diff --git a/docs/source/builder/nix.md b/docs/source/builder/nix.md
index 89daea01..4133b827 100644
--- a/docs/source/builder/nix.md
+++ b/docs/source/builder/nix.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Using the kernel builder with Nix
 
+> [!NOTE] 
+> The [install script](writing-kernels.md#quick-install) automates
+> the Nix and kernel-builder setup described below. Use these manual
+> instructions if you prefer step-by-step control.
+
 The kernel builder uses Nix for building kernels. You can build or
 run the kernels directly if you have Nix installed on your system.
 We recommend installing Nix in the following way:
diff --git a/docs/source/builder/writing-kernels.md b/docs/source/builder/writing-kernels.md
index c9863186..a392f30a 100644
--- a/docs/source/builder/writing-kernels.md
+++ b/docs/source/builder/writing-kernels.md
@@ -37,6 +37,34 @@ support.
 
 ## Setting up environment
 
+### Quick install
+
+The fastest way to get started is to run the install script. This
+installs [Determinate Nix](https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix/)
+and `kernel-builder` in a single command:
+
+```bash
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/huggingface/kernels/main/install.sh | bash
+```
+
+This will:
+
+1. Install Determinate Nix (if not already installed).
+2. Configure the Hugging Face binary cache (to avoid building dependencies from
+   source).
+3. Install `kernel-builder` via `nix profile install`.
+
+To update `kernel-builder` later:
+
+```bash
+nix profile upgrade --all
+```
+
+For a step-by-step breakdown of what the script does, see
+[Using the kernel builder with Nix](nix.md).
+
+### Cloud environment
+
 In the [`terraform`](https://github.com/huggingface/kernels/tree/main/terraform) directory, we provide an
 example of programatically spinning up an EC2 instance that is ready
 with everything needed for you to start developing and building
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..92c70c4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# kernel-builder installer
+# Usage: curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/huggingface/kernels/main/install.sh | bash
+
+FLAKE_REF="github:huggingface/kernels"
+NIX_PROFILE_SCRIPT="/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/etc/profile.d/nix-daemon.sh"
+
+# --- Colors (respect NO_COLOR) ---
+
+if [ -z "${NO_COLOR:-}" ] && [ -t 1 ]; then
+  BOLD="\033[1m"
+  GREEN="\033[0;32m"
+  YELLOW="\033[0;33m"
+  RED="\033[0;31m"
+  RESET="\033[0m"
+else
+  BOLD=""
+  GREEN=""
+  YELLOW=""
+  RED=""
+  RESET=""
+fi
+
+info()  { echo -e "${BOLD}${GREEN}==>${RESET} ${BOLD}$1${RESET}"; }
+warn()  { echo -e "${BOLD}${YELLOW}warning:${RESET} $1"; }
+error() { echo -e "${BOLD}${RED}error:${RESET} $1" >&2; }
+
+# --- macOS: Xcode check ---
+
+check_xcode() {
+  if [ "$(uname -s)" = "Darwin" ]; then
+    if ! xcode-select -p &>/dev/null; then
+      warn "Xcode is not installed. It is required for building Metal kernels."
+      echo "  Install it with: xcode-select --install"
+    fi
+  fi
+}
+
+# --- Nix ---
+
+find_nix() {
+  if command -v nix &>/dev/null; then
+    return 0
+  elif [ -x "/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin/nix" ]; then
+    export PATH="/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin:$PATH"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  return 1
+}
+
+install_nix() {
+  if find_nix; then
+    info "Nix is already installed: $(nix --version)"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  info "Installing Determinate Nix..."
+  curl -fsSL https://install.determinate.systems/nix | sh -s -- install --no-confirm
+
+  # Source the Nix profile so nix is available in this shell.
+  if [ -f "$NIX_PROFILE_SCRIPT" ]; then
+    # shellcheck disable=SC1090
+    . "$NIX_PROFILE_SCRIPT"
+  fi
+
+  if ! find_nix; then
+    error "Nix installation completed but 'nix' was not found in PATH."
+    echo "  Try restarting your shell or running:"
+    echo "    . $NIX_PROFILE_SCRIPT"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  info "Nix installed: $(nix --version)"
+}
+
+# --- Binary cache ---
+
+HF_SUBSTITUTER="https://huggingface.cachix.org"
+HF_PUBLIC_KEY="huggingface.cachix.org-1:ynTPbLS0W8ofXd9fDjk1KvoFky9K2jhxe6r4nXAkc/o="
+
+configure_cache() {
+  if sudo nix config show 2>/dev/null | grep -q "huggingface.cachix.org"; then
+    info "Hugging Face binary cache is already configured"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  info "Configuring Hugging Face binary cache..."
+
+  sudo tee -a /etc/nix/nix.custom.conf >/dev/null <<EOF
+trusted-users = root $USER
+extra-trusted-substituters = $HF_SUBSTITUTER
+extra-trusted-public-keys = $HF_PUBLIC_KEY
+EOF
+
+  sudo systemctl restart nix-daemon 2>/dev/null || sudo pkill -HUP nix-daemon || true
+  sleep 3
+  info "Binary cache configured"
+}
+
+# --- Install kernel-builder ---
+
+install_kernel_builder() {
+  info "Installing kernel-builder..."
+
+  local nix_args=(--accept-flake-config)
+
+  # macOS requires relaxed sandboxing to access the Metal compiler.
+  if [ "$(uname -s)" = "Darwin" ]; then
+    nix_args+=(--extra-conf "sandbox = relaxed")
+  fi
+
+  nix profile add "${nix_args[@]}" "${FLAKE_REF}#kernel-builder"
+
+  # Symlink the kernel-builder binary to /usr/local/bin for easy access
+  sudo ln -sf "$HOME/.nix-profile/bin/kernel-builder" /usr/local/bin/kernel-builder
+
+  info "kernel-builder installed: $(kernel-builder --version)"
+}
+
+# --- Main ---
+
+main() {
+  echo ""
+  echo -e "${BOLD}kernel-builder installer${RESET}"
+  echo ""
+
+  check_xcode
+  install_nix
+  configure_cache
+  install_kernel_builder
+
+  echo ""
+  echo -e "${BOLD}${GREEN}kernel-builder installed successfully!${RESET}"
+  echo ""
+  echo "  Next steps:"
+  echo "    1. Create a new kernel:     kernel-builder init my-kernel"
+  echo "    2. Build your kernel:       cd my-kernel && nix run .#build-and-copy -L"
+  echo "    3. Read the docs:           https://huggingface.co/docs/kernels/"
+  echo ""
+  echo "  To update kernel-builder later:"
+  echo "    nix profile upgrade --all"
+  echo ""
+  echo "  Note: you may need to restart your shell or run:"
+  echo "    . $NIX_PROFILE_SCRIPT"
+  echo ""
+}
+
+main