Nix flake.nix # install unfree and permittedInsecurePackages

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1

How to install e.g. vscode (e.g. in devShell)

  • via a flake file (which is not system config)

error: Package ‘vscode-with-extensions-1.94.2’ in /nix/store/jyw83fn5spbdgzdj110620dm0zl43q2y-source/pkgs/applications/editors/vscode/vscode.nix:85 has an unfree license (‘unfree’), refusing to evaluate.

I would mind to define a new variable like pkgs and again importing nixpkgs

  • that reminds me that in the configuration you cannot override nixpkgs either, can you?

Why is there something like legacyPackages if it cannot handel e.g. the config for unfree declarations?

2

Licenses are a nixpkgs construct, nix does not understand them.

I consider this a flaw, and some understanding of licenses should be added to nix.

If you depend on something unfree you don’t have any choice, you either have to use manual import and configuration or do some other nasty workarounds.

3

So when you define a devShell, you need to use a pgks that has allowUnfree set.

Here is a minimal working stub:

  devShells.x86_64-linux = let
      pkgs = import nixpkgs {
        system = "x86_64-linux";
        config = {  allowUnfree = true;  };
      };
    in
      {
        default = pkgs.mkShell {
          nativeBuildInputs = [
            pkgs.vscode
          ];
        };
      };

Feel free to ask if something is unclear.

edit: adapted example for clarity

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