Nix cheat sheet#

Warning

this is bad, improvements coming soon™

`nix-env` package management#

action	Ubuntu	Nix	notes
update package list	`sudo apt update`	`sudo nix-channel --update`
search	`apt search <query>`	`nix search <query>`	also try search.nixos.org/packages
install	`sudo apt install <package>`	`nix-env -i <package>`	no root, atomic, per user
upgrade installed	`sudo apt upgrade`	`nix-env -u`	no root, atomic, per user
remove	`sudo apt remove <package>`	`nix-env -e <package>`	no root, atomic, per user
undo last operation	...	`nix-env --rollback`	no root, atomic, per user
list installed	`dpkg -l`	`nix-env -q`	per user
show generations	...	`nix-env --list-generations`

Nix Reference Manual: nix.dev

command	result
`nix-shell -p <packages>`	start shell in env with `<packages>`
`nix-shell`	start shell in the env defined by `shell.nix` or `default.nix` in current dir
`nix-shell --pure`	same, but outside env is inaccessible

Nix Reference Manual: nix.dev

Examples: nix run nixpkgs#vim nix run nixpkgs#statix -- help nix run github:astro/deadnix -- -eq .

command	result	notes
edit `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix`	define new system configuration	running system is unaffected
`nixos-rebuild switch`	switch to the configuration defined in `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix`	atomic*
`nixos-rebuild switch --rollback`	switch to previous configuration	atomic*
`nixos-option <option>`	show option value and documentation	also try search.nixos.org/options

*services can fail to start

nix run github:astro/deadnix -- .

Remember to commit/stage to git first, as this command will change files.

nix run github:astro/deadnix -- -eq .