Quick Start

This chapter is for impatient people who don't like reading documentation. For more in-depth information you are kindly referred to subsequent chapters.

1. Install Nix. We recommend that macOS users install Determinate Nix using our graphical installer, Determinate.pkg. For Linux and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) users:

   $ curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.determinate.systems/nix | \
     sh -s -- install --determinate
   

   The install script will use sudo, so make sure you have sufficient rights.

   For other installation methods, see the detailed installation instructions.

2. Run software without installing it permanently:

   $ nix-shell --packages cowsay lolcat
   

   This downloads the specified packages with all their dependencies, and drops you into a Bash shell where the commands provided by those packages are present. This will not affect your normal environment:

   [nix-shell:~]$ cowsay Hello, Nix! | lolcat
   

   Exiting the shell will make the programs disappear again:

   [nix-shell:~]$ exit
   $ lolcat
   lolcat: command not found
   

3. Search for more packages on search.nixos.org to try them out.

4. Free up storage space:

   $ nix-collect-garbage