name

nix-system-config

description

Nix flake configuration for macOS (nix-darwin), NixOS, and Home Manager systems. Use when working with: (1) Building or applying system configurations, (2) Adding/modifying packages or programs, (3) Creating or editing Nix modules, (4) Managing dotfiles via home-manager, (5) Configuring darwin services/agents, (6) Working with homebrew casks/brews, (7) Any task involving .nix files in this repository.

Nix System Config

Multi-platform Nix flake managing macOS, NixOS, and Home Manager configurations.

Hosts

Host	Platform	Apply Command
m4-mbp	macOS (darwin)	`nix-rebuild` or `darwin-rebuild switch --impure --flake .`
macos-virtual	macOS (darwin)	`darwin-rebuild switch --impure --flake .`
drummer	NixOS	`sudo nixos-rebuild switch --impure --flake .#`
xcel	Debian (HM)	`home-manager switch -b backup --flake .#"john.allen@xcel" --impure`
pi-01	Debian/Pi (HM)	`home-manager switch -b backup --flake .#"john.allen@pi-01"`

Commands

# Build without applying
nix build .#darwinConfigurations.m4-mbp.system
nix build .#homeConfigurations."john.allen@pi-01"

# Apply (macOS - fish shell alias)
nix-rebuild                    # updates flake first
nix-rebuild --switch-only      # skip flake update

# Apply (macOS - manual)
set -xg NIXPKGS_ALLOW_UNFREE 1; darwin-rebuild switch --impure --flake .

# Test single option
nix eval .#darwinConfigurations.m4-mbp.config.services.sketchybar.enable

# Update inputs
nix flake update --commit-lock-file

# Lint
nix flake check

Directory Structure

hosts/           # Per-host configs (kebab-case names)
lib/             # Helper functions (make-*-system.nix)
modules/
  common/        # Shared across platforms
  darwin/        # macOS-specific (agents, homebrew, system)
  home-manager/  # User programs/dotfiles
  nixos/         # NixOS-specific

Code Style

2-space indentation, no tabs
Trailing commas consistently
Use flake inputs (nixpkgs, home-manager); avoid import <nixpkgs>
Attr ordering: imports first, then logical groups (services, programs, environment)
Host names: kebab-case; variables: snake_case
Prefer mkIf for conditions; avoid nested if chains
Minimize assert; use lib.warn/lib.trace for diagnostics
Match option schemas; explicit lists; no string concat for paths
Never commit secrets; use keychain or environment variables

Adding a Package

Home Manager program (user-level):

# modules/home-manager/default.nix or relevant submodule
programs.<name>.enable = true;
# or
home.packages = with pkgs; [ package-name ];

Darwin system package:

# modules/darwin/environment/default.nix
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [ package-name ];

Homebrew (macOS GUI apps):

# modules/darwin/homebrew/default.nix
homebrew.casks = [ "app-name" ];
homebrew.brews = [ "formula-name" ];

Creating a Module

Create modules/<platform>/<name>/default.nix
Add to imports in parent default.nix
Use mkIf for conditional logic:

{ config, lib, pkgs, ... }:
{
  options.my.feature.enable = lib.mkEnableOption "my feature";
  
  config = lib.mkIf config.my.feature.enable {
    # configuration here
  };
}

Policy

Never create git commits unless explicitly requested.