NixOS Bitcoin node? \ stacker news ~NixOS

1116 sats \ 12 comments \ @quark 29 Mar NixOS

I'm just discovering NixOS now. I know. 2024. Shame. But better late than never. It seems very interesting to me. I've used Linux for so many years and always envisioned something like NixOS just to find out now that it already existed.

But the question I want to ask here is, has anybody tried to create a NixOS configuration for running a node, something like Minibolt or Microbolt? Is it relatively easy or possible to compile and install bitcoin apps?

And any must know resource for newbies like me? Something to consider before trying it out? I'm going to try to install in a VM today.

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84 sats \ 3 replies \ @siggy47 29 Mar

Here you go: #145279

76 sats \ 2 replies \ @quark OP 29 Mar

Thanks. I think I need to figure out many things like flakes for example and maybe first try a basic configuration and get comfortable with it before I can understand everything but it may be worth it.

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 29 Mar

I'm no computer whiz. It's easier than it seems at first. I couldn't even figure out the whole configuration file thing at first. Then I was intimidated by home manager. Then flakes. Once you get used to the environment everything makes sense.

76 sats \ 0 replies \ @TheWildHustle 29 Mar

I have a bunch of flakes in my github, adding them to a home manager and switching between them is the goal.

167 sats \ 1 reply \ @nerd2ninja 29 Mar

https://github.com/fort-nix/nix-bitcoin

I'll be honest though, this guide is not easy to follow. I hate their expectation of the use of Krops. If you can figure it out HELP ME and help everyone else by making a write-up.

Having said that, there's also a software store for nixos https://github.com/snowfallorg/nix-software-center

So people can use this GUI program and it will edit their configuration file for them.

Lopp created a bitcoin core configuration generator and I'm of the impression currently that we could just as well make a GUI program that does all the same configurations specified in nix-bitcoin with options set by the user.

https://jlopp.github.io/bitcoin-core-config-generator/

But all of that can be a lot to work on. I'm still just trying to figure out flakes and not even that (I'm trying to get a linux certification for job opportunity reasons).

76 sats \ 0 replies \ @quark OP 29 Mar

Thank you. I'll try all this for sure. I may be able to help making a GUI too. But first I need to learn all the basics.

77 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 29 Mar

I think there is a stacker here running a node on NixOS

76 sats \ 0 replies \ @fiksn 29 Mar

Yeah, I have a lightning node running nixos on raspberry pi since 2018 or so

76 sats \ 2 replies \ @0xIlmari 29 Mar

Why tho? Bitcoin node is a service, and I find it easier to dockerize services instead of polluting my OS with dependencies.

116 sats \ 1 reply \ @quark OP 29 Mar

Isn't that one of the great things in NixOS. To not have dependencies issues because all packages are contained with their dependencies.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @nerd2ninja 29 Mar

Yeah the whole reason for dependency issues is because all programs are in one folder replacing each other with the same file name. The whole thing with nix is to nix the /bin folder.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @jurraca 29 Mar

Yea as posted https://github.com/fort-nix/nix-bitcoin is what you want.

You'll need machine you've set up nixOS on first, which is a bit involved setup but then you only have to do it once.

Then 'running the node' just means modifying the config on your local machine and running 'deploy' to update your node machine. Its slick af.