# Determinate Nix [](https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/actions/workflows/ci.yml) This repository houses the source for [**Determinate Nix**][det-nix], a downstream distribution of [Nix][upstream] created and maintained by [Determinate Systems][detsys]. Nix is a powerful [language], [package manager][package-management], and [CLI] for [macOS](#macos), [Linux](linux), and other Unix systems that enables you to create fully reproducible [development environments][envs], to build [packages] in sandboxed environments, to build entire Linux systems using [NixOS], and much more. Determinate Nix is part of the [Determinate platform][determinate], which also includes [FlakeHub], a secure flake repository with features like [FlakeHub Cache][cache], [private flakes][private-flakes], and [semantic versioning][semver] (SemVer) for [flakes]. ## Installing Determinate You can install Determinate on [macOS](#macos), non-NixOS [Linux](#linux) and WSL, and [NixOS](#nixos). ### macOS On macOS, we recommend using the graphical installer from Determinate Systems. Click [here][gui] to download and run it. ### Linux On Linux, including Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), we recommend installing Determinate Nix using [Determinate Nix Installer][installer]: ```shell curl -fsSL https://install.determinate.systems/nix | sh -s -- install --determinate ``` ### NixOS On [NixOS], we recommend following our [dedicated installation guide][nixos-install]. ## Other resources Nix was created by [Eelco Dolstra][eelco] and developed as the subject of his 2006 PhD thesis, [The Purely Functional Software Deployment Model][thesis]. Today, a worldwide developer community contributes to Nix and the ecosystem that has grown around it. - [Zero to Nix][z2n], Determinate Systems' guide to Nix and [flakes] for beginners - [Nixpkgs], a collection of well over 100,000 software packages that you can build and manage using Nix - [NixOS] is a Linux distribution that can be configured fully declaratively - The Nix, Nixpkgs, and NixOS community on [nixos.org][website] ## Reference The primary documentation for Determinate and Determinate Nix is available at [docs.determinate.systems][determinate]. For deeply technical reference material, see the [Determinate Nix manual][manual] which is based on the upstream Nix manual. ## License [Upstream Nix][upstream] is released under the [LGPL v2.1][license] license. [Determinate Nix][det-nix] is also released under LGPL v2.1 in accordance with the terms of the upstream license. ## Contributing Check the [contributing guide][contributing] if you want to get involved with developing Nix. [cache]: https://docs.determinate.systems/flakehub/cache [cli]: https://manual.determinate.systems/command-ref/new-cli/nix.html [contributing]: ./CONTRIBUTING.md [det-nix]: https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix [determinate]: https://docs.determinate.systems [detsys]: https://determinate.systems [dnixd]: https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix#determinate-nixd [eelco]: https://determinate.systems/people/eelco-dolstra [envs]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/dev-env [flakehub]: https://flakehub.com [flakes]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/flakes [gui]: https://install.determinate.systems/determinate-pkg/stable/Universal [installer]: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-installer [language]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/nix-language [license]: ./COPYING [manual]: https://manual.determinate.systems [nixpkgs]: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs [nixos]: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/tree/master/nixos [nixos-install]: https://docs.determinate.systems/guides/advanced-installation#nixos [packages]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/packages [package-management]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/package-management [private-flakes]: https://docs.determinate.systems/flakehub/private-flakes [semver]: https://docs.determinate.systems/flakehub/concepts/semver [thesis]: https://edolstra.github.io/pubs/phd-thesis.pdf [upstream]: https://github.com/NixOS/nix [website]: https://nixos.org [z2n]: https://zero-to-nix.com