General Purpose Nix Configuration (macOS + NixOS)

Overview

Hey, you made it! Welcome. 🤓

Nix is a powerful package manager for Linux and Unix systems that ensures reproducible, declarative, and reliable software management.

This repository contains configuration for a general-purpose development environment that runs Nix on macOS, NixOS, or both simultaneously.

I use it daily on my 🧑🏻‍💻 Macbook Pro and an x86 PC in my home office. It also runs as a VM on your Mac. Many others have reported that it's working for them too.

Check out the step-by-step commands below to get started!

Table of Contents

• Nix Config for macOS + NixOS
  • Overview
  • Table of Contents
  • Features
  • Testimonials
  • Videos
    • macOS
      • Updating dependencies with one command
      • Instant Emacs 30 thanks to daemon mode
    • NixOS
  • Disclaimer
  • Layout
  • Installing
    • For macOS (November 2026)
      • 1. Install dependencies
      • 2. Install Nix
      • 3. Enable flakes and nix-command
      • 4. Initialize a starter template
      • 5. Make apps executable
      • 6. Apply your current user info
      • 7. Decide what packages to install
      • 8. Review your shell configuration
      • 9. Optional: Setup secrets
      • 10. Install configuration
      • 11. Make changes
    • For NixOS
      • 1. Burn and use the latest ISO
      • 2. Optional: Setup secrets
      • 3. Install configuration
  • How to Create Secrets
  • Making Changes
    • Development workflow
    • Trying packages
  • Compatibility and Feedback
    • Platforms
    • Contributing
    • Feedback and Questions
    • License
  • Appendix
    • Why Nix Flakes
    • NixOS Components
    • Support
    • Stars

Features

• Nix Flakes: No confusing configuration.nix entry point, no Nix channels─ just flake.nix
• Same Environment Everywhere: Easily share config across Linux and macOS (both Nix and Home Manager)
• macOS Dream Setup: Fully declarative macOS (Apple / Intel) w/ UI, dock and macOS App Store apps
• Simple Bootstrap: Simple Nix commands to start from zero, both x86 and macOS platforms
• Managed Homebrew: Zero maintenance homebrew environment with nix-darwin and nix-homebrew
• Disk Management: Declarative disk management with disko, say goodbye to disk utils
• Secrets Management: Declarative secrets with agenix for SSH, PGP, syncthing, and other tools
• Super Fast Emacs: Bleeding edge Emacs that fixes itself, thanks to a community overlay
• Built In Home Manager: home-manager module for seamless configuration (no extra clunky CLI steps)
• NixOS Environment: Extensively configured NixOS including clean aesthetic + window animations
• Nix Overlays: Auto-loading of Nix overlays: drop a file in a dir and it runs (great for patches!)
• Declarative Sync: No-fuss Syncthing: managed keys, certs, and configuration across all platforms
• Emacs Literate Configuration: Large Emacs literate configuration to explore (if that's your thing)
• Simplicity and Readability: Optimized for simplicity and readability in all cases, not small files everywhere
• Backed by Continuous Integration: Flake auto updates weekly if changes don't break starter build

Testimonials

Videos

macOS

Updating dependencies with one command

https://github.com/dustinlyons/nixos-config/assets/1292576/2168d482-6eea-4b51-adc1-2ef1291b6598

Instant Emacs 30 thanks to daemon mode

• GUI

https://github.com/dustinlyons/nixos-config/assets/1292576/66001066-2bbf-4492-bc9e-60ea1abeb987

• Terminal

https://github.com/dustinlyons/nixos-config/assets/1292576/d96f59ce-f540-4f14-bc61-6126a74f9f52

NixOS

https://github.com/dustinlyons/nixos-config/assets/1292576/fa54a87f-5971-41ee-98ce-09be048018b8

This is the beginning of the README. Read the rest at the original. Read the full README ↗