141 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
141 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
# dots
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This repository contains my dotfiles and a Nix flake that supports multiple hosts (machines) with a shared base and per-host configuration.
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- On NixOS: hosts are built via `nixosConfigurations`.
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- On non-NixOS (e.g., Ubuntu): hosts are applied via Home Manager using `homeConfigurations`.
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## Bootstrap
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```shell
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pip install pipx ansible
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ansible-playbook --ask-become-pass ansible/main.yml
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# Then apply dotfiles with dotter
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dotter
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```
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## NixOS: multi-host layout
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- nix/base/packages.nix — packages installed on all hosts
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- nix/hosts/<host>/
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- configuration.nix — host-specific NixOS configuration
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- hardware-configuration.nix — generated per-machine
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- packages.nix — extra packages for this host
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- nix/flake.nix — exposes each host under nixosConfigurations
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Current hosts:
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- limgrave — my main system
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- carpates — scaffolded/minimal, ready to extend
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## Naming rule (important)
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Your machine hostname must match the Nix flake host name. For example:
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- networking.hostName = "limgrave" in the host configuration
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- The flake exports nixosConfigurations.limgrave
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- The system hostname (output of `hostname -s`) is limgrave
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This allows the upgrade function to pick the right configuration automatically.
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## Build or switch
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From repo root:
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```bash
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# Limgrave (current system)
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sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake ./nix#limgrave
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# carpates (on target machine)
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sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake ./nix#carpates
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# Or during install:
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# nixos-install --flake <repo-path>/nix#carpates
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```
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## Upgrades: nix_upgrade
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A convenience Fish function is provided in fish/conf.d/functions.fish: `nix_upgrade`.
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It updates flake inputs and rebuilds the system using a host name that matches the machine hostname.
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Usage:
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```fish
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# Automatic: uses (hostname -s) → must match a host in nix/flake.nix
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nix_upgrade
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# Override the host explicitly (useful for recovery or chroots)
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nix_upgrade limgrave
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```
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What it does:
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1) sudo nix flake update --flake /home/catalin/.dotfiles/nix
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2) sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /home/catalin/.dotfiles/nix#<host> --upgrade
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Safety checks:
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- Verifies nix/flake.nix exists
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- Verifies the host is declared in nix/flake.nix
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- Prints clear error if the hostname doesn’t map to a known host
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Tip: ensure your system hostname matches one of the directories in nix/hosts/ and the entry under nixosConfigurations in nix/flake.nix.
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## Adding a new host
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1) Create a directory: nix/hosts/<newhost>/
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2) Add configuration files (start by copying limgrave and trimming, or use the minimal example from carpates)
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3) Generate hardware config on the new machine:
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```bash
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sudo nixos-generate-config
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# Move merge the generated hardware-configuration.nix into nix/hosts/<newhost>/
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```
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4) Add the host to nix/flake.nix under nixosConfigurations
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5) Make sure networking.hostName = "<newhost>" in the host configuration
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6) Build or install:
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```bash
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sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake ./nix#<newhost>
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# or during install:
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nixos-install --flake <repo-path>/nix#<newhost>
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```
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## Notes
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- Old single-host files nix/configuration.nix and nix/packages.nix are kept for reference but are not used by the flake. You can remove them once comfortable with the new layout.
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- limgrave includes nix-snapd and Home Manager; carpates currently includes Home Manager only.
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## Nix on non-NixOS (Ubuntu, etc.)
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You can also use this flake on non-NixOS systems (e.g., Ubuntu) via Home Manager. For that path, hosts are defined under `homeConfigurations` in `nix/flake.nix` and typically live next to their NixOS counterparts. In this repo, `carpates` is prepared for non-NixOS via Home Manager.
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- Naming rule: your machine's hostname (output of `hostname -s`) should match the `homeConfigurations.<host>` entry. Example: `carpates`.
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- Packages: non-NixOS hosts usually install user-scoped packages via Home Manager, using the shared base set from `nix/base/packages.nix`.
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### Prerequisites
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- Install Nix (multi-user is recommended):
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```bash
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sh <(curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install) --daemon
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```
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- Enable flakes (if not already). On non-NixOS, set in `/etc/nix/nix.conf` or `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/nix/nix.conf`:
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```
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experimental-features = nix-command flakes
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```
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- Install Home Manager (no separate channel needed when using flakes; we can run it via `nix run` or install it on PATH):
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```bash
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# Optional, to have `home-manager` on PATH:
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nix profile install github:nix-community/home-manager
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```
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### Apply the configuration (non-NixOS)
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From repo root:
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```bash
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# Use the prepared Home Manager host (example: carpates)
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home-manager switch --flake ./nix#carpates
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# If `home-manager` is not installed, you can run it via nix:
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nix run github:nix-community/home-manager -- switch --flake ./nix#carpates
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```
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### Upgrades (non-NixOS)
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`nix_upgrade` also works on non-NixOS:
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```fish
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# Auto-detects host from (hostname -s) and runs Home Manager switch
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nix_upgrade
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# Or override explicitly
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nix_upgrade carpates
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```
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What it does on non-NixOS:
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- `nix flake update --flake /home/catalin/.dotfiles/nix`
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- `home-manager switch --flake /home/catalin/.dotfiles/nix#<host>` (or `nix run ... -- switch` if HM is not on PATH)
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### NixOS vs. non-NixOS summary
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- NixOS hosts are declared under `nixosConfigurations` and are applied with `nixos-rebuild`.
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- non-NixOS hosts are declared under `homeConfigurations` and are applied with `home-manager switch`.
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- The `nix_upgrade` function detects the OS and selects the correct path automatically based on the hostname.
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