Explore `nix` + `nix-darwin` as an alternative package manager + declarative macOS system settings config

[0xdevalias]

See:

• https://nixos.org/download/
• https://nixcademy.com/cheatsheet/
• https://nixcademy.com/posts/nix-on-macos/

  • Setting up Nix on macOS

  • Why would one want to have Nix on a Mac?

    There are multiple reasons:

    • Nixpkgs is the biggest and freshest open-source package repository in the world
    • It’s better than homebrew
    • Use the same package versions as your colleagues who use Nix on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.
    • Programmers and admins: Toolchain management is easily done per project with the single command nix develop. Forget about Docker annoyances for development.

    In addition to that, we’re looking at nix-darwin in this article, which adds the following reasons on top:

    • Declarative configuration of all your macOS system settings
    • Installation of packages and configuration of those
    • Seamless integration into launchd for configuration of additional daemons
    • Painless management of local Linux builder VMs

• https://github.com/nix-darwin/nix-darwin

  • nix-darwin

  • Manage your macOS using Nix

  • Nix modules for darwin, /etc/nixos/configuration.nix for macOS.

  • https://nix-darwin.github.io/nix-darwin/manual/

    • nix-darwin Configuration Options

See Also

• Explore alternative dotfiles management tools #8
• Review old WIP setup script refactors to clarify blockers vs 'nice-to-have' tasks for later #37