That’s definitely an interesting way of how to get introduced to NixOS. On the bright side at least you got to experience it working on a level that suited your needs. And if you pursue more with it hopefully you will share your experiences.
I like working in labs where environments and methods are reproducible.
As programmer, I like to minimize dependencies. And if an application or script requires a dependency, that dependency must be stable and reliable over the long term. If an application or script requires a dependency, that dependency must be stable and reliable over the long term.
Therefore, it is unthinkable for me to develop on a distribution like Ubuntu, because its package management is inconsistent over time, and this technical issue stems from its philosophical incompatibility with the upstream distribution.
Furthermore, a secondary but essential goal is usability for non-technical users. I am aware that there are distributions that are easier to use, but a routine update should not risk breaking the system. Thus, even a minor dependency issue with an important program leads to significant effort to find a solid, long-term solution.
As system admin, I can use the NixOS configuration to drastically reduce the time spent on computer maintenance.
My configuration is entirely in /etc/nixos/.
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Your secondary is one of the biggest points that I always cringed about with other distros. I was on Garuda Dragonized for awhile and I remember after an update there were some warnings concerning of system breakages with certain updates and dependancies.
At that point I began to question the choice of Linux from Arch to Debian etc,.. even though I was still new to Linux. But even being new (at the time) and being able to see a structure flaw doesn’t give you the greatest confidence of the system. One begins to ask if I run this risk on Linux then what was the point of switching OS’s just so you can say silly meme like sayings? Lol
Great input Antonio!!
Every Operating System is based on kernel and some base packages. The user can change both of them and can add more other packages. The updates are for both user and base packages. The base packages are very important for the stability and can’t be handled for non technical users. This make NixOS more useful for non technical user. The same thing (for other reasons) are valid for BSD.
Obviously this situation describes a system update that affects the kernel and the base system.
I retired last year. I was a digital IC engineer for ASICs. I used to play in the garage with xilinx fpgas. Now they don’t make cheap fpgas, but the Raspberry Pi is great at garage projects. Doing cross builds using NixOS is not a big bother since fpgas needed synthesized and place and route then download. Most of the time python is good enough. I know Python is a nasty term. But there is so many libraries to re-use.
I have not tried these ideas but might.
- I have a garden train track g-scale, and back and forth controller for voltage on the brass rails.
I can use raspberry pi and camera to detect speed (size of object) and then decide when to stop, reverse, have a sign for city stops. Control acceleration , stops, direction on board the engine. I don’t need to clean the brass rails if I do this.
-Holloween animatronics. Detect a costume with the camera then activate a new sequence.
-DJ lighting, skip the complex show software , and build your own light show, 4th of july , holloween, christmas.
So use NixOS as cross building for embedded OS. Nix embedded.. LOL.
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