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You have reached goal state of what I'm getting at here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45160603 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45160603 Do you th

You have reached goal state of what I'm getting at here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45160603 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45160603 Do you think a "batteries-included" NixOS install could be developed for users like me? I feel like a NixOS with libreoffice, zoom, etc. could be a drop-in windows11 replacement for a lot of users. Maybe the key feature would be a graphical installer; something that presents an app-store iterative-install UI and in the background handles configuration.nix, so nontechnical users don't have to use the terminal or wrap their head around declarative config / version control to get a reproducible desktop that they can simply install on new machines.

darkamaul 1y ago
I believe Determinate Nix has a graphical installer but I’ve never used it. [0] [0] https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix
- pxc 1y ago
  That's just for Nix, not a way of installing NixOS. NixOS itself has had a graphical installer for years, though.
  - forgetbook 1y ago
    You're misunderstanding, and it's a great opportunity for me to clarify: I want a graphical installer for applications within NixOS. Currently NixOS applications are added by editing the configuration.nix, with more specific tooling avaliable via flakes and home-manager. We agree that this is cool and good. What I want for consumer use is NixOS, with an interal graphical installer that handles updating configurations in the background; ideally forming a no-terminal-necessary UX for consumer users.
    - pxc 1y ago
      Ah, yes, I see now. I think a NixOS configuration is best managed as text, but I can see now how code generation could potentially bridge that gap. I'm not currently confident in the ability of LLMs to do this, but I do think that a kind of "NixOS IDE", perhaps with a some GUI elements and writing to some constrained files is a good idea. Once upon a time, Snowflake OS was working on this, but I don't think the project is very active anymore.
      - singlepaynews 1y ago
        I see your point for technical users, what I'm imagining is something where I install NixOS, and then download LibreOffice via a GUI, as is done on Windows/Mac/Most Linux tbh I don't think an LLM is required here; for a very significant subset of nixpkgs I think updating the configuration.nix is a deterministic process.
jquaint 1y ago
I'm super curious about a similar goal. https://github.com/snowfallorg/nix-software-center https://github.com/snowfallorg/nix-software-center https://github.com/nix-gui/nix-gui https://github.com/nix-gui/nix-gui These might be interesting for you :)
- forgetbook 1y ago
  Yep, this is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for, thanks! As a though experiment, how could NixOS be packaged with this for consumer users?
  - jquaint 1y ago
    For stuff that's not in Nixpkgs like this, IMO flakes is the best option. Both of these require flakes. On the topic of deploying flakes to consumer users. I'm currently exploring using https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-generators https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-generators to create pre-made install iso's for a full "batteries included" experience. You can just "overwrite" the regular nixos image. Its Nix all the way down.
Mic92 1y ago
We are also working on something as part of clan (https://clan.lol/ https://clan.lol/). Video from our NixCon 2025 talk is hopefully soon out.
- forgetbook 1y ago
  Def post the link when up; from your website what I'm getting is somehow docker images + kitchen sink, which may just be my lack of knowledge but in any case means I as a consumer / target user don't get it
- nixosbestos 1y ago
  I was surprised (and impressed and excited) to hear some rumblings about some of y'all thoughts "provisioning" at NixCon. I still am getting my head around clan, but I have long admired your work and wish you a lot of luck.

darkamaul 1y ago

I believe Determinate Nix has a graphical installer but I’ve never used it. [0] [0] https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix

pxc 1y ago
That's just for Nix, not a way of installing NixOS. NixOS itself has had a graphical installer for years, though.
- forgetbook 1y ago
  You're misunderstanding, and it's a great opportunity for me to clarify: I want a graphical installer for applications within NixOS. Currently NixOS applications are added by editing the configuration.nix, with more specific tooling avaliable via flakes and home-manager. We agree that this is cool and good. What I want for consumer use is NixOS, with an interal graphical installer that handles updating configurations in the background; ideally forming a no-terminal-necessary UX for consumer users.
  - pxc 1y ago
    Ah, yes, I see now. I think a NixOS configuration is best managed as text, but I can see now how code generation could potentially bridge that gap. I'm not currently confident in the ability of LLMs to do this, but I do think that a kind of "NixOS IDE", perhaps with a some GUI elements and writing to some constrained files is a good idea. Once upon a time, Snowflake OS was working on this, but I don't think the project is very active anymore.
    - singlepaynews 1y ago
      I see your point for technical users, what I'm imagining is something where I install NixOS, and then download LibreOffice via a GUI, as is done on Windows/Mac/Most Linux tbh I don't think an LLM is required here; for a very significant subset of nixpkgs I think updating the configuration.nix is a deterministic process.

jquaint 1y ago

I'm super curious about a similar goal. https://github.com/snowfallorg/nix-software-center https://github.com/snowfallorg/nix-software-center https://github.com/nix-gui/nix-gui https://github.com/nix-gui/nix-gui These might be interesting for you :)

forgetbook 1y ago
Yep, this is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for, thanks! As a though experiment, how could NixOS be packaged with this for consumer users?
- jquaint 1y ago
  For stuff that's not in Nixpkgs like this, IMO flakes is the best option. Both of these require flakes. On the topic of deploying flakes to consumer users. I'm currently exploring using https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-generators https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-generators to create pre-made install iso's for a full "batteries included" experience. You can just "overwrite" the regular nixos image. Its Nix all the way down.

Mic92 1y ago

We are also working on something as part of clan (https://clan.lol/ https://clan.lol/). Video from our NixCon 2025 talk is hopefully soon out.

forgetbook 1y ago
Def post the link when up; from your website what I'm getting is somehow docker images + kitchen sink, which may just be my lack of knowledge but in any case means I as a consumer / target user don't get it
nixosbestos 1y ago
I was surprised (and impressed and excited) to hear some rumblings about some of y'all thoughts "provisioning" at NixCon. I still am getting my head around clan, but I have long admired your work and wish you a lot of luck.