dot/nix/nixos/QUICK_START.md

Quick Start Guide

TL;DR - Should I Use Flakes?

YES! ✅ Use flakes because:

1. You get nixos-unstable (latest packages) with reproducibility
2. Your config is in git with locked versions (flake.lock)
3. You already have flakes enabled in your system
4. It's the modern, recommended approach

Current vs Flake Setup

Current (Channels) ❌

# Update
sudo nix-channel --update
sudo nixos-rebuild switch

# Config location
/etc/nixos/configuration.nix

# Package versions
Whatever the channel has (not locked)

With Flakes (Recommended) ✅

# Update
nix flake update
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos#nix --impure

# Config location
/home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos/
  ├── flake.nix (inputs: nixpkgs unstable, home-manager, nixos-wsl)
  ├── flake.lock (exact versions locked)
  └── configuration.nix

# Package versions
Locked in flake.lock, reproducible everywhere

Apply the Flake Configuration Now

Step 1: Test it

cd /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos
nix flake check --impure
sudo nixos-rebuild build --flake .#nix --impure

Step 2: If successful, apply it

sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#nix --impure

Step 3: Verify

nixos-version
nix flake metadata /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos

What Changes?

• ✅ Same packages, just from nixos-unstable (usually newer)
• ✅ Same home-manager config (all your dotfiles stay)
• ✅ Same NixOS-WSL functionality
• ✅ Exact versions locked in flake.lock
• ✅ Easy to rollback (NixOS generations)

Daily Usage

# Make config changes
vim /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos/home.nix

# Apply
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos#nix --impure

# Update packages (weekly/monthly)
cd /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos
nix flake update
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#nix --impure

# Rollback if needed
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --rollback

Create Convenience Alias

Add to your ~/.zshrc or shell config:

# Quick rebuild
alias nr='sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos#nix --impure'

# Update and rebuild
alias nu='cd /home/pan/dev/config/dot/nix/nixos && nix flake update && sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#nix --impure'

Then just run nr to rebuild!

Need Help?

• Read MIGRATION.md for detailed migration guide
• Read README.md for full documentation
• Check TODO.md for known issues