Documenting uninstall for multi-user on macOS

[grahamc]

This is the script I've used for testing:

#!/bin/sh

set -x

if [ -f /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.nix-daemon.plist ]; then
    sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.nix-daemon.plist
    sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.nix-daemon.plist
fi

if [ -f /etc/profile.backup-before-nix ]; then
    sudo mv /etc/profile.backup-before-nix /etc/profile
fi

if [ -f /etc/bashrc.backup-before-nix ]; then
    sudo mv /etc/bashrc.backup-before-nix /etc/bashrc
fi


if [ -f /etc/zshrc.backup-before-nix ]; then
    sudo mv /etc/zshrc.backup-before-nix /etc/zshrc
fi


for i in $(seq 1 $(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)); do
    sudo /usr/bin/dscl . -delete "/Users/nixbld$i"
done
sudo /usr/bin/dscl . -delete "/Groups/nixbld"

[Anton-Latukha]

This would close recent: #1561
I also looked around for 'remove' 'uninstall' 'macOS' 'OS X' and 'Darwin' tag, not found other reports relating to uninstallation.

[midfield]

i had the same problem, it happened because i had a restrictive umask. when i set umask to 022, everything was fine.

[zimbatm]

I made the script a bit more idempotent: https://github.com/NixOS/nix/compare/master...zimbatm:darwin-uninstall-script?expand=1

[ChALkeR]

sysctl -n hw.ncpu returns 8 for me, but nix created 32 users, so the removal step misses those.
Perhaps dscl . list /Users instead?

[samueldr]

[triage] @grahamc is this still an issue?

• https://nixos.org/nix/manual/#ch-installing-binary

Coming from NixOS/nixos-homepage#178

[zimbatm]

It's much better. It would make sense to group the uninstallation procedure in a new chapter instead.

It also looks like the manual is only listing the first entry of Graham's script. The profile backups and users would remain on the system.

[domenkozar]

It's still quite bad experience. Here's what adds up:

• from asia, it takes about 3-5min to download the installer (that on it's own is OK)

• installer fails due to found backups, then gives a bunch of text and commands to run

• forget to run one command like removing bashrc backup (because well, why would you want to remove a backup)

• run installer again, wait 3-5min to break again :) repeat.

[expelledboy]

@grahamc thanks for that little snippet, created a script for uninstalling nix on OSx based on your efforts.

[stale]

I marked this as stale due to inactivity. → More info

[nixos-discourse]

This issue has been mentioned on NixOS Discourse. There might be relevant details there:

https://discourse.nixos.org/t/anyone-up-for-picking-at-some-nix-onboarding-improvements/13152/6

[stale]

I marked this as stale due to inactivity. → More info

[jacix]

After reinstalling MacOS from scratch on my laptop and migrating my data with migration-assistant, Nix was badly broken. With contributions from this thread (Hi @grahamc!) I cobbled together a simple, rough script that cleaned up everything and let me install Nix without issue.

In case anyone else wants to use, or better still, improve it: https://github.com/jacix/nixbits/blob/main/nix-uninstall.sh

[zimbatm]

The docs now include the uninstall steps https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/master/doc/manual/src/installation/installing-binary.md#uninstalling might help