# Understanding nix-channels, nix-env and nix-shell

**URL:** https://discourse.nixos.org/t/understanding-nix-channels-nix-env-and-nix-shell/5693
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [January 30, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/understanding-nix-channels-nix-env-and-nix-shell/5693 "2020-01-30T23:26:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![layus](https://discourse.nixos.org/user_avatar/discourse.nixos.org/layus/32/125_2.png) [@layus](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/layus)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/understanding-nix-channels-nix-env-and-nix-shell/5693/3 "2020-01-31T13:00:32Z")

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Note that with the `nix xxx` family of commands (without the dash) it requires a recent enough version for it to use the channels in NIX\_PATH like this. See ["nix search" duplicate results in brand-new NixOS install. How to fix? - #35 by layus](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nix-search-duplicate-results-in-brand-new-nixos-install-how-to-fix/5373/35) in particular, completed by the linked pages and the whole discussion.

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