Aditya Induraj - Portfolio

Just my experience with NixOS. Used nix.dev as a reference.

Transitioning to NixOS after years of conventional Linux distributions felt like stepping into a new era of system management. While the learning curve was steeper than expected, the payoff has been transformative. Here’s why NixOS stands out in my toolkit.

Declarative Configuration: Code as Infrastructure

The cornerstone of NixOS is its declarative approach. Instead of manually tweaking config files, you define your system’s state in /etc/nixos/configuration.nix:

{ config, pkgs, ... }: {
  environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [ vim git ];
  services.openssh.enable = true;
  users.users.alice = {
    isNormalUser = true;
    extraGroups = [ "wheel" ];
  };
}

A single sudo nixos-rebuild switch applies changes atomically. If something breaks, rolling back is as simple as nixos-rebuild switch --rollback.

Treating infrastructure as code isn’t new, but NixOS makes it inherent rather than aspirational.

Isolated Environments: No More Dependency Hell

Nix’s purely functional package management eliminates conflicts. Need a Python environment with specific versions?

# shell.nix
with import <nixpkgs> {};
pkgs.mkShell {
  buildInputs = [
    python310
    python310Packages.numpy
  ];
}

Run nix-shell, and you’re in a sandboxed environment. This reproducibility extends to development workflows, CI pipelines, and beyond.

The Power of Nixpkgs

Nixpkgs, the community-curated repository, is a treasure trove. Installing niche tools like nix-diff or home-manager is trivial:

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.home-manager

Combined with overlays and flakes (Nix’s newer feature for deterministic builds), dependency management becomes predictable.

NixOS forces discipline but rewards it with robustness. It’s like version control for your entire OS.

The Learning Curve: Worth the Climb

Admittedly, NixOS requires unlearning traditional Linux habits. Concepts like derivations, garbage collection, and the Nix language take time to internalize. But once you grasp them, the paradigm shift feels inevitable. Documentation and the community are strong, though diving into the Nix Pills is almost mandatory.

Final Thoughts

NixOS isn’t just another distro—it’s a philosophy. By prioritizing reproducibility, immutability, and declarative design, it solves problems I didn’t realize I had. For developers and sysadmins seeking long-term stability without sacrificing flexibility, NixOS is a compelling answer. It’s not without friction, but the benefits far outweigh the initial effort.