 The NixOS logo; also a symbol of the Nix package manager | |
| Release Status | Actively maintained |
|---|---|
| Release Model | New release every six months, with optional unstable branch |
| Package Manager | Nix package manager |
| Default Desktops | GNOME, KDE Plasma |
| Usage Type | Desktop, Server |
| Architectures | i686, x86_64, aarch64 |
| Website | nixos.org |
NixOS is a Linux distribution built around the Nix package manager, offering features such as atomic upgrades, rollbacks, and a declarative configuration model.[1] It was initially developed by Eelco Dolstra.[2]
Home Manager
Home Manager is a NixOS module for configuring user environments in /home, often integrated directly into NixOS to enable unified system and user-level rebuilds. It provides a broad range of options beyond standard NixOS configurations, allowing users to manage dotfiles, install and configure applications, and customize environment settings for a tailored, reproducible setup.
Flakes
Flakes are an experimental feature of the Nix package manager aimed at simplifying dependency and configuration management, making builds more reproducible and shareable across environments.
- Flakes provide a standardized format for specifying dependencies, configurations, and sources, enabling easier integration and consistency across systems.
- Using Flakes, developers can define isolated and reproducible environments, ideal for both development and deployment.
Lix
Lix is a community fork of Nix. It uses the Meson build system, though the Lix team also plans to gradually introduce Rust to the source code.[3] The project also aims to evolve the Nix language into the new Lix language—maintaining general syntactic compatibility with Nix but introducing refinements and new features.[3]
Controversy
Anduril Sponsorship
NixCon 2023, a community conference dedicated to the Nix project, received a sponsorship from Anduril, a U.S.-based military defense contractor. Upon learning of the sponsorship, the event venue, TU Darmstadt, requested additional information from the Nix Foundation to assess whether the sponsorship aligned with its policies. In response, the Nix Foundation ultimately decided to withdraw Anduril's sponsorship.[4]
Change of Leadership
Following an open letter criticizing the Nix Foundation and calling for the resignation of Eelco Dolstra, he eventually stepped down.[5][6] After his resignation, a new board was established. Their first action was to lift the ban on a controversial user from the Nixpkgs contributor Zulip chat, sparking further debate.[6]
Trivia
- NixOS employs a purely functional approach to package management, ensuring that package installations remain isolated from one another.
- The Nix package manager supports reproducible builds, making it especially suited for consistent and reliable development environments.
References
- ↑ https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/stable/index.html#sec-intro Official NixOS manual, 2025 (Imported 4th June 2024)
- ↑ https://edolstra.github.io/pubs/phd-thesis.pdf NixOS Thesis, 2025 (Imported 4th June 2024)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://lix.systems/about/#why-lix Official Lix Website, 2025 (Imported 4th June 2024)
- ↑ https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixcon-2023-sponsorship-situation-from-the-nixos-foundation/33583 NixOS statement ,2023 (Imported 4th June 2024)
- ↑ https://save-nix-together.org NixOS fundraiser, 2024 (Imported 4th June 2024)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://mastodon.delroth.net/@delroth/112450680035780629 Mastodon, 2024 (Imported 4th June 2024)