Merge pull request #39 from DeterminateSystems/release-v3.4.0/3dffc8a4-b1ae-48d8-aac3-ae109dc93cda

Release v3.4.0

Author: grahamc

.version-determinate

@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.3.1
+3.4.0

doc/manual/source/SUMMARY.md.in

@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@
   - [Contributing](development/contributing.md)
 - [Determinate Nix Release Notes](release-notes-determinate/index.md)
   - [Changes between Nix and Determinate Nix](release-notes-determinate/changes.md)
+  - [Release 3.4.0 (2025-04-25)](release-notes-determinate/rl-3.4.0.md)
   - [Release 3.3.0 (2025-04-11)](release-notes-determinate/rl-3.3.0.md)
   - [Release 3.1.0 (2025-03-27)](release-notes-determinate/rl-3.1.0.md)
   - [Release 3.0.0 (2025-03-04)](release-notes-determinate/rl-3.0.0.md)

doc/manual/source/release-notes-determinate/changes.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Changes between Nix and Determinate Nix
 
-This section lists the differences between upstream Nix 2.24 and Determinate Nix 3.3.0.
+This section lists the differences between upstream Nix 2.24 and Determinate Nix 3.4.0.
 
 * In Determinate Nix, flakes are stable. You no longer need to enable the `flakes` experimental feature.
 
@@ -9,3 +9,9 @@ This section lists the differences between upstream Nix 2.24 and Determinate Nix
 * Determinate Nix has a setting [`json-log-path`](@docroot@/command-ref/conf-file.md#conf-json-log-path) to send a copy of all Nix log messages (in JSON format) to a file or Unix domain socket.
 
 * Determinate Nix has made `nix profile install` an alias to `nix profile add`, a more symmetrical antonym of `nix profile remove`.
+
+* `nix-channel` and `channel:` url syntax (like `channel:nixos-24.11`) is deprecated, see: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/issues/34
+
+* Using indirect flake references and implicit inputs is deprecated, see: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/issues/37
+
+* Warnings around "dirty trees" are updated to reduce "dirty" jargon, and now refers to "uncommitted changes".

doc/manual/source/release-notes-determinate/rl-3.4.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# Release 3.4.0 (2025-04-25)
+
+* Based on [upstream Nix 2.28.2](../release-notes/rl-2.28.md).
+
+* **Warn users that `nix-channel` is deprecated.**
+
+This is the first change accomplishing our roadmap item of deprecating Nix channels: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/issues/34
+
+This is due to user confusion and surprising behavior of channels, especially in the context of user vs. root channels.
+
+The goal of this change is to make the user experience of Nix more predictable.
+In particular, these changes are to support users with lower levels of experience who are following guides that focus on channels as the mechanism of distribution.
+
+Users will now see this message:
+
+> nix-channel is deprecated in favor of flakes in Determinate Nix. For a guide on Nix flakes, see: https://zero-to-nix.com/.  or details and to offer feedback on the deprecation process, see: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/issues/34.
+
+
+* **Warn users that `channel:` URLs are deprecated.**
+
+This is the second change regarding our deprecation of Nix channels.
+Using a `channel:` URL (like `channel:nixos-24.11`) will yield a warning like this:
+
+> Channels are deprecated in favor of flakes in Determinate Nix. Instead of 'channel:nixos-24.11', use 'https://nixos.org/channels/nixos-24.11/nixexprs.tar.xz'. For a guide on Nix flakes, see: https://zero-to-nix.com/. For details and to offer feedback on the deprecation process, see: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/issues/34.
+
+* **Warn users against indirect flake references in `flake.nix` inputs**
+
+This is the first change accomplishing our roadmap item of deprecating implicit and indirect flake inputs: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/issues/37
+
+The flake registry provides an important UX affordance for using Nix flakes and remote sources in command line uses.
+For that reason, the registry is not being deprecated entirely and will still be used for command-line incantations, like nix run.
+
+This move will eliminate user confusion and surprising behavior around global and local registries during flake input resolution.
+
+The goal of this change is to make the user experience of Nix more predictable.
+We have seen a pattern of confusion when using automatic flake inputs and local registries.
+Specifically, users' flake inputs resolving and locking inconsistently depending on the configuration of the host system.
+
+Users will now see the following warning if their flake.nix uses an implicit or indirect Flake reference input:
+
+> Flake input 'nixpkgs' uses the flake registry. Using the registry in flake inputs is deprecated in Determinate Nix. To make your flake future-proof, add the following to 'xxx/flake.nix':
+>
+>  inputs.nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-24.11";
+>
+> For more information, see: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/issues/37
+
+
+### Other updates:
+* Improve the "dirty tree" message. Determinate Nix will now say `Git tree '...' has uncommitted changes` instead of `Git tree '...' is dirty`
+* Stop warning about uncommitted changes in a Git repository when using `nix develop`