and profile, in that a profile is simply a regular NixOS module, without any new
option declarations. If you want to declare new
[options](https://nixos.org/nixos/manual/options.html), create an expression
under the [modules](modules) directory instead.
More abstract expressions suitable for reuse by deployments should live in the
[profiles](profiles) directory. A distinction is made between a module and
profile, in that a profile is simply a regular NixOS module, without any _new_
option declarations.
Every profile should have a `default.nix` to easily import it. You can also
stick things in the profile's subdirectory which are not automatically
imported, but are meant to be manually imported from a host (useful for less
common, or specialized configurations).
Every directory here is a profile and should have a `default.nix` to import it.
Profiles can have subprofiles which are just subdirectories with a `default.nix`.
There's no hard rule that everything in the folder must be imported by its
`default.nix` so you can also store relevant configurations that may not be used
as often and just import them directly from a [host](#hosts) when needed.
Importantly, every subdirectory in a profile should be independently importable.
For example, a zsh directory lives under [profiles/develop](profiles/develop/zsh).