nix on ubuntu quick start guide

• Intro
• Install Nix
• Install Home Manager
• Edit home manager config

Intro _

Nix is difficult to learn but the promises are appealing with a bit of effort. The effort required may not be worth it to some people.

I wanted to make this guide to demonstrate how quick you can get setup and running on ubuntu

Install Nix _

I performed these steps on an ubuntu 22.04 VM

Install nix

 yes | sh <(curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install) --daemon

 if ! grep -q nix-command /etc/nix/nix.conf ; then
    echo "experimental-features = nix-command flakes" | sudo tee -a /etc/nix/nix.conf
 fi

Exit the shell and start a new one

After exiting the shell and starting a new one, you should have nix command

which nix

Now we need to pick the correct nix version that is compatible with home-manager

    sudo $(which nix-channel) --remove nixpkgs
    sudo $(which nix-channel) --add https://nixos.org/channels/nixos-24.11 nixpkgs
    sudo $(which nix-channel) --update

Install Home Manager _

Exit shell and start a new one

write initial home manager config to .config/home-manager/home.nix

    { config, pkgs, ... }:

    {
      home.username = "sig";
      home.homeDirectory = "/home/sig";

      home.stateVersion = "24.11"; # Please read the comment before changing.

      home.packages = [
      ];


      # Let Home Manager install and manage itself.
      programs.home-manager.enable = true;
    }

install home manager

nix-channel --add https://github.com/nix-community/home-manager/archive/release-24.11.tar.gz home-manager
nix-channel --update
nix-shell '<home-manager>' -A install
home-manager switch

Edit home manager config _

Lets say you want some packages installed

Modify the home.packages block here

      home.packages = [
      ];

to look like this:

      home.packages = with pkgs; [
            neovim
            rsync
            git
      ];

Now apply it

home-manager switch

That is it!