From 02d9cf2d303e4e7e283dba2f3181f3e40843c354 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Valentin Gagarin Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2023 00:41:19 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] shorten the quick start chapter this focuses on `nix-shell -p` and refers to search.nixos.org for package search, which is currently the easiest and most effective way to find program names. --- doc/manual/src/quick-start.md | 87 +++++++---------------------------- 1 file changed, 16 insertions(+), 71 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/manual/src/quick-start.md b/doc/manual/src/quick-start.md index 5f54abbde..04a0b7c96 100644 --- a/doc/manual/src/quick-start.md +++ b/doc/manual/src/quick-start.md @@ -1,10 +1,9 @@ # Quick Start -This chapter is for impatient people who don't like reading -documentation. For more in-depth information you are kindly referred -to subsequent chapters. +This chapter is for impatient people who don't like reading documentation. +For more in-depth information you are kindly referred to subsequent chapters. -1. Install Nix by running the following: +1. Install Nix: ```console $ curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh @@ -13,87 +12,33 @@ to subsequent chapters. The install script will use `sudo`, so make sure you have sufficient rights. On Linux, `--daemon` can be omitted for a single-user install. - For other installation methods, see [here](installation/index.md). + For other installation methods, see the detailed [installation instructions](installation/index.md). -1. See what installable packages are currently available in the - channel: +1. Run software without installing it permanently: ```console - $ nix-env --query --available --attr-path - nixpkgs.docbook_xml_dtd_43 docbook-xml-4.3 - nixpkgs.docbook_xml_dtd_45 docbook-xml-4.5 - nixpkgs.firefox firefox-33.0.2 - nixpkgs.hello hello-2.9 - nixpkgs.libxslt libxslt-1.1.28 - … + $ nix-shell --packages cowsay lolcat ``` -1. Install some packages from the channel: + This downloads the specified packages with all their dependencies, and drops you into a Bash shell where the commands provided by those packages are present. + This will not affect your normal environment: ```console - $ nix-env --install --attr nixpkgs.hello + [nix-shell:~]$ cowsay Hello, Nix! | lolcat ``` - This should download pre-built packages; it should not build them - locally (if it does, something went wrong). - -1. Test that they work: + Exiting the shell will make the programs disappear again: ```console - $ which hello - /home/eelco/.nix-profile/bin/hello - $ hello - Hello, world! - ``` - -1. Uninstall a package: - - ```console - $ nix-env --uninstall hello - ``` - -1. You can also test a package without installing it: - - ```console - $ nix-shell --packages hello - ``` - - This builds or downloads GNU Hello and its dependencies, then drops - you into a Bash shell where the `hello` command is present, all - without affecting your normal environment: - - ```console - [nix-shell:~]$ hello - Hello, world! - [nix-shell:~]$ exit - - $ hello - hello: command not found + $ lolcat + lolcat: command not found ``` -1. To keep up-to-date with the channel, do: +1. Search for more packages on to try them out. + +1. Free up storage space: ```console - $ nix-channel --update nixpkgs - $ nix-env --upgrade '*' - ``` - - The latter command will upgrade each installed package for which - there is a “newer” version (as determined by comparing the version - numbers). - -1. If you're unhappy with the result of a `nix-env` action (e.g., an - upgraded package turned out not to work properly), you can go back: - - ```console - $ nix-env --rollback - ``` - -1. You should periodically run the Nix garbage collector to get rid of - unused packages, since uninstalls or upgrades don't actually delete - them: - - ```console - $ nix-collect-garbage --delete-old + $ nix-collect-garbage ```