# The Determinate Nix Installer
[](https://crates.io/crates/nix-installer)
[](https://docs.rs/nix-installer/latest/nix_installer/)
`nix-installer` is an opinionated alternative to the [official Nix install scripts](https://nixos.org/download.html).
```bash
The `nix-installer` tool is ready to use in a number of environments:
| Linux (x86_64 & aarch64) | ✓ (via [systemd]) | ✓ | Stable |
| MacOS (x86_64 & aarch64) | ✓ | | Stable |
| Valve Steam Deck (SteamOS) | ✓ | | Stable |
| WSL2 (x86_64 & aarch64) | ✓ (via [systemd]) | ✓ | Stable |
| Podman Linux Containers | ✓ (via [systemd]) | ✓ | Stable |
| Docker Containers | | ✓ | Stable |
| Linux (i686) | ✓ (via [systemd]) | ✓ | Unstable |
## Installation Differences
Differing from the current official [Nix](https://github.com/NixOS/nix) installer scripts:
* Nix is installed with the `nix-command` and `flakes` features enabled in the `nix.conf`
* `nix-installer` stores an installation receipt (for uninstalling) at `/nix/receipt.json` as well as a copy of the install binary at `/nix/nix-installer`
## Motivations
The current Nix install scripts do an excellent job, however they are difficult to maintain. Subtle differences in the shell implementations and certain characteristics of bash scripts make it difficult to make meaningful changes to the installer.
Our team wishes to experiment with the idea of an installer in a more structured language and see if this is a worthwhile alternative. Along the way, we are also exploring a few other ideas, such as:
* offering users a chance to review an accurate, calculated install plan
* having 'planners' which can create appropriate install plans
* keeping an installation receipt for uninstallation
* offering users with a failing install the chance to do a best-effort revert
* doing whatever tasks we can in parallel
So far, our explorations have been quite fruitful, so we wanted to share and keep exploring.
## Usage
Install Nix with the default planner and options:
```bash
Or, to download a platform specific Installer binary yourself:
```bash
$ curl -sL -o nix-installer https://install.determinate.systems/nix/nix-installer-x86_64-linux
$ chmod +x nix-installer
```
> `nix-installer` will elevate itself if needed using `sudo`. If you use `doas` or `please` you may need to elevate `nix-installer` yourself.
`nix-installer` installs Nix by following a *plan* made by a *planner*. Review the available planners:
```bash
$ ./nix-installer install --help
Execute an install (possibly using an existing plan)
To pass custom options, select a planner, for example `nix-installer install linux-multi --help`
Usage: nix-installer install [OPTIONS] [PLAN]
nix-installer install <COMMAND>
Commands:
linux
A planner for Linux installs
steam-deck
A planner suitable for the Valve Steam Deck running SteamOS
help
Print this message or the help of the given subcommand(s)
# ...
```
Planners have their own options and defaults, sharing most of them in common:
```bash
$ ./nix-installer install linux --help
A planner for Linux installs
Usage: nix-installer install linux [OPTIONS]
Options:
# ...
--nix-build-group-name <NIX_BUILD_GROUP_NAME>
The Nix build group name
[env: NIX_INSTALLER_NIX_BUILD_GROUP_NAME=]
[default: nixbld]
--nix-build-group-id <NIX_BUILD_GROUP_ID>
The Nix build group GID
[env: NIX_INSTALLER_NIX_BUILD_GROUP_ID=]
[default: 3000]
# ...
```
Planners can be configured via environment variable or command arguments:
```bash
$ NIX_BUILD_GROUP_NAME=nixbuilder ./nix-installer install linux-multi --nix-build-group-id 4000
```
## Uninstalling
You can remove a `nix-installer`-installed Nix by running
```bash
/nix/nix-installer uninstall
```
## As a Github Action
You can use the [`nix-installer-action`](https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-installer-action) Github Action like so:
```yaml
on:
pull_request:
push:
branches: [main]
jobs:
lints:
name: Build
runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v3
- name: Install Nix
uses: DeterminateSystems/nix-installer-action@main
- name: Run `nix build`
run: nix build .
```
## In a container
In Docker/Podman containers or WSL instances where an init (like `systemd`) is not present, pass `--init none`.
> When `--init none` is used, only `root` or sudoers can run Nix:
>
> ```bash
> sudo -i nix run nixpkgs#hello
> ```
For Docker containers (without an init):
```dockerfile
# Dockerfile
FROM ubuntu:latest
RUN apt update -y
RUN apt install curl -y
COPY nix-installer /nix-installer
RUN /nix-installer install linux --init none --no-confirm
ENV PATH="${PATH}:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin"
RUN nix run nixpkgs#hello
```
Podman containers require `sandbox = false` in your `Nix.conf`.
For podman containers without an init:
```dockerfile
# Dockerfile
FROM ubuntu:latest
RUN apt update -y
RUN apt install curl -y
COPY nix-installer /nix-installer
RUN /nix-installer install linux --extra-conf "sandbox = false" --init none --no-confirm
ENV PATH="${PATH}:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin"
RUN nix run nixpkgs#hello
```
For Podman containers with an init:
```dockerfile
# Dockerfile
FROM ubuntu:latest
RUN apt update -y
RUN apt install curl systemd -y
COPY nix-installer /nix-installer
RUN /nix-installer install linux --extra-conf "sandbox = false" --no-start-daemon --no-confirm
ENV PATH="${PATH}:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin"
RUN nix run nixpkgs#hello
CMD [ "/usr/sbin/init" ]
```
## In WSL
If [systemd is enabled](https://ubuntu.com/blog/ubuntu-wsl-enable-systemd) it's possible to install Nix as normal using the command at the top of this document:
```bash
If systemd is not enabled, pass `--init none` at the end of the command:
> When `--init none` is used, only `root` or sudoers can run Nix:
>
> ```bash
> sudo -i nix run nixpkgs#hello
> ```
```bash
## Building a binary
Since you'll be using `nix-installer` to install Nix on systems without Nix, the default build is a static binary.
Build a portable Linux binary on a system with Nix:
```bash
nix build -L github:determinatesystems/nix-installer#nix-installer-static
```
On Mac:
```bash
nix build -L github:determinatesystems/nix-installer#nix-installer
```
Then copy the `result/bin/nix-installer` to the machine you wish to run it on.
You can also add `nix-installer` to a system without Nix via `cargo`:
```bash
RUSTFLAGS="--cfg tokio_unstable" cargo install nix-installer
nix-installer --help
```
To make this build portable, pass ` --target x86_64-unknown-linux-musl`.
> We currently require `--cfg tokio_unstable` as we utilize [Tokio's process groups](https://docs.rs/tokio/1.24.1/tokio/process/struct.Command.html#method.process_group), which wrap stable `std` APIs, but are unstable due to it requiring an MSRV bump.
## As a library
> Use as a library is still experimental, if you're using this, please let us know and we can make a path to stablization.
Add `nix-installer` to your dependencies:
```bash
cargo add nix-installer
```
> **Building a CLI?** Check out the `cli` feature flag for `clap` integration.
You'll also need to edit your `.cargo/config.toml` to use `tokio_unstable` as we utilize [Tokio's process groups](https://docs.rs/tokio/1.24.1/tokio/process/struct.Command.html#method.process_group), which wrap stable `std` APIs, but are unstable due to it requiring an MSRV bump:
```toml
# .cargo/config.toml
[build]
rustflags=["--cfg", "tokio_unstable"]
```
Then it's possible to review the [documentation](https://docs.rs/nix-installer/latest/nix_installer/):
```bash
cargo doc --open -p nix-installer
```
Documentation is also available via `nix` build:
```bash
nix build github:DeterminateSystems/nix-installer#nix-installer.doc
firefox result-doc/nix-installer/index.html
```
[systemd]: https://systemd.io