Okay, so hear me out…
My interest was piqued when I started knowing more and more about NixOS from the recent “I use NixOS btw” wave everywhere. The main selling point for me was the one config file to rule them all. I have always wanted something like that on Arch. And here it is with a dose of immutability, and extra stability in the form atomic updates and whatnot. You also had the option of turning it to a rolling release model; that’s awesome! What’s not to love then?
So, I kept reading even further about NixOS. I got to learn about how the Linux root structure is almost completely different. Building packages from the source follows a completely different procedure. Configuring anything in your system will rely on the main config file, instead of executing the standard terminal command, or editing their respective config file. The list goes on…
I understand that all of this is done by design. They are not flaws, per se. Rather the means to facilitate the philosophy that every NixOS user is after. However, that also does not mean it is inherently flawless in the grand scheme of the entire ecosystem. I personally love Linux, and would always want to grow with my knowledge in how I handle and get things done in it. Wouldn’t me disconnecting away from that, in favour of the NixOS’ arcane methods, just hurt my progression in my Linux learning journey?
This is a genuine question, of course. I have been thinking about this for a few days now, unsure of whether I should change course and get into it or not. I also do not have the time to use other distros aside from what I mainly install; I would be all in. So, what do you all think?
I don’t think NixOS is used by many companies, so it’s not really a skill that will likely lead to employment. Most companies use containers and tools like ansible which is accomplishing something similar to nix.
NixOS is just a hobby, it’s good if you don’t have a GPU since you can’t play any games either way.
I don’t know if you’ve used Emacs, but NixOS ALMOST feels to Linux how Doom Emacs is to GNU/Emacs. Not including all the benefits like reproducability, it feels like a reliable framework placed on top of Linux in the same was Doom Emacs is a framework on top of Emacs.
I don’t believe NixOS prevents you from using the standard terminal commands or editing config files. It hooks you up with a different set of tools, ones which are better in some respects, but it doesn’t force you to use them.
nix-env -iA is there for a reason, they recognize that sometimes perfection is the enemy of good #-#
I was interested in NixOS until I saw no reference of a specific software I want. Literally not a single search result.
So, I guess its biggest flaw for me is that it cannot beat Arch Linux’s catalogue. So, maybe in a year I’ll check again.
I am curious to know what kind of programs do not exist on Nix. Could you please share the one on your mind?
From what I’ve heard from NixOS users, your intuition seems right. When you learn NixOS, you learn NixOS rather than Linux. The question is, what your goals are. If you want to get a job as a Linux sysadmin, you’d probably be better off using a more common distro. But if you just want to use Linux privately, dive into whatever seems most exciting to you or fulfills your needs the best.
I’ve heard NixOS is used on big scale deployments, and it is a well paid job it just won’t be easy
When you learn NixOS, you learn NixOS rather than Linux.
That is exactly what I am talking about. You seem to have understood me the most. NixOS could be the unequivocally best distro ever. However, that does not change the fact that a big portion of your knowledge acquisition and experience gained from your time on NixOS, will be for NixOS alone.
I am obviously not putting the two on the same line, but mac shares a lot of terminal syntax and programs with Linux. They still remain vastly different. So, this is exactly what concerns me with the growth that I seek in the Linux ecosystem.
My question then would be: Why do you want to learn more about Linux in the first place?
I don’t mean to sound crass here, but the best answer I can give you is, “because I want to”. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I will pursue Linux professionally as a job. But who knows? I wouldn’t out-rule that.
It’s something that I am passionate about and enjoy using. Therefore, I will naturally want to grow my knowledge in.
IMO if you get more into it it’s still really linuxy. You still use the same software under the hood, especially when writing custom modules. A ton of knowledge transfers, with more new cool stuff to learn.
A ton of stuff you can just configure manually. Not everything has to be done in nix, but most people prefer to do it - I do it for example to have the same system between my laptop and PC. Really useful.
Oh, I agree with you. I have brushed off dozens upon dozens of distros, because they just do not offer anything over Arch linux that I have always been using. Until NixOS entered my radar, that is. NixOS has many very unique strengths that you just can not get anywhere else. Due to that, it was the first to make me question whether I should make a switch to it or not.
However, I disagree that a “ton of knowledge” transfers. Putting aside the programs one uses, the way you set up, configure and maintain your system will wildly vary from a standard distribution. Which will not help you at all in case you want put all what you have learnt into another machine that requires said ‘normal’ distribution. But again, I understand that this is the whole point of its design in the first place.
