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diff --git a/src/content/blog/2019/06/02/nixos-stateless-workstation.adoc b/src/content/blog/2019/06/02/nixos-stateless-workstation.adoc index c0cfe75..541440b 100644 --- a/src/content/blog/2019/06/02/nixos-stateless-workstation.adoc +++ b/src/content/blog/2019/06/02/nixos-stateless-workstation.adoc @@ -1,150 +1,146 @@ = Using NixOS as an stateless workstation -date: 2019-06-02 - -layout: post - -lang: en - -ref: using-nixos-as-an-stateless-workstation - ---- - -Last week[^last-week] I changed back to an old[^old-computer] Samsung laptop, and installed -[NixOS](https://nixos.org/) on it. - -After using NixOS on another laptop for around two years, I wanted -verify how reproducible was my desktop environment, and how far does -NixOS actually can go on recreating my whole OS from my configuration -files and personal data. I gravitated towards NixOS after trying (and -failing) to create an `install.sh` script that would imperatively -install and configure my whole OS using apt-get. When I found a -GNU/Linux distribution that was built on top of the idea of -declaratively specifying the whole OS I was automatically convinced[^convinced-by-declarative-aspect]. - -I was impressed. Even though I've been experiencing the benefits of Nix -isolation daily, I always felt skeptical that something would be -missing, because the devil is always on the details. But the result was -much better than expected! +:empty: +:nixos: https://nixos.org/ + +Last +week{empty}footnote:last-week[ + "Last week" as of the start of this writing, so around the end of May 2019. +] I changed back to an +old{empty}footnote:old-computer[ + I was using a 32GB RAM, i7 and 250GB SSD Samsung laptop. The switch was back + to a 8GB RAM, i5 and 500GB HDD Dell laptop. The biggest difference I noticed + was on faster memory, both RAM availability and the disk speed, but I had + 250GB less local storage space. +] Samsung laptop, and installed {nixos}[NixOS] on it. + +After using NixOS on another laptop for around two years, I wanted verify how +reproducible was my desktop environment, and how far does NixOS actually can go +on recreating my whole OS from my configuration files and personal data. I +gravitated towards NixOS after trying (and failing) to create an `install.sh` +script that would imperatively install and configure my whole OS using apt-get. +When I found a GNU/Linux distribution that was built on top of the idea of +declaratively specifying the whole OS I was automatically +convinced{empty}footnote:convincend-by-declarative-aspect[ + The declarative configuration aspect is something that I now completely take + for granted, and wouldn't consider using something which isn't declarative. A + good metric to show this is me realising that I can't pinpoint the moment when + I decided to switch to NixOS. It's like I had a distant past when this wasn't + true. +]. + +I was impressed. Even though I've been experiencing the benefits of Nix +isolation daily, I always felt skeptical that something would be missing, +because the devil is always on the details. But the result was much better than +expected! There were only 2 missing configurations: -1. tap-to-click on the touchpad wasn't enabled by default; -2. the default theme from the gnome-terminal is "Black on white" - instead of "White on black". +. tap-to-click on the touchpad wasn't enabled by default; +. the default theme from the gnome-terminal is "Black on white" instead of + "White on black". That's all. -I haven't checked if I can configure those in NixOS GNOME module, but I -guess both are scriptable and could be set in a fictional `setup.sh` -run. +I haven't checked if I can configure those in NixOS GNOME module, but I guess +both are scriptable and could be set in a fictional `setup.sh` run. -This makes me really happy, actually. More happy than I anticipated. +This makes me really happy, actually. More happy than I anticipated. -Having such a powerful declarative OS makes me feel like my data is the -really important stuff (as it should be), and I can interact with it on -any workstation. All I need is an internet connection and a few hours to -download everything. It feels like my physical workstation and the -installed OS are serving me and my data, instead of me feeling as -hostage to the specific OS configuration at the moment. Having a few -backup copies of everything important extends such peacefulness. +Having such a powerful declarative OS makes me feel like my data is the really +important stuff (as it should be), and I can interact with it on any +workstation. All I need is an internet connection and a few hours to download +everything. It feels like my physical workstation and the installed OS are +serving me and my data, instead of me feeling as hostage to the specific OS +configuration at the moment. Having a few backup copies of everything important +extends such peacefulness. After this positive experience with recreating my OS from simple Nix -expressions, I started to wonder how far I could go with this, and -started considering other areas of improvements: +expressions, I started to wonder how far I could go with this, and started +considering other areas of improvements: == First run on a fresh NixOS installation Right now the initial setup relies on non-declarative manual tasks, like -decrypting some credentials, or manually downloading **this** git -repository with specific configurations before **that** one. +decrypting some credentials, or manually downloading *this* git repository with +specific configurations before *that* one. -I wonder what some areas of improvements are on this topic, and if -investing on it is worth it (both time-wise and happiness-wise). +I wonder what some areas of improvements are on this topic, and if investing on +it is worth it (both time-wise and happiness-wise). == Emacs -Right now I'm using the [Spacemacs](http://spacemacs.org/), which is a -community package curation and configuration on top of -[Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/). +:spacemacs: https://spacemacs.org/ +:emacs: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ +:layers: https://spacemacs.org/doc/LAYERS.html +:there: https://nixos.org/nixos/manual/index.html#module-services-emacs-adding-packages +:packages: https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/manual/en/html_node/Application-Setup.html#Emacs-Packages + +Right now I'm using the {spacemacs}[Spacemacs], which is a community package +curation and configuration on top of {emacs}[Emacs]. -Spacemacs does support the notion of -[layers](http://spacemacs.org/doc/LAYERS.html), which you can +Spacemacs does support the notion of {layers}[layers], which you can declaratively specify and let Spacemacs do the rest. -However this solution isn't nearly as robust as Nix: being purely -functional, Nix does describe everything required to build a derivation, -and knows how to do so. Spacemacs it closer to more traditional package -managers: even though the layers list is declarative, the installation -is still very much imperative. I've had trouble with Spacemacs not -behaving the same on different computers, both with identical -configurations, only brought to convergence back again after a -`git clean -fdx` inside `~/.emacs.d/`. +However this solution isn't nearly as robust as Nix: being purely functional, +Nix does describe everything required to build a derivation, and knows how to do +so. Spacemacs it closer to more traditional package managers: even though the +layers list is declarative, the installation is still very much imperative. +I've had trouble with Spacemacs not behaving the same on different computers, +both with identical configurations, only brought to convergence back again after +a `git clean -fdx` inside `~/.emacs.d/`. + +The ideal solution would be managing Emacs packages with Nix itself. After a +quick search I did found that {there}[there is support for Emacs packages in +Nix]. So far I was only aware of {packages}[Guix support for Emacs packages]. -The ideal solution would be managing Emacs packages with Nix itself. -After a quick search I did found that [there is support for Emacs -packages in -Nix](https://nixos.org/nixos/manual/index.html#module-services-emacs-adding-packages). -So far I was only aware of [Guix support for Emacs packages](https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/manual/en/html_node/Application-Setup.html#Emacs-Packages). +This isn't a trivial change because Spacemacs does include extra curation and +configuration on top of Emacs packages. I'm not sure the best way to improve +this right now. -This isn't a trivial change because Spacemacs does include extra -curation and configuration on top of Emacs packages. I'm not sure the -best way to improve this right now. +== myrepos -### myrepos +:myrepos: https://myrepos.branchable.com/ -I'm using [myrepos](https://myrepos.branchable.com/) to manage all my -git repositories, and the general rule I apply is to add any repository -specific configuration in myrepos' `checkout` phase: +I'm using {myrepos}[myrepos] to manage all my git repositories, and the general +rule I apply is to add any repository specific configuration in myrepos' +`checkout` phase: -```shell +[source,shell] +---- # sample ~/.mrconfig file snippet [dev/guix/guix] checkout = git clone https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/guix.git guix cd guix/ git config sendemail.to guix-patches@gnu.org -``` +---- This way when I clone this repo again the email sending is already pre-configured. -This works well enough, but the solution is too imperative, and my -`checkout` phases tend to become brittle over time if not enough care is -taken. - -### GNU Stow - -For my home profile and personal configuration I already have a few -dozens of symlinks that I manage manually. This has worked so far, but -the solution is sometimes fragile and [not declarative at all][symlinks]. I -wonder if something like [GNU Stow][stow] can help me simplify this. +This works well enough, but the solution is too imperative, and my `checkout` +phases tend to become brittle over time if not enough care is taken. -[symlinks]: https://euandre.org/git/dotfiles/tree/bash/symlinks.sh?id=316939aa215181b1d22b69e94241eef757add98d -[stow]: https://www.gnu.org/software/stow/ +== GNU Stow -## Conclusion +:not-at-all: https://euandre.org/git/dotfiles/tree/bash/symlinks.sh?id=316939aa215181b1d22b69e94241eef757add98d +:stow: https://www.gnu.org/software/stow/ -I'm really satisfied with NixOS, and I intend to keep using it. If what -I've said interests you, maybe try tinkering with the [Nix package -manager](https://nixos.org/nix/) (not the whole NixOS) on your current -distribution (it can live alongside any other package manager). +For my home profile and personal configuration I already have a few dozens of +symlinks that I manage manually. This has worked so far, but the solution is +sometimes fragile and {not-at-all}[not declarative at all]. I wonder if +something like {stow}[GNU Stow] can help me simplify this. -If you have experience with declarative Emacs package managements, GNU -Stow or any similar tool, *etc.*, -[I'd like some tips](mailto:{{ site.author.email }}). If you don't have any -experience at all, I'd still love to hear from you. +== Conclusion -[^last-week]: "Last week" as of the start of this writing, so around the end of - May 2019. +:nix: https://nixos.org/nix/ -[^old-computer]: I was using a 32GB RAM, i7 and 250GB SSD Samsung laptop. The - switch was back to a 8GB RAM, i5 and 500GB HDD Dell laptop. The biggest - difference I noticed was on faster memory, both RAM availability and the - disk speed, but I had 250GB less local storage space. +I'm really satisfied with NixOS, and I intend to keep using it. If what I've +said interests you, maybe try tinkering with the {nix}[Nix package manager] (not +the whole NixOS) on your current distribution (it can live alongside any other +package manager). -[^convinced-by-declarative-aspect]: The declarative configuration aspect is - something that I now completely take for granted, and wouldn't consider - using something which isn't declarative. A good metric to show this is me - realising that I can't pinpoint the moment when I decided to switch to - NixOS. It's like I had a distant past when this wasn't true. +If you have experience with declarative Emacs package managements, GNU Stow or +any similar tool, _etc._, mail me some tips]. If you don't have any experience +at all, I'd still love to hear from you. |