this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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Cool, thanks.
Is NixOS a general purpose distro, a specialized tool for developers, a toy for distro-hoppers or an unfinished proof-of-concept?
Can it be run like any other Linux desktop system apart from the package manager?
How do you install packages that aren't in its repo?
NixOS is a general purpose distro (I use it on my router, server and laptop, and plan to install it on my phone, it doesn't get any more general purpose). To run packages that aren't in its repo, you write a package yourself. Note that unlike on traditional Linux systems, there's essentially no concept of "installing" packages. Packages are built and put into /nix/store, then you can optionally add them to your system packages or user packages and they will be symlinked to /run/current-system/sw or ~/.nix-profile, but there's nothing preventing you from just using the package without adding it to system/user packages.
Basically all that. The unfinished part IMO is mostly for use in developer use cases, and that some ecosystems like JVM are not as well supported.
Can run yes, given that you have to spend some time learning Nix and NixOS specifics. I do that myself.
You either package the software if it is easy to do so—take a look a at nix-init which eases the process—or use Flatpack, containers, steam-run...
I like that, I'd describe the documentation as a POC. It fits.