Nix Configuration for macOS (Separated Setup)

This configuration provides a completely separated setup with nix-darwin for system configuration and standalone Home Manager for user configuration.

Table of Contents

• Important Notes
• Architecture
• Initial Setup
  • Prerequisites
  • Configuration Setup
• Package Distribution
  • System Level (darwin/configuration.nix)
  • User Level (home/home.nix)
• Usage
  • System Configuration Changes
  • User Configuration Changes
  • Available Home Manager Commands
• Testing Your Setup
• Shell Configuration
• Directory Structure
  • Wezterm Configuration Setup
  • Wezterm Shortcuts
• Dev Shells
  • Java Development Shell
  • C++ Development Shell
• Separated Setup Migration Instructions

Important Notes

Important

This configuration uses nixpkgs-unstable. For production use, consider using stable channels.

Important

The setup is optimized for zsh. If using a different shell, adjust configurations accordingly.

Warning

Always test changes in a non-production environment first.

Architecture

• System Configuration: Managed by nix-darwin (darwin/configuration.nix)
• User Configuration: Managed by standalone Home Manager (home/home.nix)
• Complete Independence: System and user configurations can be updated separately

Initial Setup

Prerequisites

1. Install Nix with flakes support:

mkdir -p ~/.config/nix
echo 'experimental-features = nix-command flakes' >> ~/.config/nix/nix.conf

2. Install nix-darwin:

nix run nix-darwin --extra-experimental-features nix-command --extra-experimental-features flakes -- switch --flake ~/nix-config

Configuration Setup

1. Update usernames and hostnames in configuration files:

# Get your username
whoami

# Get your hostname
hostname

# Get your home directory
echo $HOME

2. Edit flake.nix:

   • Update username = "nikitalenyk"; to your username
   • Update darwinConfigurations."MacBook-Pro-Nikita" to your hostname

3. Edit home/home.nix:

   • Update home.username = "nikitalenyk";
   • Update home.homeDirectory = "/Users/nikitalenyk";
   • Update git userName and userEmail

4. Apply the configuration:

cd ~/nix-config
sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake .
home-manager switch --flake .

Package Distribution

System Level (darwin/configuration.nix)

home-manager    # CLI tool for user config management
git            # Essential for nix operations
curl           # System networking tool
wget           # System networking tool
vim            # Fallback system editor

User Level (home/home.nix)

wezterm        # Terminal emulator
zoxide         # Directory navigation
starship       # Shell prompt
bat            # Cat replacement with syntax highlighting
fd             # Find replacement
ripgrep        # Grep replacement
logisim-evolution  # Logic circuit simulator

Usage

System Configuration Changes

For changes to system-level settings, packages, or Darwin configuration:

sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake .

User Configuration Changes

For changes to user packages, dotfiles, or personal settings:

home-manager switch --flake .

Available Home Manager Commands

home-manager news          # Read Home Manager updates
home-manager generations   # List configuration generations
home-manager rollback      # Roll back to previous generation

Testing Your Setup

1. Test System Configuration:

   sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake .

2. Test Home Manager Configuration:

   home-manager switch --flake .

3. Verify Home Manager CLI:

   which home-manager
   # Should return: /run/current-system/sw/bin/home-manager

Shell Configuration

The setup includes:

• Zsh with completion, autosuggestion, and syntax highlighting
• Zoxide for smart directory navigation
• Starship for a modern shell prompt
• Git configuration with user details

Directory Structure

nix-config/
├── flake.nix                 # Main flake with both configurations
├── flake.lock               # Lock file
├── darwin/
│   └── configuration.nix    # System-level configuration
├── home/
│   └── home.nix             # User-level configuration
├── dev-shells/              # Development environments
│   ├── cpp-cmake/
│   └── java-maven/
└── wezterm/                 # Terminal configuration files

Wezterm Configuration Setup

The wezterm is installed via Home Manager and configured separately.

1. Create the wezterm config directory:

mkdir -p ~/.config/wezterm

2. Move the configuration files:

mv ~/nix-config/wezterm/* ~/.config/wezterm/

Wezterm Shortcuts

• Ctrl+A p - Project selector
• Ctrl+A f - Workspace selector
• Ctrl+A " - Horizontal split
• Ctrl+A % - Vertical split
• Ctrl+A h/j/k/l - Navigate between splits
• Ctrl+A r - Resize mode

Important

Create Projects and Workspaces directories to use the selectors:

mkdir -p ~/Projects ~/Workspaces

Dev Shells

Development environments are available for different languages:

Java Development Shell

nix develop ~/nix-config/dev-shells/java-maven

C++ Development Shell

nix develop ~/nix-config/dev-shells/cpp-cmake

Separated Setup Migration Instructions

1. The configuration now separates system and user packages
2. Use home-manager switch --flake . for user-level changes only
3. Use sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake . for system-level changes only