dotfiles

This is my dotfiles repository. It uses Nix with flakes to manage my system configurations. There are many like it, but this one is mine. You won't want to clone this whole repository, but feel free to explore and borrow what you like!

Installation on macOS

1. Install Determinate Nix
2. Clone these dotfiles to ~/dotfiles
3. Run initial installation: nix run nix-darwin -- switch --flake ~/dotfiles#
4. Configure git hooks: git config core.hooksPath .githooks

Subsequent updates: use system-update (--cleanup optional)

Installation on NixOS

Initial installation from the NixOS live environment:

These steps assume hosts/<hostname> exists and is exposed from flake.nix as nixosConfigurations.<hostname>. For a new machine, add the host first using the "Adding a New NixOS Host" section.

1. Partition and mount the target system under /mnt.

2. Generate hardware configuration:

   sudo nixos-generate-config --root /mnt

3. Clone these dotfiles somewhere under /mnt, for example:

   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/etc/nixos
   sudo git clone <repo-url> /mnt/etc/nixos/dotfiles

4. Replace the bootstrap hardware configuration with the generated one:

   sudo cp /mnt/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix \
     /mnt/etc/nixos/dotfiles/hosts/<hostname>/hardware-configuration.nix

   The committed bootstrap file assumes root is labeled nixos and the EFI system partition is labeled boot. Replacing it with generated hardware config is preferred once disk layout is final.

5. Review hosts/<hostname>/default.nix and update:

   • hostname
   • username
   • gitEmail
   • gitSigningKey
   • any capability set changes

6. Install:

   sudo nixos-install --flake /mnt/etc/nixos/dotfiles#<hostname>

7. After first boot, clone these dotfiles to ~/dotfiles and use system-update for subsequent updates:

   system-update

Adding a New macOS Host

To configure a new macOS machine:

1. Copy the example host template:

   cp -r hosts/example-macos hosts/your-hostname

2. Edit hosts/your-hostname/default.nix and customize:

   • hostname: Your machine's hostname (find with hostname)
   • username: Your macOS username
   • gitName and gitEmail: Your Git identity
   • gitSigningKey: Your SSH signing key
   • capabilities: Select the package sets you want installed
   • managedDevice: Set to true if on a corporate/managed device
   • manageNix: Set to false if using Determinate Nix installer

   See hosts/example-macos/default.nix for an example with available options.

3. Add your host to flake.nix in three places:

   a. In the let block, import the host configuration:

   # Import host configurations
   yourHostConfig = import ./hosts/your-hostname;

   b. In the outputs, add to darwinConfigurations:

   darwinConfigurations.${yourHostConfig.hostname} = mkDarwinSystem yourHostConfig;

   c. In the checks section (within the optionalAttrs for darwin), add a validation check:

   your-hostname = self.darwinConfigurations.${yourHostConfig.hostname}.system;

4. Build and activate: nix run nix-darwin -- switch --flake ~/dotfiles#

Adding a New NixOS Host

To configure a new NixOS machine:

1. Copy the example host template:

   cp -r hosts/example-nixos hosts/your-hostname

2. Edit hosts/your-hostname/default.nix and customize:

   • hostname: Your machine's hostname
   • username: Your Linux username
   • system: Usually x86_64-linux
   • cpuVendor: intel, amd, or null
   • gitName, gitEmail, and gitSigningKey
   • capabilities: Select package sets to install
   • hardwareModules: Include the generated hardware configuration

3. Add your host to flake.nix:

   • import the host config
   • expose it under nixosConfigurations
   • add a target-system check under checks

4. Build and activate:

   sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake ~/dotfiles#your-hostname