nix-configuration/README.md

# NixOS Configuration

A full set of configuration files managed via NixOS. This project follows the general structure of https://github.com/tiredofit/nixos-config

[!WARNING] DO NOT DOWNLOAD AND RUN `nixos-rebuild` ON THIS REPOSITORY! These are my personal configuration files. I invite you to look through them, modify them, and take inspiration from them, but if you run `nixos-rebuild`, it _will completely overwrite your current system_!

## Running

### Note on secrets management

Secrets are stored in a separate repo called `nix-secrets`, which is included here as a submodule. It gets pulled into the main config via `hosts/common/default.nix`. This is a poor man's secret management solution, but y'know what, it works. These "secrets" will be readable to users on the system with access to the `/nix/store/`, but for single-user systems, it's fine.

Initialize the submodule with:

```sh
git submodule update --init --recursive
```

### Updating Flakes

This repo uses Flakes. To get the latest packages and update your `flake.lock` file, run this command before `nixos-rebuild`:

```sh
nix flake update
```

### Applying the configuration

To apply the config for the first time (e.g. on a fresh install), run this command, replacing `Shura` with the name of the host:

```sh
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#Shura
```

For subsequent builds, you can omit the hostname:

```sh
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .
```

`switch` replaces the running system immediately, or you can use `boot` to only apply the switch during the next reboot.

### Testing

To quickly validate the configuration, create a dry build. This builds the config without actually adding it to the system:

```zsh
nixos-rebuild dry-build --flake .
```

To preview changes in a virtual machine, use this command to create a virtual machine image (remove the .qcow2 image after a while, otherwise data persistence might mess things up):

```zsh
nixos-rebuild build-vm --flake .
```

### Updating

`flake.lock` locks the version of any packages/modules used. To update them, run `nix flake update` first:

```zsh
nix flake update && sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .
```

Home-manager also installs a ZSH alias, so you can just run `update` or `upgrade` for the same effect.

## Layout

This config uses two systems: Flakes, and Home-manager.

- Flakes are the entrypoint, via `flake.nix`. This is where you include Flake modules and define Flake-specific options.
- Home-manager configs live in the `users/` folders. Each user gets its own `home-manager.nix` file too.
- Modules are stored in `modules`. All of these files are imported, and you enable the ones you want to use. For example, to install Flatpak, set `host.ui.flatpak.enable = true;`.
    - After adding a new module, make sure to `git add` it _and_ `import` it in `default.nix`.

### Adding a host

When adding a host:

1. Create its config in `hosts/hostname/<hostname>.nix`. Add its `hardware-configuration.nix` here too.
2. Reference a profile from `profiles/`. This sets up its base configuration.
3. Include user accounts from `users`.
4. Add any host-specific options, 
5. Import it in `/hosts/default.nix`.
6. Run `nixos-rebuild`.

## Features

This Nix config features:

- Flakes
- Home Manager
- AMD and Intel hardware configurations
- Workstation and server base system configurations
- GNOME Desktop environment and KDE integrations
- Boot splash screens via Plymouth
- Secure Boot
- Disk encryption via LUKS
- Custom packages and systemd services (Duplicacy)
- Flatpaks
- Per-user configurations
- Default ZSH shell using Oh My ZSH
- Secrets (in a janky hacky kinda way)