I know that NixOS is mainly targeting developers and maybe containerized environments, but is there any major benefit for the “average Joe” to choose NixOS as their daily driver?
21 sats \ 2 replies \ @hunicus 27 Feb
I'm not sure that's the right question. As I see it, NixOS refines the Linux experience in a big way. The typical average-Joe type of person doesn't understand the benefits and pitfalls of Linux, so they definitely won't understand NixOS, much less use it regularly.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @MattInTech OP 28 Feb
That’s a plausibile assumption, but let’s say that a (non-dev) Linux enthusiast is choosing what distro to install. What reasons would they have to choose (and stick with) NixOS, especially compared to (for example) other immutable distros or anything other that ~buntu derivatives?
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21 sats \ 0 replies \ @hunicus 28 Feb
For me I can say on-demand replicability of my system is what I find most incredible. I have data backups, but if something goes wrong with my system, how can i get it back up and running quickly with minimal time spent reconfiguring setting after setting after config after config? NixOS is great for that.
But as a Linux beginner I didn't really care about that because just getting stuff to work was a huge achievement, lol.
To answer your question...I also remember when shopping around for distros that I was looking at a lot of things that didn't really ultimately matter. For example, Pop!_OS has a version with Nvidia drivers pre-installed...but it turns out installing those drivers is pretty trivial in most modern distros. I also like Pop Shell, but that's also not too hard to get in any distro running GNOME.
So maybe it would help to have some kind of a NixOS "app store" of sorts where the top features/functionality n00bs are looking for are bundled together and catalogued in a browseable way so folks can easily "shop around" for the particular features they're looking for and build their own config. Then they'd stick with NixOS because to replicate their setup on any other distro would require a ton of manual annoying work every time.
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0 sats \ 4 replies \ @nerd2ninja 28 Feb
The major benefit for the average joe is exactly what Umbrel was created to do for the average Joe.
Later, when we have an app store GUI (GUI interface that writes program names to the config file) we can also have entire set ups, like Bitcoin core connected to electrum server ran over Tor as though it were an app that you select and install.
That's what I'm working towards...just gotta figure out how to get glimmer working...its not in the default nixpkgs gemset unfortunately.
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0 sats \ 3 replies \ @MattInTech OP 29 Feb
Not sure if I get what you mean. Alright, a store GUI would be cool, but what's the point of the Umbrel example?
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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @nerd2ninja 29 Feb
The reason people use Umbrel is because it packages a bunch of software together that users would otherwise have to configure independently. NixOS installs software based on configuration files so it can serve the same use case.
That's why nix bitcoin is a thing:
https://nixbitcoin.org/
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @MattInTech OP 29 Feb
I don't really see the logics behind this example, tbh. Umbrel is merely a wrapper that installs apps in containers through scripts, it highlight convenience and ease of use (especially compared to having to setup docker networking on your own for bitcoin apps). This is more similar to the behavior of any other desktop distro, which allow users to install apps through a store GUI.
NixOS is radically different. The strength is indeed in the config file, which allows to replicate a system no matter the original configuration. For this, its main target is developers and IT professionals, but not average joe (unlike Umbrel).
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @nerd2ninja 29 Feb
My brother, I just told you about how we need to develop a GUI that writes to the config file when options are selected. Same UX as umbrel, but yes the backend under the hood works differently
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @roosoft 27 Feb
Well, for people not using shells, not much...
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @premitive1 27 Feb
what even is NixOS?
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