So the answer to your question is yes. It is possible and kind of required to go the full nix route with NixOS. It might not always be super straightforward with large DEs, and for sure works much better with window managers that already utilize text configuration.
It’s really nice. When you setup a new system, you don’t have to spend hours changing settings, configs, and installing packages. With NixOS, just copy the config file from your old system and then run nixos-rebuild.
I really wish the default template switches to flakes soon. Using flakes is a must for the best experience, and converting the default config is at best a hassle and for newbies a huge mountain to cross.
Just casually having Firefox with plugins and settings described in my NixOS config.
https://github.com/pimeys/nixos/blob/main/desktop/firefox/default.nix
Works always the same.
Man nix looks soo damn cool. I just dont know if id ever actually use it. But a versioned controlled OS seems so sweet.
Can you use it to choose desktop environment as well?
You can. I run sway and it is configured through nix:
https://github.com/pimeys/nixos/blob/main/desktop/sway/default.nix
Gnome design makes it a bit harder, but not impossible:
https://hoverbear.org/blog/declarative-gnome-configuration-in-nixos/
Somebody doing the same for KDE:
https://github.com/LunNova/nixos-configs/blob/dev/users/lun/on-nixos/kdeconfig.nix
So the answer to your question is yes. It is possible and kind of required to go the full nix route with NixOS. It might not always be super straightforward with large DEs, and for sure works much better with window managers that already utilize text configuration.
Yep. To change desktop environments, just change:
services.xserver.gnome.enable = true;to
services.xserver.plasma5.enable = true;This is cool because it gets rid of all the packages when you switch. There is nothing left of Gnome when you switch to KDE.
Wow. Im gonna try it out in a vm even if i have no use for it. That is crazy.
It’s really nice. When you setup a new system, you don’t have to spend hours changing settings, configs, and installing packages. With NixOS, just copy the config file from your old system and then run
nixos-rebuild.I really wish the default template switches to flakes soon. Using flakes is a must for the best experience, and converting the default config is at best a hassle and for newbies a huge mountain to cross.
Damn, nix is starting to look better each time I hear about it.