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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Why everyone is switching to NixOS ? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi everyone!

I saw that NixOS is getting popularity recently. I really have no idea why and how this OS works. Can you guys help me understanding all of this ?

Thanks !

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[–] Tilted 21 points 2 years ago (12 children)

I used NixOS for a couple of years. My experience is like this:

It is a rolling release (mostly)
You write a declarative configuration for your system, e.g., my config will say I want Neovim with certain plugins, and I can also include my Neovim configuration
It is stable, and when it breaks it is easy to go back
Packages are mostly bleeding edge

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

Are you still using it and happy with it? I've been increasingly using single purpose dev VMs in a server, and a declarative configuration system would make the process of spinning them up faster and more robust. My current shell script system is clunky, and I've been looking at Ansible.

[–] Tilted 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Not using it anymore. Although I'm thinking about going back to it. The NixOS learning curve is a bit more steep than most other distros.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What are you using instead?

[–] Tilted 1 points 2 years ago

I have been using Arch and Fedora. Considering Fedora Silverblue too. Everything is working well, so not in a rush to distro hop.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Why did you stop using it?

[–] Tilted 1 points 2 years ago

Some level of frustration with the nix language and the configuration
Wanting to try various obscure Python packages

Nothing too major. Just already knowing how to make things work in other distros vs investing more time into learning to do it the NixOS way.

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