NixOS : The HYPE is Real ! Everything You NEED to Know (NEW!)

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NixOS is trending. Literally everybody is talking about NixOS. So what’s up with all the hype?
Now NixOS is not a new Linux distro, in fact It's a 20 year old Linux distro, But it did release a new version recently and the internet is going crazy. So I started my research and I’m left impressed and facinated  by what I found out.
NixOS is not your typical Linux distribution, based on another linux distro with a reskinned desktop. Nope, It would be a huge understatement if I said NixOS is different. NixOS has a very innovative and unique approach to everything. I really hadn't seen anything like it.

I was really curious So went in for a deep dive with NixOS. I've been playing around with NixOS for the last fortnight and it has left me thrilled with literally everything.
NixOS takes a different approach to how we see operating systems and with this, NixOS breaks away from traditional operating system paradigms, offering a whole new level of control, adaptability and user experience. Really, I'm excited to take you on this journey with me and this cutting edge distro.
Before we get anywhere near this distro, It's important that we understand what is NixOS.

[AbdelhakOussaid]

He said NixOS 95 times! About 5 times per minute 😅

[GALONE]

If you will install NixOS on a UEFI system, just make sure to create a large EFI partition because there is where NixOS stores the Linux kernels of all generations OR you will have to reduce the number of generations in configuration.nix (configurationLimit) in order to prevent running out of disk space that will block any future updates. Mine is 537MB so I have set the generation number to 3.

[merlingt]

The hype is real until intermediate users try to do anything not explicitly defined in their docs. I’ve been testing Nix for a bit now. This OS is great for very basic needs of a newbie or alternatively advanced power users. Part of the hype is due to reviewers only focusing on the good things.

[k.b.tidwell]

I write, and I have two laptops I use. I don't know how many times I've experimented with distros and wished there was a good way to duplicate the setup on one laptop, on the other. All the endless tweaking gets so tiresome, especially when you try ~50 different distros! Nix's install duplication as you described it is an amazing godsend. I wish all distros did this!

This is a great video because it's moved me to really check this distro out. If you're not in advertising or sales in your work life, you need to be.

[ppenun]

Nice video focusing mostly on the important topics. I'm starting to think (based on the wave of videos coming out recently), that we should start recommending flake based setups though. It might be a tiny bit more complex for first setup, but it avoids the whole channel mess and local config dirs, which is a huge boon that starts paying off pretty much 10 minutes after initial install, and is much easier for subsequent machines... (Yes, they are still called "experimental", but for real world usage they're already more stable and starting to be better documented than legacy setups).

[musicalneptunian]

We can be the knights of Nix.
[for fans of Monty Python]

[finhas]

For any linux to go mainstream, devs communities should put more effort on porting windows apps to linux. Most people don't really care about the OS, they just want things to work. Software they use are available in that OS and working as it should.
Else, most computer users will just use Windows and Macs, those curious enough will install linux but not using it, some will become distro hopper, and only very2 small number will become user.

[FunkyDeleriousPriest]

I've been using it since 2017 and it's mostly been a good experience! The main challenge is the learning curve for it's unique way of doing things.

[Redyf]

I've been using nixos for almost a year now, it's the best distro i've ever tried but it's really hard to understand how it works at first. I suggest going slowly for anyone who's willing to try it. It's a rabbit hole 😅

[suku]

I don't like the uncritical enthusiasm, but the video gives me a good first impression. Thanks for that! Personally, though, I'd be happier to see videos that briefly(!) tell you what NixOS can do and then help you overcome the obvious problems and challenges you seem to quickly run into. Not everything in NixOS is great when you hear and read testimonials and certainly not easy to understand and manage. There seems to be a lack of guideslines and hands-on documentation.

For me, it's similar to my text editor that I've used for 25 years: When I give an introduction to someone who has never used the (Neo)Vi(m) editor and so far only knows VS code and IDEs, I show him the essential features that distinguish (Neo)Vi(m) and make it so powerful (modal editing for example), but I also point out at the same time the steep learning curve, how the doc system works (no website!), how to debug error messages and configuration problems in the best way (this has never been easy - a single syntax error is enough and nothing works anymore). NixOS seems very similar to me: High learning curve and not intuitive even for advanced new users who want to transfer their gained experience and solution patterns and use cases to Nix and NixOS.

Therefore: The hype may be real, but the video is just unfortunately not "all I need to know". But very entertaining, thanks for that again.

[youdontknowme]

I've been seeing lot of Nix lately

[grabtharshammer]

If each App can use different versions of files, and they are downloaded and kept in separate folders for each App. Does this mean that NixOS is Storage heavy? That would require quite a large HDD as the base drive if you use lots of Apps. Unless, can you define for the Apps to be installed on a second Data type drive if you want?

[thumplinux]

Great video. Thank you for bringing us these awesome reviews.

[DocMacLovin]

That AI that produces the commentary saying NixOS so often was developed on NixOS with use of the NixOS language and the NixOS dev tools. And the NixOS AI is also capable of commenting NixOS video clips on Youtube.

[k.b.tidwell]

If I understand what you mean by the dependency setup, then that's EXACTLY what I was thinking of when I was talking with the bloat in Flatpak and Snaps. Instead of having a new copy of the same dependency in every single app package that uses it, a central collection of vetted, verified, secure dependencies could be addressed as needed. I suppose that's how a non-containerized works anyway, except for the level of security verification not being that great. But I'm not a coder, what do I know.

I'm running Linux Mint, but I'm definitely going to do some research on Nix.

[armamentarmedarm]

You are the first person I have heard talk about NixOS ever.

[joseluisvazquez]

What happens when the program or app you want is not nix packaged?
Do they have a way to manage that or make your own packages easily?

[webflyer]

2023 linux distro hype...
Ubuntu → Linux mint → Arch → Fedora → Debian 12 → Nix OS

[TheRustyCrab]

Currently getting up to speed with NixOS on my Proxmox instance, and I gotta say it's a refreshing change from the others so far!

I'm quickly noticing the lack of documentation outside of the official docs on the website and wiki. Otherwise, I love living inside these guys' Haskell-inspired dream!

[davidwayne]

Don't think I'd do too well in the course--- I don't retain code stuff very well. I'm OLD- and have ONE eye now- so hate looking at TEXT on a screen-- aND I don't get all the little letter combo comands etc.. I can barely do arch without a cheat sheet listing what i need to type in...