# Help

**URL:** https://discourse.nixos.org/c/learn/9.md

[Latest](https://discourse.nixos.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://discourse.nixos.org/categories.md)

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## [About the Help category](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/about-the-help-category/21)

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**Author:** [@zimbatm](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/zimbatm)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [January 22, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/about-the-help-category/21 "2025-01-22T01:55:19Z")

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To get good help, include enough context of the issue in question. A help post should generally include the following: What is the expected outcome What output did you get Meta information like system and nix versions …

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## [Effect of option \`services.xserver.enable\` in times of Wayland](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/effect-of-option-services-xserver-enable-in-times-of-wayland/81250)

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**Author:** [@Borgvall](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/Borgvall)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [November 15, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/effect-of-option-services-xserver-enable-in-times-of-wayland/81250 "2026-11-15T17:06:09Z")

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I am using Sway and Gnome on my NixOS unstable systems. Both are Wayland only. I have still enabled services.xserver.enable = true in my configuration. I am wondering, what happens if I set it to false?

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## [How do I add Hailo-8L drivers to NixOS?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/how-do-i-add-hailo-8l-drivers-to-nixos/81222)

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**Author:** [@Gravydigger](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/Gravydigger)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [November 15, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/how-do-i-add-hailo-8l-drivers-to-nixos/81222 "2026-11-15T14:36:53Z")

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Hello, I’m trying to set up Frigate instance. As per the Frigate documentation one of the recommended detectors is the Hailo-8L, of which I bought an M.2 A+E key version. However, looking within nixpkgs I’ve noticed tha…

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## [Nix thinks home doesn't exist for some reason (home-manager)](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-thinks-home-doesnt-exist-for-some-reason-home-manager/81197)

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**Author:** [@uncalmmorning](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/uncalmmorning)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [November 15, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-thinks-home-doesnt-exist-for-some-reason-home-manager/81197 "2026-11-15T13:23:28Z")

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I’m trying to set up home manager as a module in configuration.nix. (I introduced home-manager by the let home-manager = builtins.fetchTarball … in, the version is 26.05) When I run nixos-rebuild dry-run however it refu…

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## [But what \*is\* a {system, user} package?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/but-what-is-a-system-user-package/80768)

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**Author:** [@Tibet](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/Tibet)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [November 15, 2026, 11:44am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/but-what-is-a-system-user-package/80768 "2026-11-15T11:44:24Z")

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I am no Linux expert, but the basic premise seems simple and explained elsewhere: A system package is installed sytem-wide, in particular they affect all users and environment variables. A user package can be configure…

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## [How do I apply an custom theme to SDDM?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/how-do-i-apply-an-custom-theme-to-sddm/29281)

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**Author:** [@xanrer](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/xanrer)\
**Replies:** 23\
**Last updated:** [November 14, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/how-do-i-apply-an-custom-theme-to-sddm/29281 "2026-11-14T20:31:10Z")

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I want to use the dialog theme for my SDDM. The only mention I found on the forum to this problem was this and I didn’t quite get it. Can anybody explain what I have to do? I didn’t wanted to necrobump the other topic.

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## [Elegant way to inhibit update of broken packages?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/elegant-way-to-inhibit-update-of-broken-packages/81167)

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**Author:** [@AprilGrimoire](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/AprilGrimoire)\
**Replies:** 24\
**Last updated:** [November 14, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/elegant-way-to-inhibit-update-of-broken-packages/81167 "2026-11-14T12:32:01Z")

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Hello! I’m a NixOS user with installed packages mixed from nixpkgs and nixpkgs-unstable. The unstable repo has the benefit of providing much more up-to-date packages, at the cost of having broken packages from time to ti…

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## [Kernel panic on boot after latest Nixpkgs Unstable](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/kernel-panic-on-boot-after-latest-nixpkgs-unstable/81198)

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**Author:** [@indium114](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/indium114)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [November 14, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/kernel-panic-on-boot-after-latest-nixpkgs-unstable/81198 "2026-11-14T11:53:15Z")

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After updating to the latest commit of nixpkgs unstable (as of last night), and rebooting, I was greeted with the kernel panic shown below. I tried again, same issue. I first thought it was bootvine causing the issue, bu…

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## [Implementation UFW without Iptables](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/implementation-ufw-without-iptables/81184)

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**Author:** [@KC-OU](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/KC-OU)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [November 14, 2026, 9:33am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/implementation-ufw-without-iptables/81184 "2026-11-14T09:33:12Z")

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Just asking, with the using the default iptables or nftables, if there a way to implement UFW instead of using the built in version as some people will and might understand UFW more then IPtables.

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## [Nvidia - what's the current status / SHA256 keys update?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nvidia-whats-the-current-status-sha256-keys-update/81178)

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**Author:** [@DeskZombieGoesGrrr](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/DeskZombieGoesGrrr)\
**Replies:** 17\
**Last updated:** [November 14, 2026, 6:46am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nvidia-whats-the-current-status-sha256-keys-update/81178 "2026-11-14T06:46:24Z")

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Hello all, Is the guidance for Nvidia GPU’s on NVIDIA - Official NixOS Wiki still the most current? It seems the default.nix file hasn’t been updated since 2024 and the latest default driver is from 2024. There is now …

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## [I just want to install freesmlauncher](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/i-just-want-to-install-freesmlauncher/81185)

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**Author:** [@ms.iroh](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/ms.iroh)\
**Replies:** 7\
**Last updated:** [November 13, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/i-just-want-to-install-freesmlauncher/81185 "2026-11-13T21:40:56Z")

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i add {inputs,} i remove “with pkgs;” from environment.systemPackages = \[ i make anouther nix file and imported for configuration.nix file and i still get that error i search everywhere and i still dont find the solutio…

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## [Psql: error: connection to server on socket "/run/postgresql/.s.PGSQL.8022" failed: No such file or directory and collation version mismatch](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/psql-error-connection-to-server-on-socket-run-postgresql-s-pgsql-8022-failed-no-such-file-or-directory-and-collation-version-mismatch/81026)

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**Author:** [@claudiofreitas](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/claudiofreitas)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [November 13, 2026, 9:02am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/psql-error-connection-to-server-on-socket-run-postgresql-s-pgsql-8022-failed-no-such-file-or-directory-and-collation-version-mismatch/81026 "2026-11-13T09:02:03Z")

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Summary I performed nix flake update and now neither Forgejo or Immich will start anymore. The 2 clues I have are the error/warning messages: psql: error: connection to server on socket "/run/postgresql/.s.PGSQL.8022" …

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## [NixOS servers for Canadian clients: keeping data and backups in Canada](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-servers-for-canadian-clients-keeping-data-and-backups-in-canada/81160)

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**Author:** [@4GoodHosting](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/4GoodHosting)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [November 13, 2026, 8:14am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-servers-for-canadian-clients-keeping-data-and-backups-in-canada/81160 "2026-11-13T08:14:03Z")

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We run NixOS for a few small business clients who need their data to stay inside Canada, and I’d like to sanity-check our approach with people who know Nix better than we do. Here’s what we currently check: The host a…

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## [Herdr needs a stable Developer ID identity (Local Network privacy): upstream signed .app vs ad-hoc source build vs local cert?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/herdr-needs-a-stable-developer-id-identity-local-network-privacy-upstream-signed-app-vs-ad-hoc-source-build-vs-local-cert/81179)

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**Author:** [@danielo515](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/danielo515)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [November 13, 2026, 7:29am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/herdr-needs-a-stable-developer-id-identity-local-network-privacy-upstream-signed-app-vs-ad-hoc-source-build-vs-local-cert/81179 "2026-11-13T07:29:11Z")

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Hi all, I’m stuck on a macOS packaging question. Local Network privacy (macOS 15+) breaks a Nix-built terminal multiplexer (herdr), and I’d like advice on the best way to deal with this in nixpkgs/nix-darwin. herdr is …

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## [FOD hash mismatches](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/fod-hash-mismatches/80922)

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**Author:** [@highghlow](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/highghlow)\
**Replies:** 19\
**Last updated:** [November 12, 2026, 10:40am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/fod-hash-mismatches/80922 "2026-11-12T10:40:20Z")

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Two times already I’ve received a hash mismatch error when trying to update nixpkgs. I’ve created issues about them: #583018 and #581100. I find it pretty weird, especially because I tried downloading and comparing the r…

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## [Eden needs GCC 16 or above](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/eden-needs-gcc-16-or-above/81141)

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**Author:** [@George1](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/George1)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [November 12, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/eden-needs-gcc-16-or-above/81141 "2026-11-12T01:56:30Z")

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Recently Eden (Nintendo Switch Emulator) started requiring GCC 16 or above. But the default build uses GCC 15.x. To fix, change this in configuration.nix: programs.eden = { enable = true; }; To this: programs.ed…

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## [Where to go from \`boot.initrd.luks.gpgSupport\`?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/where-to-go-from-boot-initrd-luks-gpgsupport/77294)

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**Author:** [@sveitser](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/sveitser)\
**Replies:** 10\
**Last updated:** [November 12, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/where-to-go-from-boot-initrd-luks-gpgsupport/77294 "2026-11-12T00:08:13Z")

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I have a few yubikeys configured to use the same gpg key and I currently use the following to unlock during boot boot.initrd.luks.gpgSupport = true; boot.initrd.luks.devices.“cryptroot”.device = “/dev/disk/by-uuid/… boo…

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## [Fido2 not functioning on firefox build](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/fido2-not-functioning-on-firefox-build/81137)

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**Author:** [@MiaNotAPancake](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/MiaNotAPancake)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [November 11, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/fido2-not-functioning-on-firefox-build/81137 "2026-11-11T22:52:36Z")

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Hey NixOS community, Today I was trying to set up a passkey on my Token2 security key with WebAuthn, but got a generic missing pin error from Firefox while using the default firefox package. The CLI reporting the follow…

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## [Migrating from lanzaboote to limine secure boot](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/migrating-from-lanzaboote-to-limine-secure-boot/77534)

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**Author:** [@yushi](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/yushi)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [November 11, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/migrating-from-lanzaboote-to-limine-secure-boot/77534 "2026-11-11T17:32:16Z")

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Hi everyone, I am trying to migrate from lanzaboote to limine secure boot. I first followed the Disable Secure Boot guide from lanzaboote, with cleaning up the EFI/Linux directory. Then I followed the Secure Boot setup …

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## [Trying to setup a Nextcloud instance on a VPS with a doman from cloudflare](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/trying-to-setup-a-nextcloud-instance-on-a-vps-with-a-doman-from-cloudflare/81125)

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**Author:** [@claymorwan](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/claymorwan)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [November 11, 2026, 12:20pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/trying-to-setup-a-nextcloud-instance-on-a-vps-with-a-doman-from-cloudflare/81125 "2026-11-11T12:20:46Z")

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I’ve been desperately trying to self-host my own Nextcloud instance on a VPS using NixOS. So far I’ve been able to install NixOS and run Nextcloud, and I have an A record in my cloudflare DNS pointing to my VPS’ ip addre…

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## [Failed to mount /sysroot when trying to use persistence.nix](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/failed-to-mount-sysroot-when-trying-to-use-persistence-nix/81103)

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**Author:** [@CraigMontane](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/CraigMontane)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [November 11, 2026, 10:15am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/failed-to-mount-sysroot-when-trying-to-use-persistence-nix/81103 "2026-11-11T10:15:26Z")

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Hello, I recently tried to install nix after hearing about it from vimjoyer. While following his preservation/impermanence video, I made a few changes of my own which presumably cause it to not boot up. Upon booting, I a…

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## [Ensure fonts in development environment](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/ensure-fonts-in-development-environment/20649)

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**Author:** [@jacg](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/jacg)\
**Replies:** 10\
**Last updated:** [November 11, 2026, 9:37am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/ensure-fonts-in-development-environment/20649 "2026-11-11T09:37:08Z")

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I’m writing some code that generates PDF, and needs to be told the exact location of some font files. I now realize that I’m woefully ignorant of how fonts are managed, so ignorant that I don’t really know what question…

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## [Help setting up a BTA! modding environment](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/help-setting-up-a-bta-modding-environment/80520)

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**Author:** [@gobbe](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/gobbe)\
**Replies:** 7\
**Last updated:** [November 10, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/help-setting-up-a-bta-modding-environment/80520 "2026-11-10T20:55:28Z")

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getting this error: Unpacked JDK archive does not contain a Java home: /home/gobbe/.gradle/.tmp/jdks/OpenJDK21U-jdk\_x64\_linux\_hotspot\_21-Eclipse-Temurin-2111441753919758025703.tmp Installing Java through Home Manager, …

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## [Found a backdoor on my NixOS laptop disguised as a "nix-update" service?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/found-a-backdoor-on-my-nixos-laptop-disguised-as-a-nix-update-service/80793)

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**Author:** [@yueyinqiu](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/yueyinqiu)\
**Replies:** 28\
**Last updated:** [November 10, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/found-a-backdoor-on-my-nixos-laptop-disguised-as-a-nix-update-service/80793 "2026-11-10T14:39:22Z")

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Hi everyone, It seems that I’ve found a backdoor program on my NixOS laptop: ~/.local/share/nix/nix-update — a 12 MB Go binary ~/.config/systemd/user/nix-update.service ~/.config/systemd/user/nix-update.timer These f…

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## [Mkdir: cannot create directory '/homeless-shelter': Permission denied](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/mkdir-cannot-create-directory-homeless-shelter-permission-denied/81104)

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**Author:** [@Zsele](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/Zsele)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [November 10, 2026, 1:01pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/mkdir-cannot-create-directory-homeless-shelter-permission-denied/81104 "2026-11-10T13:01:55Z")

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Trying to package praxisLIVE, but i’m running into said error { stdenv, fetchzip, jdk, maven, }: stdenv.mkDerivation rec { pname = "praxis-live"; version = "6.7.0"; src = fetchzip { url = "https://gi…

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## [Any Micro editor's extension in Nix?🤔](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/any-micro-editors-extension-in-nix/64994)

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**Author:** [@ksvivek](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/ksvivek)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [November 10, 2026, 10:10am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/any-micro-editors-extension-in-nix/64994 "2026-11-10T10:10:22Z")

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For python we have this: Python.withPackages (p: with p; \[ fastapi \]) Do we have anything similar to this for Micro editor? Where I can declare the micro editor package along with the extensions?:thinking: That w…

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## [OBS Studio cannot select on Screen Capture (Pipewire)](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/obs-studio-cannot-select-on-screen-capture-pipewire/81080)

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**Author:** [@rbd03](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/rbd03)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [November 10, 2026, 9:23am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/obs-studio-cannot-select-on-screen-capture-pipewire/81080 "2026-11-10T09:23:01Z")

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Hi, I cannot select screen on OBS. Steps to reproduce: Add source, select Screen Capture (PipeWire). Select +Add a new Screen Capture (PipeWire). Click Open Selector. The button shows click animation, but nothing happ…

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## [Attempting to use astronaut SDDM theme; unexpected let expected inherit](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/attempting-to-use-astronaut-sddm-theme-unexpected-let-expected-inherit/81094)

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**Author:** [@amiagoexplode](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/amiagoexplode)\
**Replies:** 12\
**Last updated:** [November 10, 2026, 6:03am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/attempting-to-use-astronaut-sddm-theme-unexpected-let-expected-inherit/81094 "2026-11-10T06:03:50Z")

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Hey all, Some background: While I’m not a Linux newbie (I’ve used Ubuntu, Arch, Kali and Fedora) I just moved to NixOS today & I have zero idea how to use the Nix programming language, so I’ve been stumbling through lea…

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## [\`nix develop\` tries to use non-existing \`get-env.sh\`](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-develop-tries-to-use-non-existing-get-env-sh/78889)

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**Author:** [@of-the-stars](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/of-the-stars)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [November 9, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-develop-tries-to-use-non-existing-get-env-sh/78889 "2026-11-09T20:20:22Z")

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I recently had some shenanigans happen when I accidentally switched to another system config on an existing system which got me locked out of my machine. After I was able to recover it, I’ve been noticing some things tha…

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## [What is the purpose of the function argument/parameter set?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-function-argument-parameter-set/81061)

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**Author:** [@PenguinRising](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/PenguinRising)\
**Replies:** 12\
**Last updated:** [November 9, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-function-argument-parameter-set/81061 "2026-11-09T17:13:32Z")

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I’ve been cleaning my configuration a bit and finally figured out how the function argument/parameter set works. You know the one at the top, like { lib, pkgs, ...}: In cleaning it up, I’ve been going by the rule of thu…

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