Randoneering's Multi-System Nix Flake

Here is my personal nix flake configuration for managing multiple systems with reproducible, declarative configurations.

Overview

This repository contains my Nix flake that provides system configurations, modules, and home manager related fun. It uses the power of nix flakes to ensure reproducible builds and easy system management. The is something I truly enjoy working in, and like some of you, find myself crafting my flake more than working on my other projects.....

Features

• Multi-system support: Configurations for different machines and architectures
• Reproducible environments: Locked dependencies ensure consistent builds
• Modular configuration: Reusable modules and shared configurations
• Home Manager integration: User-specific configurations alongside system configs

Enabling Flakes

If you haven't enabled flakes yet, add the following to your Nix configuration:

# Add this in your configuration.nix
nix.settings.experimental-features = [ "nix-command" "flakes" ];

# Run after updating your configuration.nix
sudo nixos-rebuild switch

Usage

Building System Configurations

# Build a specific system configuration
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /path/to/this/flake#hostname

Repository Structure

.
├── home/                  # Home Manager configurations
│   ├── programs/          # Nix Packages and configurations
│   └── shell/             # Shell related configurations
├── hosts/                 # System-specific configurations
│   ├── hostname1/
│   └── hostname2/
├── modules/               # Reusable NixOS modules
└── users/                # User configurations
├── flake.nix              # Main flake configuration
├── flake.lock             # Locked dependency versions

Adding a New System

1. Create a new directory under hosts/ with your hostname
2. Add the system configuration files
3. Reference the new system in flake.nix
4. Build and switch to the new configuration

nixosConfigurations = {
  new-hostname = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
    system = "x86_64-linux";
    modules = [
      ./hosts/new-hostname/configuration.nix
      # Add other modules as needed
    ];
  };
};

Configuration Management

System Updates

# Update system packages
nix flake update

# Update and upgrade
nix flake update && sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#hostname

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Flake not recognized:

• Ensure flakes are enabled in your Nix configuration
• Use nix --extra-experimental-features "nix-command flakes" for one-time usage

Build failures:

• Check flake.lock for dependency conflicts
• Try nix flake update to resolve version conflicts
• Use nix build --show-trace for detailed error information

Permission issues:

• Ensure proper ownership of configuration files
• Use sudo for system-level operations

Debugging

# Check flake evaluation
nix flake check

# Show flake outputs
nix flake show

# Debug build with traces
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /path/to/this/flake#hostname --show-trace --print-build-logs

Resources

• Nix Flakes Documentation
• NixOS & Flakes Book
• NixOS Manual
• Home Manager Manual
• Nix Package Search