Kris's Nix

You should end up with:

• NixOS using this repo from /etc/nixos
• the automatically-created user kris
• the default desktop config from this flake

What This Repo Does

This repo configures:

• the default desktop machine
• a separate server host

DO NOT use #server, this build the server!

Before You Start

You need:

• a NixOS installer
• internet access
• your disks partitioned and mounted
• this repo (git@tangled.sh:kris.darkworld.download/nix)

Build a custom installer ISO

This flake now exposes an installer image with extra install tools preloaded (git, disko, partitioning and filesystem tools).

Build it from this repo:

nix build .#installerIso

The ISO is created at:

./result/iso/*.iso

Write it to a USB stick (replace /dev/sdX):

sudo dd if=./result/iso/*.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress oflag=sync

Then boot from that USB and follow the install steps below.

Disk Layout

This repo now uses disko for the default desktop host.

The current declarative layout is:

disk      = /dev/nvme0n1
ESP       = 2G FAT32 mounted at /boot
root disk = remaining space as btrfs
subvols   = /, /home, /nix

Mount options are declared in the disko config:

• / with compress=zstd
• /home with compress=zstd
• /nix with compress=zstd,noatime

If /dev/nvme0n1 is not the disk you want to wipe and install to, edit hosts/default/disko.nix before running the installer.

RAHHHHH IM NOT WRITING STUFF ANYMORE PLZ JUST TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE STEPS URSELF THX

Fresh Install

1. Boot the NixOS installer

Use the normal installer ISO.

2. Clone the repo in the installer

From the live installer:

nix-shell -p git
rm -rf /etc/nixos
git clone git@tangled.sh:kris.darkworld.download/nix /etc/nixos

3. Let disko partition and mount the target disk

Run:

nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run github:nix-community/disko -- --mode destroy,format,mount /etc/nixos#default

This will:

• partition the disk
• format it
• create the btrfs subvolumes
• mount everything under /mnt

This is destructive.

4. Generate hardware config

Run:

nixos-generate-config --root /mnt

Then replace the generated target config with this repo while keeping the generated hardware file:

cp /mnt/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix /tmp/hardware-configuration.nix
rm -rf /mnt/etc/nixos
git clone git@tangled.sh:kris.darkworld.download/nix /mnt/etc/nixos
cp /tmp/hardware-configuration.nix /mnt/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix

Install The System

5. Run the install

From the live environment:

nixos-install --flake /mnt/etc/nixos#default

If Nix complains about flakes:

nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run nixpkgs#nixos-install -- --flake /mnt/etc/nixos#default

6. Reboot

After install finishes:

reboot

First Boot

7. Log in as kris

The config creates the main user for you during install.

After boot, log into the installed system as:

kris

8. Verify the repo location

Make sure the config is really here:

ls /etc/nixos

You should see:

• flake.nix
• flake.lock
• hosts
• modules

9. Rebuild once from the installed system

Run:

sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /etc/nixos#default

Manual Restore After Install

Nix does not fully restore everything by itself. Some things still need to be copied back manually.

10. Recreate normal user folders

Run:

mkdir -p /home/kris/Pictures
mkdir -p /home/kris/Pictures/Screenshots
mkdir -p /home/kris/Pictures/Wallpapers
mkdir -p /home/kris/Pictures/Deltarune
mkdir -p /home/kris/Downloads
mkdir -p /home/kris/Desktop
mkdir -p /home/kris/Documents
mkdir -p /home/kris/Projects

11. Restore Quickshell project

This config expects the Deltarune Quickshell project here:

/home/kris/Projects/DeltaruneQuickshell

If it is missing, restore or clone it there.

12. Restore non-declarative assets

Copy back these if you want the setup to look correct:

• ~/Pictures/Wallpapers
• ~/Pictures/Deltarune
• ~/.local/share/fonts
• ~/.local/share/icons
• ~/.local/share/deltarunequickshell

Important:

• screenshots are optional
• the desktop can boot without all of this, but it will not look right

13. Restore private assets and secrets

If you use them, restore things like:

• SSH keys
• Git auth
• cloudflare credentials
• Bitwarden/KeePass databases
• any private art or shell assets

Useful Commands

Rebuild:

sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /etc/nixos#default

Update flake inputs:

cd /etc/nixos
nix flake update

Check current git state:

git -C /etc/nixos status

If Something Is Broken

Quickshell missing

Make sure:

• the package is installed by Nix
• /home/kris/Projects/DeltaruneQuickshell exists

Rice looks wrong

You probably forgot to restore:

• fonts
• icons/cursors
• wallpapers
• Quickshell runtime state

Build fails because of hardware config

Make sure this file exists:

/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix

Git push fails

Your local SSH config may be cursed. If needed, bypass system SSH config:

git -c core.sshCommand='ssh -F /dev/null' push

TL;DR

If you want the shortest version:

nix-shell -p git
rm -rf /etc/nixos
git clone git@tangled.sh:kris.darkworld.download/nix /etc/nixos
nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run github:nix-community/disko -- --mode destroy,format,mount /etc/nixos#default
nixos-generate-config --root /mnt
cp /mnt/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix /tmp/hardware-configuration.nix
rm -rf /mnt/etc/nixos
git clone git@tangled.sh:kris.darkworld.download/nix /mnt/etc/nixos
cp /tmp/hardware-configuration.nix /mnt/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix
nixos-install --flake /mnt/etc/nixos#default
reboot

Then restore:

• /home/kris/Projects/DeltaruneQuickshell
• ~/.local/share/fonts
• ~/.local/share/icons
• your wallpapers and pictures