Matrix-synapse package: executable not found?

Help
1 
~ $ nix run nixpkgs#matrix-synapse
# [a bunch of "copying path from cache.nixos.org" stuff]
error: unable to execute '/nix/store/qmas0y5l656v5yq1z7jzg4vgdfj73jlv-matrix-synapse-1.76.0/bin/matrix-synapse': No such file or directory

Any ideas? Am I using it wrong?

2

There is no executable name matrix-synapse in that outputs bin directory.

❯ ls -1 /nix/store/qmas0y5l656v5yq1z7jzg4vgdfj73jlv-matrix-synapse-1.76.0/bin
export_signing_key
generate_config
generate_log_config
generate_signing_key
hash_password
register_new_matrix_user
synapse_homeserver
synapse_port_db
synapse_review_recent_signups
synapse_worker
synctl
update_synapse_database

Not sure what outcome you were expecting, can you clarify?

3

I see. I’m very new to Nix and I’ve gotten used to nix run nixpkgs#FOO doing something useful (like running the application). I suppose that’s not true of all packages? I guess I should try getting nix run to run one of those executables, then…?

4

nix run only works for packages whose binary name matches their derivation pname (which is possibly also different from their attribute name), or for which an explicit definition of the binary has been included via… I think it’s meta.mainProgram.

nix run is fairly new, and there are still quirky packages in nixpkgs for which it doesn’t work.