diff --git a/src/libcmd/activatables.cc b/src/libcmd/activatables.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..490dba75d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libcmd/activatables.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#include "command.hh"
+#include "progress-bar.hh"
+
+using namespace nix;
+
+ActivatableCommand::ActivatableCommand(std::string activationPackageAttrPath)
+    : activationPackageAttrPath(activationPackageAttrPath)
+{ }
+
+void ActivatableCommand::prepare() {
+    InstallableCommand::prepare();
+    auto installableFlake = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<InstallableFlake>(installable);
+    if (installableFlake) {
+        auto fragment = *installableFlake->attrPaths.begin();
+        installable = std::make_shared<InstallableFlake>(
+                this,
+                getEvalState(),
+                std::move(installableFlake->flakeRef),
+                activationPackageAttrPath == "" ? fragment : fragment + "." + activationPackageAttrPath,
+                installableFlake->outputsSpec,
+                getDefaultFlakeAttrPaths(),
+                getDefaultFlakeAttrPathPrefixes(),
+                installableFlake->lockFlags
+            );
+    }
+}
+
+StorePath ActivatableCommand::buildActivatable(nix::ref<nix::Store> store, bool dryRun) {
+    auto installableFlake = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<InstallableFlake>(installable);
+    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Installable>> installableContext;
+    installableContext.emplace_back(installable);
+    auto buildables = Installable::build(
+        getEvalStore(), store,
+        Realise::Outputs,
+        installableContext, bmNormal);
+
+    BuiltPaths buildables2;
+    for (auto & b : buildables)
+        buildables2.push_back(b.path);
+
+    auto buildable = buildables2.front();
+    if (buildables2.size() != 1 || buildable.outPaths().size() != 1) {
+        throw UsageError("this command requires that the argument produces a single store path");
+    }
+    return *buildable.outPaths().begin();
+}
diff --git a/src/libcmd/activatables.hh b/src/libcmd/activatables.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7b564a55b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libcmd/activatables.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#include "command.hh"
+#include "local-fs-store.hh"
+#include "progress-bar.hh"
+#include "shared.hh"
+
+using namespace nix;
+
+
+template<class ActivatableCommand>
+ActivatableBuildCommand<ActivatableCommand>::ActivatableBuildCommand()
+{
+    addFlag({
+        .longName = "out-link",
+        .shortName = 'o',
+        .description = "Use *path* as prefix for the symlinks to the build results. It defaults to `result`.",
+        .labels = {"path"},
+        .handler = {&outLink},
+        .completer = completePath
+    });
+
+    addFlag({
+        .longName = "no-link",
+        .description = "Do not create symlinks to the build results.",
+        .handler = {&outLink, Path("")},
+    });
+
+    addFlag({
+        .longName = "print-out-paths",
+        .description = "Print the resulting output paths",
+        .handler = {&printOutputPaths, true},
+    });
+};
+
+template<class ActivatableCommand>
+void ActivatableBuildCommand<ActivatableCommand>::run(nix::ref<Store> store)
+{
+    auto installableFlake = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<InstallableFlake>(ActivatableCommand::installable);
+    if (dryRun) {
+        std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Installable>> installableContext;
+        installableContext.emplace_back(ActivatableCommand::installable);
+        std::vector<DerivedPath> pathsToBuild;
+
+        for (auto & i : installableContext) {
+            auto b = i->toDerivedPaths();
+            pathsToBuild.insert(pathsToBuild.end(), b.begin(), b.end());
+        }
+        printMissing(store, pathsToBuild, lvlError);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    auto out = ActivatableCommand::buildActivatable(store);
+
+    if (outLink != "") {
+        if (auto store2 = store.dynamic_pointer_cast<LocalFSStore>()) {
+            std::string symlink = outLink;
+            store2->addPermRoot(out, absPath(symlink));
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (printOutputPaths) {
+        stopProgressBar();
+        std::cout << store->printStorePath(out) << std::endl;
+    }
+}
+
+template<class ActivatableCommand>
+ActivationCommand<ActivatableCommand>::ActivationCommand(std::string activationType, std::string selfCommandName)
+    : activationType(activationType),
+      selfCommandName(selfCommandName)
+{ }
diff --git a/src/libcmd/command.hh b/src/libcmd/command.hh
index 60c575d56..1ee855af0 100644
--- a/src/libcmd/command.hh
+++ b/src/libcmd/command.hh
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include "common-args.hh"
 #include "installables.hh"
 #include "args.hh"
 #include "common-eval-args.hh"
@@ -272,6 +273,34 @@ struct MixEnvironment : virtual Args {
     void setEnviron();
 };
 
+/* A command that operates on exactly one "activatable" */
+struct ActivatableCommand : public InstallableCommand
+{
+    ActivatableCommand(std::string activationPackageAttrPath);
+    std::string activationPackageAttrPath;
+    void prepare() override;
+    StorePath buildActivatable(nix::ref<Store> store, bool dryRun = false);
+};
+
+template<class ActivatableCommand>
+struct ActivatableBuildCommand : public ActivatableCommand, public MixDryRun
+{
+    ActivatableBuildCommand();
+    Path outLink = "result";
+    bool printOutputPaths = false;
+    void run(nix::ref<Store>) override;
+};
+
+/* A command that manages the activation of exactly one "activatable" */
+template<class ActivatableCommand>
+struct ActivationCommand : public ActivatableCommand
+{
+public: 
+    ActivationCommand(std::string activationType, std::string selfCommandName);
+    const std::string activationType;
+    const std::string selfCommandName;
+};
+
 void completeFlakeRef(ref<Store> store, std::string_view prefix);
 
 void completeFlakeRefWithFragment(
diff --git a/src/libmain/shared.cc b/src/libmain/shared.cc
index 226025ad8..c3a2dd7ba 100644
--- a/src/libmain/shared.cc
+++ b/src/libmain/shared.cc
@@ -354,6 +354,8 @@ void printVersion(const std::string & programName)
         cfg.push_back("gc");
 #endif
         cfg.push_back("signed-caches");
+        cfg.push_back("nixos");
+        cfg.push_back("home");
         std::cout << "System type: " << settings.thisSystem << "\n";
         std::cout << "Additional system types: " << concatStringsSep(", ", settings.extraPlatforms.get()) << "\n";
         std::cout << "Features: " << concatStringsSep(", ", cfg) << "\n";
diff --git a/src/nix/home-apply.md b/src/nix/home-apply.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d3a39b803
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/home-apply.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This command activates a home-manager configuration.
+
+)""
+
+
diff --git a/src/nix/home-build.md b/src/nix/home-build.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2040dcf20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/home-build.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This command builds NixOS configurations. The default attribute name is the current system hostname.
+
+)""
diff --git a/src/nix/home.cc b/src/nix/home.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ab97d255e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/home.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+#include "command.hh"
+#include "activatables.hh"
+#include "progress-bar.hh"
+
+using namespace nix;
+
+void execute(std::string program, Strings args) {
+    stopProgressBar();
+    restoreProcessContext();
+    args.push_front(program);
+    execvp(program.c_str(), stringsToCharPtrs(args).data());
+
+    throw SysError("unable to execute '%s'", program);
+}
+
+struct HomeCommand : ActivatableCommand
+{
+    HomeCommand()
+        : ActivatableCommand("activationPackage")
+    {}
+
+    Strings getDefaultFlakeAttrPaths() override
+    {
+        auto username = getUserName();
+        char hostname[1024];
+        hostname[1023] = '\0';
+        gethostname(hostname, 1024);
+        
+        Strings res{
+            "homeConfigurations." + username,
+            "homeConfigurations." + username + "@" + std::string(hostname),
+        };
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    Strings getDefaultFlakeAttrPathPrefixes() override
+    {
+        Strings res{"homeConfigurations."};
+        return res;
+    }
+
+};
+
+struct HomeActivationCommand : ActivationCommand<HomeCommand>
+{
+    HomeActivationCommand(std::string activationType, std::string selfCommandName)
+        : ActivationCommand<HomeCommand>(activationType, selfCommandName)
+    { }
+
+    void run(nix::ref<nix::Store> store) override
+    {
+        auto out = buildActivatable(store);
+        execute(store->printStorePath(out) + "/activate", Strings{});
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdHomeBuild : ActivatableBuildCommand<HomeCommand>
+{
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "build a home-manager configuration";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "home-build.md"
+          ;
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdHomeApply : HomeActivationCommand
+{
+    CmdHomeApply() : HomeActivationCommand("switch", "apply")
+    {
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "activate a home-manager configuration";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "home-apply.md"
+          ;
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdHome : NixMultiCommand
+{
+    CmdHome()
+        : MultiCommand({
+                {"build", []() { return make_ref<CmdHomeBuild>(); }},
+                {"apply", []() { return make_ref<CmdHomeApply>(); }},
+            })
+    {
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "manage home-manager configurations";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "home.md"
+          ;
+    }
+
+    void run() override
+    {
+        if (!command)
+            throw UsageError("'nix home' requires a sub-command.");
+        settings.requireExperimentalFeature(Xp::NixCommand);
+        command->second->prepare();
+        command->second->run();
+    }
+};
+
+static auto rCmdHome = registerCommand<CmdHome>("home");
diff --git a/src/nix/home.md b/src/nix/home.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e2042aeb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/home.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This is a group of commands for managing home-manager configurations.
+
+)""
diff --git a/src/nix/system-activate.md b/src/nix/system-activate.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cdf842854
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/system-activate.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This command activates NixOS configurations.
+
+)""
+
diff --git a/src/nix/system-apply.md b/src/nix/system-apply.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df6c82167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/system-apply.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This command activates NixOS configurations and sets it as the default boot configuration.
+
+The `profile` parameter is used to specify the system profile to use.
+
+The default system profile is `/nix/var/nix/profiles/system`.
+
+A system profile named `hello` would be located at `/nix/var/nix/profiles/system-profiles/hello`.
+
+)""
+
+
diff --git a/src/nix/system-boot.md b/src/nix/system-boot.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3214baa9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/system-boot.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This command sets the given NixOS configuration as the default boot configuration. It will be activated on the next boot.
+
+The `profile` parameter is used to specify the system profile to use.
+
+The default system profile is `/nix/var/nix/profiles/system`.
+
+A system profile named `hello` would be located at `/nix/var/nix/profiles/system-profiles/hello`.
+
+)""
+
+
+
diff --git a/src/nix/system-build.md b/src/nix/system-build.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2040dcf20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/system-build.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This command builds NixOS configurations. The default attribute name is the current system hostname.
+
+)""
diff --git a/src/nix/system.cc b/src/nix/system.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..421cc9071
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/system.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+#include "command.hh"
+#include "activatables.hh"
+#include "progress-bar.hh"
+
+using namespace nix;
+
+void executePrivileged(std::string program, Strings args) {
+    stopProgressBar();
+    restoreProcessContext();
+    args.push_front(program);
+    auto exe = program;
+    auto privCmds = Strings {
+        "doas",
+        "sudo"
+    };
+    bool isRoot = getuid() == 0;
+    for (auto privCmd : privCmds) {
+        if(!isRoot) {
+            args.push_front(privCmd);
+            exe = privCmd;
+        }
+        execvp(exe.c_str(), stringsToCharPtrs(args).data());
+        if(!isRoot)
+            args.pop_front();
+    }
+
+    throw SysError("unable to execute privilege elevation helper (tried %s)", concatStringsSep(", ", privCmds));
+}
+
+struct SystemCommand : ActivatableCommand
+{
+    SystemCommand()
+        : ActivatableCommand("config.system.build.toplevel")
+    {}
+
+    Strings getDefaultFlakeAttrPaths() override
+    {
+        char hostname[1024];
+        hostname[1023] = '\0';
+        gethostname(hostname, 1024);
+        Strings res{
+            "nixosConfigurations." + std::string(hostname),
+        };
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    Strings getDefaultFlakeAttrPathPrefixes() override
+    {
+        Strings res{"nixosConfigurations."};
+        return res;
+    }
+
+};
+
+struct SystemActivationCommand : ActivationCommand<SystemCommand>, MixProfile
+{
+    SystemActivationCommand(std::string activationType, std::string selfCommandName)
+        : ActivationCommand<SystemCommand>(activationType, selfCommandName)
+    { }
+
+    void run(nix::ref<nix::Store> store) override
+    {
+        auto out = buildActivatable(store);
+
+        if (getuid() != 0) {
+            Strings args {
+                "system", selfCommandName,
+                store->printStorePath(out)
+            };
+            if (profile) {
+                args.push_back("--profile");
+                args.push_back(profile.value());
+            }
+            executePrivileged(getSelfExe().value_or("nix"), args);
+        } else {
+            if (!profile) {
+                profile = settings.nixStateDir + "/profiles/system";
+            } else {
+                auto systemProfileBase = settings.nixStateDir + "/profiles/system-profiles";
+                if (!pathExists(systemProfileBase)) {
+                    createDirs(systemProfileBase);
+                }
+                profile = systemProfileBase + "/" + profile.value();
+            }
+            updateProfile(out);
+            executePrivileged(profile.value() + "/bin/switch-to-configuration", Strings{activationType});
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdSystemBuild : ActivatableBuildCommand<SystemCommand>
+{
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "build a NixOS system configuration";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "system-build.md"
+          ;
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdSystemActivate : SystemCommand, MixDryRun
+{
+    CmdSystemActivate()
+    {
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "activate a NixOS system configuration";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "system-activate.md"
+          ;
+    }
+    void run(nix::ref<nix::Store> store) override
+    {
+        auto out = buildActivatable(store);
+
+        executePrivileged(store->printStorePath(out) + "/bin/switch-to-configuration", Strings{dryRun ? "dry-activate" : "test"});
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdSystemApply : SystemActivationCommand
+{
+    CmdSystemApply() : SystemActivationCommand("switch", "apply")
+    {
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "activate a NixOS system configuration and make it the default boot configuration";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "system-apply.md"
+          ;
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdSystemBoot : SystemActivationCommand
+{
+    CmdSystemBoot() : SystemActivationCommand("boot","boot")
+    {
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "make a NixOS configuration the default boot configuration";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "system-boot.md"
+          ;
+    }
+};
+
+struct CmdSystem : NixMultiCommand
+{
+    CmdSystem()
+        : MultiCommand({
+                {"build", []() { return make_ref<CmdSystemBuild>(); }},
+                {"activate", []() { return make_ref<CmdSystemActivate>(); }},
+                {"apply", []() { return make_ref<CmdSystemApply>(); }},
+                {"boot", []() { return make_ref<CmdSystemBoot>(); }},
+            })
+    {
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "manage NixOS systems";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+          #include "system.md"
+          ;
+    }
+
+    void run() override
+    {
+        if (!command)
+            throw UsageError("'nix system' requires a sub-command.");
+        settings.requireExperimentalFeature(Xp::NixCommand);
+        command->second->prepare();
+        command->second->run();
+    }
+};
+
+static auto rCmdSystem = registerCommand<CmdSystem>("system");
diff --git a/src/nix/system.md b/src/nix/system.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de2b64647
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/system.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+R""(
+
+# Description
+
+This is a group of commands for managing NixOS system configurations.
+
+)""