nix-ecosystem

---

name: Nix Ecosystem description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "write nix", "nix expression", "flake.nix", "home-manager config", "programs.", "services.", or works with Nix language, flakes, or Home Manager. Provides comprehensive Nix ecosystem patterns and best practices.

<nix_language> Nix is lazily evaluated. Expressions are only computed when needed. Only evaluates needed attributes let expensive = builtins.trace "Computing expensive" (1 + 1); in { a = 1; b = expensive; }.a # Does not compute expensive

Copy<concept name="pure_functions">
  <description>All Nix functions are pure. Same inputs always produce same outputs.</description>
  <example>
    <note>Pure function - always returns same result for same input</note>
    double = x: x * 2;

    <note>Avoid side effects; use derivations for build actions</note>
    buildResult = pkgs.stdenv.mkDerivation { ... };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="attribute_sets">
  <description>Primary data structure in Nix</description>
  <example>
    <note>Basic attribute set</note>
    { attr1 = value1; attr2 = value2; }

    <note>Access patterns</note>
    set.attr
    set."attr-with-dashes"

    <note>Recursive attribute set</note>
    rec { a = 1; b = a + 1; }
  </example>
</concept>

Copy<pattern name="with">
  <description>Bring attribute set into scope</description>
  <example>
    with pkgs; [ git vim tmux ]
  </example>
  <warning>Avoid nested with; prefer explicit references for clarity</warning>
</pattern>

<pattern name="inherit">
  <description>Copy attributes from another set</description>
  <example>
    { inherit (pkgs) git vim; inherit name version; }
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="overlay">
  <description>Modify or extend nixpkgs</description>
  <example>
    final: prev: {
    myPackage = prev.myPackage.override { ... };
    }
  </example>
  <decision_tree name="when_to_use">
    <question>Do you need to modify existing packages or add new ones globally?</question>
    <if_yes>Use overlays to extend nixpkgs</if_yes>
    <if_no>Use local package definitions with callPackage</if_no>
  </decision_tree>
</pattern>

<pattern name="callPackage">
  <description>Dependency injection pattern</description>
  <example>
    myPackage = pkgs.callPackage ./package.nix { };
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="mkDerivation">
  <description>Standard package builder</description>
  <example>
    pkgs.stdenv.mkDerivation {
    pname = "mypackage";
    version = "1.0.0";
    src = fetchFromGitHub { ... };

    nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.cmake ];
    buildInputs = [ pkgs.openssl ];

    installPhase = ''
    mkdir -p $out/bin
    cp mypackage $out/bin/
    '';
    }
  </example>
  <note>Required attributes: pname, version, src</note>
  <note>Standard phases: unpackPhase, patchPhase, configurePhase, buildPhase, installPhase</note>
</pattern>

<pattern name="build_inputs">
  <description>Dependency specification in derivations</description>
  <example>
    {
    # Tools run at build time (compilers, build tools)
    nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake pkg-config ];

    # Libraries linked at runtime
    buildInputs = [ openssl zlib ];
    }
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="options_config">
  <description>NixOS/Home Manager module structure</description>
  <example>
    { config, lib, pkgs, ... }:
    {
    options.myModule = {
    enable = lib.mkEnableOption "my module";
    setting = lib.mkOption {
    type = lib.types.str;
    default = "value";
    description = "A setting";
    };
    };

    config = lib.mkIf config.myModule.enable { # configuration when enabled
    };
    }
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="mkOption">
  <description>Define module options with types and defaults</description>
  <example>
    options.myOption = lib.mkOption {
    type = lib.types.bool;
    default = false;
    description = "Enable my feature";
    example = true;
    };
  </example>
  <note>Common types: lib.types.bool, lib.types.str, lib.types.listOf, lib.types.attrsOf</note>
</pattern>

<pattern name="mkEnableOption">
  <description>Shorthand for boolean enable option</description>
  <example>
    enable = lib.mkEnableOption "my service";
  </example>
</pattern>

<anti_patterns> Directly referencing absolute paths breaks reproducibility Use fetchurl, fetchFromGitHub, or relative paths within the repository

Copy<avoid name="nested_with">
  <description>Multiple nested with statements reduce code clarity</description>
  <instead>Prefer explicit attribute access (pkgs.git) for better readability</instead>
</avoid>

<avoid name="rec_overuse">
  <description>Recursive attribute sets can be hard to understand and maintain</description>
  <instead>Use let-in for complex recursive definitions</instead>
</avoid>

<avoid name="string_interpolation_abuse">
  <description>Using string interpolation for path operations is error-prone</description>
  <instead>Use lib functions for path manipulation (lib.concatStringsSep, builtins.path)</instead>
</avoid>

</anti_patterns> </nix_language>

Copy  inputs = {
  nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
  };

  outputs = { self, nixpkgs, ... }@inputs: { # output attributes
  };
  }
</example>

Copy<concept name="devShells">
  <description>Development environments for nix develop</description>
  <example>
    devShells.x86_64-linux.default = pkgs.mkShell {
    packages = [ pkgs.nodejs ];
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="apps">
  <description>Runnable applications for nix run</description>
  <example>
    apps.x86_64-linux.default = {
    type = "app";
    program = "${pkgs.hello}/bin/hello";
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="overlays">
  <description>Nixpkgs overlays</description>
  <example>
    overlays.default = final: prev: {
    myPackage = prev.callPackage ./myPackage.nix { };
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="nixosModules">
  <description>NixOS modules</description>
  <example>
    nixosModules.default = { config, lib, pkgs, ... }: {
    options.services.myService = { ... };
    config = { ... };
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="homeManagerModules">
  <description>Home Manager modules</description>
  <example>
    homeManagerModules.default = { config, lib, pkgs, ... }: {
    options.programs.myProgram = { ... };
    config = { ... };
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="nixosConfigurations">
  <description>Full NixOS system configurations</description>
  <example>
    nixosConfigurations.hostname = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
    system = "x86_64-linux";
    modules = [ ./configuration.nix ];
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="homeConfigurations">
  <description>Home Manager configurations</description>
  <example>
    homeConfigurations."user@host" = home-manager.lib.homeManagerConfiguration {
    pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-linux;
    modules = [ ./home.nix ];
    };
  </example>
</concept>

Copy<pattern name="follows">
  <description>Share input between flakes to avoid duplication</description>
  <example>
    home-manager = {
    url = "github:nix-community/home-manager";
    inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
    };
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="flake_false">
  <description>Non-flake inputs for legacy repositories</description>
  <example>
    my-source = {
    url = "github:owner/repo";
    flake = false;
    };
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="per_system">
  <description>Generate outputs for multiple systems</description>
  <example>
    outputs = { self, nixpkgs, ... }:
    let
    systems = [ "x86_64-linux" "aarch64-linux" "x86_64-darwin" "aarch64-darwin" ];
    forAllSystems = nixpkgs.lib.genAttrs systems;
    in {
    packages = forAllSystems (system:
    let pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.${system};
    in { default = pkgs.hello; }
    );
    };
  </example>
  <decision_tree name="when_to_use">
    <question>Does your flake need to support multiple platforms?</question>
    <if_yes>Use per-system pattern with genAttrs or flake-utils</if_yes>
    <if_no>Define outputs for single system directly</if_no>
  </decision_tree>
</pattern>

<pattern name="devShell">
  <description>Development environment with packages and hooks</description>
  <example>
    devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
    packages = with pkgs; [ nodejs yarn ];
    shellHook = ''
    echo "Development environment ready"
    '';
    };
  </example>
</pattern>

Copy<tool name="nix flake update input-name">
  <description>Update a specific input</description>
  <use_case>Selective updates to test compatibility</use_case>
</tool>

<tool name="nix flake show">
  <description>Display all flake outputs</description>
  <use_case>Exploring available packages and configurations</use_case>
</tool>

<tool name="nix flake check">
  <description>Validate flake and run checks</description>
  <use_case>CI/CD validation, pre-commit checks</use_case>
</tool>

<home_manager> Standard Home Manager module structure { config, pkgs, lib, ... }: { options.custom.feature = { enable = lib.mkEnableOption "feature description"; };

Copy  config = lib.mkIf config.custom.feature.enable { # configuration when enabled
  };
  }
</example>

Copy<pattern name="by_category">
  <description>Organize modules by category</description>
  <example>
    home-manager/development/default.nix
    home-manager/shell/default.nix
    home-manager/editors/default.nix
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="imports">
  <description>Import multiple modules</description>
  <example>
    imports = [
    ./programs/git.nix
    ./programs/neovim.nix
    ./shell/fish.nix
    ];
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="basic_enable">
  <description>Enable a program with defaults</description>
  <example>
    programs.git.enable = true;
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="with_options">
  <description>Enable and configure a program</description>
  <example>
    programs.git = {
    enable = true;
    userName = "name";
    userEmail = "email";
    extraConfig = {
    core.editor = "nvim";
    init.defaultBranch = "main";
    };
    };
  </example>
  <decision_tree name="when_to_use">
    <question>Does Home Manager provide built-in module for this program?</question>
    <if_yes>Use programs.* with configuration options</if_yes>
    <if_no>Use home.file or xdg.configFile for manual configuration</if_no>
  </decision_tree>
</pattern>

<pattern name="package_override">
  <description>Use alternative package version</description>
  <example>
    programs.git = {
    enable = true;
    package = pkgs.gitFull;
    };
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="home.file">
  <description>Manage dotfiles directly</description>
  <example>
    home.file.".config/app/config" = {
    source = ./config;
    # or
    text = ''
    key = value
    '';
    };
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="xdg.configFile">
  <description>XDG config directory files</description>
  <example>
    xdg.configFile."app/config".source = ./config;
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="home.sessionVariables">
  <description>Environment variables for login shells</description>
  <example>
    home.sessionVariables = {
    EDITOR = "nvim";
    PAGER = "less";
    };
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="home.sessionPath">
  <description>Add directories to PATH</description>
  <example>
    home.sessionPath = [ "$HOME/.local/bin" ];
  </example>
</pattern>

<common_modules> Git version control configuration programs.git = { enable = true; userName = "Your Name"; userEmail = "email@example.com"; signing = { key = "KEY_ID"; signByDefault = true; }; aliases = { co = "checkout"; st = "status"; }; extraConfig = { core.editor = "nvim"; }; };

Copy<concept name="programs.neovim">
  <description>Neovim editor configuration</description>
  <example>
    programs.neovim = {
    enable = true;
    viAlias = true;
    vimAlias = true;
    plugins = with pkgs.vimPlugins; [
    vim-commentary
    vim-surround
    ];
    extraConfig = ''
    set number
    set relativenumber
    '';
    extraLuaConfig = ''
    vim.opt.expandtab = true
    '';
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="programs.fish">
  <description>Fish shell configuration</description>
  <example>
    programs.fish = {
    enable = true;
    shellInit = ''
    set -g fish_greeting
    '';
    shellAliases = {
    ll = "ls -lah";
    };
    functions = {
    gitignore = "curl -sL https://www.gitignore.io/api/$argv";
    };
    plugins = [
    { name = "z"; src = pkgs.fishPlugins.z.src; }
    ];
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="programs.tmux">
  <description>Terminal multiplexer configuration</description>
  <example>
    programs.tmux = {
    enable = true;
    terminal = "screen-256color";
    keyMode = "vi";
    plugins = with pkgs.tmuxPlugins; [
    sensible
    yank
    ];
    extraConfig = ''
    set -g mouse on
    '';
    };
  </example>
</concept>

<concept name="programs.direnv">
  <description>Directory-specific environment loader</description>
  <example>
    programs.direnv = {
    enable = true;
    nix-direnv.enable = true;
    enableBashIntegration = true;
    enableZshIntegration = true;
    };
  </example>
</concept>

</common_modules>

<best_practices> Use programs.* when available instead of manual configuration

Copy<practice priority="critical">
  Set home.stateVersion to your initial HM version and do not change after initial setup unless migrating
</practice>

<practice priority="high">
  Group related configurations in separate modules for maintainability
</practice>

<practice priority="high">
  Use lib.mkIf for conditional configuration
</practice>

<practice priority="medium">
  Prefer xdg.configFile over home.file for XDG-compliant apps
</practice>

<practice priority="medium">
  Use home.packages for additional packages not configured via programs.*
</practice>

</best_practices>

<error_escalation> Style inconsistency in Nix expression Note issue, suggest formatting Evaluation error or type mismatch Debug with --show-trace, fix expression Build failure in derivation Analyze build log, present options to user Impure expression breaking reproducibility Block operation, require pure alternatives </error_escalation>

<related_skills> Symbol operations for navigating Nix expressions and module definitions Fetch latest nixpkgs and Home Manager documentation Debug evaluation errors and understand derivation failures </related_skills>

Copy<pattern name="standalone_home_manager">
  <description>Standalone Home Manager without NixOS</description>
  <example>
    homeConfigurations."user@host" = home-manager.lib.homeManagerConfiguration {
    pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-linux;
    modules = [ ./home.nix ];
    extraSpecialArgs = { inherit inputs; };
    };
  </example>
</pattern>

<pattern name="as_nixos_module">
  <description>Home Manager as a NixOS module</description>
  <example>
    {
    imports = [ home-manager.nixosModules.home-manager ];

    home-manager.useGlobalPkgs = true;
    home-manager.useUserPackages = true;
    home-manager.users.username = import ./home.nix;
    }
  </example>
</pattern>