`, I think I know 🙂 .
---
### Author:  [@enoren5](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/enoren5)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-packages-are-not-upgrading-even-though-i-am-certainly-configured-to-unstable-system-state/59828/25 "2025-02-08T00:19:26Z")
> **Variant 1**
>
> ```auto
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ > export NIX_PATH=nixos-config=/etc/nixos/configuration.nix:/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ > nixos-rebuild switch --upgrade-all
> unpacking 3 channels...
> unpacking 3 channels...
> unpacking 3 channels...
> unpacking 3 channels...
> building Nix...
> building the system configuration...
> error:
> … while calling the 'head' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35741:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/lib/modules.nix:1:34707:
> … while evaluating the option `system.build.toplevel':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `warnings':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd/tmpfiles.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `boot.initrd.systemd.storePaths':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/config/console.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `console.keyMap':
>
> … while evaluating the option `environment.sessionVariables':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/gnome.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `environment.systemPackages':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the module argument `inputs' in "/etc/nixos/configuration.nix":
>
> (stack trace truncated; use '--show-trace' to show the full, detailed trace)
>
> error: attribute 'inputs' missing
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/lib/modules.nix:1:20801:
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ >
>
> ```
> **Variant 2**
>
> warning: Nix search path entry ‘/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/configuration.nix’ does not exist, ignoring
> warning: Nix search path entry ‘/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/configuration.nix’ does not exist, ignoring
> warning: Nix search path entry ‘/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/configuration.nix’ does not exist, ignoring
> warning: Nix search path entry ‘/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/configuration.nix’ does not exist, ignoring
> warning: Nix search path entry ‘/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/configuration.nix’ does not exist, ignoring
> warning: Nix search path entry ‘/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/configuration.nix’ does not exist, ignoring
> error:
> … while calling the ‘head’ builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35741:
> … while evaluating the attribute ‘value’
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34707:
> … while evaluating the option `system.build.toplevel’:
>
> ```
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `warnings':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd/tmpfiles.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `boot.initrd.systemd.storePaths':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/config/console.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `console.keyMap':
>
> … while evaluating the option `environment.sessionVariables':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/gnome.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `environment.systemPackages':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the module argument `inputs' in "/etc/nixos/configuration.nix":
>
> (stack trace truncated; use '--show-trace' to show the full, detailed trace)
>
> error: attribute 'inputs' missing
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:20801:
>
> ```
>
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ \>
>
> ```auto
>
> ```
> **Variant 3**
>
> ```auto
> $ sudo -i
> [sudo] password for evangelist:
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ > export NIX_PATH=/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ > export NIXOS_CONFIG=/etc/nixos/configuration.nix
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ > nixos-rebuild switch --upgrade-all
> unpacking 3 channels...
> unpacking 3 channels...
> unpacking 3 channels...
> unpacking 3 channels...
> building Nix...
> building the system configuration...
> error:
> … while calling the 'head' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35741:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/lib/modules.nix:1:34707:
> … while evaluating the option `system.build.toplevel':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `warnings':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd/tmpfiles.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `boot.initrd.systemd.storePaths':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/config/console.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `console.keyMap':
>
> … while evaluating the option `environment.sessionVariables':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/gnome.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the option `environment.systemPackages':
>
> … while evaluating definitions from `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix':
>
> … while evaluating the module argument `inputs' in "/etc/nixos/configuration.nix":
>
> (stack trace truncated; use '--show-trace' to show the full, detailed trace)
>
> error: attribute 'inputs' missing
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixpkgs/lib/modules.nix:1:20801:
> root@nixoslaptop:~/ >
>
> ```
One more thing to consider: A recurring theme in these tracebacks (recent ones and previous ones) suggest that nixpkgs can’t access `configuration.nix`. I am handling my configuration.nix inside a home user directory which is symlinked to /etc/nixos. See here:
```auto
❯ sudo -i
root@nixoslaptop:~/ > ls -la /etc/nixos/
total 12
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 5 18:13 .
drwxr-xr-x 39 root root 4096 Feb 4 18:53 ..
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 54 Jan 4 02:41 configuration.nix -> /home/evangelist/nixoslaptop-configs/configuration.nix
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 63 Jan 4 02:55 hardware-configuration.nix -> /home/evangelist/nixoslaptop-configs/hardware-configuration.nix
root@nixoslaptop:~/ >
```
So `configuration.nix` does exist and it exists in the appropriate location as far as I can tell.
---
### Author:  [@Torinthiel](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/Torinthiel)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2025, 11:22am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-packages-are-not-upgrading-even-though-i-am-certainly-configured-to-unstable-system-state/59828/26 "2025-02-08T11:22:18Z")
> [@enoren5](#):
>
> suggest that nixpkgs can’t access `configuration.nix`
not really, it says
> [@enoren5](#):
>
> `while evaluating the module argument `inputs’ in “/etc/nixos/configuration.nix”:`
whuch means that it _can_ find `configuration.nix`, but that file is expecting an `inputs` parameter that cannot be found. And indeed, the repo you’ve share previously has that. That’s a common convention (and only convention, nothing is forcing it and there are other ways) when using flakes, and looking deeper into your file, there is [nixoslaptop-configs/configuration.nix at 7fa0e855fabece12b77ed3e604def3fceb846627 · enoren5/nixoslaptop-configs · GitHub](https://github.com/enoren5/nixoslaptop-configs/blob/7fa0e855fabece12b77ed3e604def3fceb846627/configuration.nix#L161) which uses it.
Again, 3 venues are ahead, but this time more diffrerent than previously. You can either drop helix (possibly just for now). in this case remove thst line and remove inputs from [nixoslaptop-configs/configuration.nix at 7fa0e855fabece12b77ed3e604def3fceb846627 · enoren5/nixoslaptop-configs · GitHub](https://github.com/enoren5/nixoslaptop-configs/blob/7fa0e855fabece12b77ed3e604def3fceb846627/configuration.nix#L4) so that it reads `{ config, pkgs, lib, ... }:`. After that run any of the 3 previous sets of commands.
You can return to flake config, effectively undoing what we done so far. This means recreating the flake.nix file that was deleted (isn’t that complex). This will get your packages upgraded _now_, but `--upgrade-all` to nixos-rebuild will not update it further. Upgrading is a simple command, but a different one.
Finally, we can try installing helix without flake, no idea how complex it. Especially as it’s available in nixpkgs by default, so you probably had a reason to pick a non-default one.
There’s nothing preventing us from removing helix temporarily and trying too re-add it later when we got nixos back into a sane state.
---
### Author:  [@enoren5](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/enoren5)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-packages-are-not-upgrading-even-though-i-am-certainly-configured-to-unstable-system-state/59828/27 "2025-02-08T18:52:10Z")
You fixed it! Removing `inputs` from the top line of `configuration.nix` as well as removing that line involving helix. I then used the first variant as super user and _VOILA_, everything upgraded and I am finally up to date. Thank you very much @Torinthiel for spending so much time and researching at such great length to help a novice user like me! 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Torinthiel](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/Torinthiel)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-packages-are-not-upgrading-even-though-i-am-certainly-configured-to-unstable-system-state/59828/28 "2025-02-08T20:22:09Z")
Glad to hear that. There are still a few details to wrap up - you have too many channels added, and there might be an issue with helix. If you want we can try to solve those (though probably better on separate thread or PM). Also, if some of the things we did in between are unclear, here’s the moment to ask.
---
### Author:  [@enoren5](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/enoren5)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2025, 9:12am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-packages-are-not-upgrading-even-though-i-am-certainly-configured-to-unstable-system-state/59828/29 "2025-02-09T09:12:15Z")
The origin of the whole issue with Helix was that it was in ryan4yin’s Unofficial Flakes Book that I was following originally. He used it to demo how to build an app from source using Flakes. I don’t intend on using the tool. My text editor of choice is Neovim and I have NvChad installed as well.
I will create a new thread to troubleshoot multiple channels.
> [@Torinthiel](#):
>
> Also, if some of the things we did in between are unclear, here’s the moment to ask.
My only outstanding question is: Which documentation were you reading/consulting that informed your research and suggested commands? Was it the official NixOS docs/wiki? Or Stack Overflow? Do you have some links to share?
Thank you again, my friend.
---
### Author:  [@Torinthiel](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/Torinthiel)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-packages-are-not-upgrading-even-though-i-am-certainly-configured-to-unstable-system-state/59828/30 "2025-02-09T11:44:24Z")
> [@enoren5](#):
>
> Which documentation were you were reading/consulting that informed your research and suggested commands?
That’s unfortunately a pretty tough question. I wasn’t consulting _a lot_ when solving this (had I, maybe we’d have to go through fewer iterations). What I did (at the time) was e.g. to read `man sudo` to figure out why `sudo NIX_PATH=nixpkgs=/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels nixos-rebuild switch --upgrade all` didn’t work. It was more like reading the error message you’ve provided, figuring out what it really means (I agree, those aren’t very readable) and imagining where to point it to solve this specific issue, not wondering what will break next. Most of this unfortunately comes with generic experience, understanding how Linux/Nix/NixOs stuff works etc. rather than specific info after encountering an issue.
As for stuff to read - nix & NixOS official manuals obviously (weirdly enough, I haven’t read nixpkgs one). If you want to know more about nix & nixpgks (less so about NixOs) than [Nix pills](https://nixos.org/guides/nix-pills/) is relatively nice introduction. [Modularize Your NixOS Configuration | NixOS & Flakes Book](https://nixos-and-flakes.thiscute.world/nixos-with-flakes/modularize-the-configuration) has some nice introduction to nixos modules (and, really, nixos is just nixpkgs + module system + set of modules). In general it’s mostly about flakes (hey, have you noticed the domain name? 😛), but there are also fragments of non-flake information, in other sections as well.
Reading the source of nixpkgs and nixos itself (it’s the same repository) isn’t _that_ hard, once you get the hang of it (disclaimer: I’m a dev by trade, reading code is pretty natural for me in the first place. Also helps with getting head or tails of cryptic error messages). However, I’ve read quite a few things in general on nix to build a mental image on nixos, and I won’t be able to disclose all of that. Also note that pretty famous [monad tutorial fallacy](https://byorgey.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/abstraction-intuition-and-the-monad-tutorial-fallacy/) applies, even though NixOS has nothing to do with monads. You can read it not, just mentally replace monad with ‘whatever complex concept you’re trying to grasp’. Even if I give you the single reference I consider most influential, I might be lying both to you and to myself.
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