NixOS & nix-darwin Configuration

Multi-platform Nix configuration for NixOS (Linux) and nix-darwin (macOS) using flakes.

Structure

.
├── flake.nix              # Flake with dynamic host discovery
├── lib/                   # Custom library functions
│   ├── default.nix        # Library aggregator
│   ├── filesystem.nix     # collectNix utility
│   ├── option.nix         # mkConst, mkValue helpers
│   ├── system.nix         # nixosSystem', darwinSystem' wrappers
│   └── values.nix         # enabled, disabled helpers
├── modules/
│   ├── common/            # Cross-platform system modules
│   ├── linux/             # NixOS-specific modules
│   └── darwin/            # nix-darwin-specific modules
├── home/
│   ├── common/            # Cross-platform home-manager modules
│   ├── linux/             # Linux-specific home modules
│   └── darwin/            # macOS-specific home modules
└── hosts/
    ├── vm/                # NixOS VM configuration
    ├── vps/               # NixOS VPS configuration
    └── mbp/               # macOS MacBook Pro configuration

Usage

This flake uses experimental Nix features (pipe-operators). These must be enabled before the flake can be evaluated.

Option 1: Global config (recommended)

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

Option 2: Pass flag each time

nix --extra-experimental-features pipe-operators <command>
# or with nh
nh darwin build . -- --extra-experimental-features pipe-operators

macOS (nix-darwin)

First time setup:

# Install nix (if not already installed)
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.determinate.systems/nix | sh -s -- install

# Enable experimental features (required to evaluate flake)
mkdir -p ~/.config/nix
echo "experimental-features = nix-command flakes pipe-operators" > ~/.config/nix/nix.conf

# Clone and apply
git clone https://github.com/caluckenbach/nixos-config.git
cd nixos-config
nix run nix-darwin -- switch --flake .#mbp

Rebuild after changes (nh includes pretty output via nom):

nh darwin switch .
# or build only
nh darwin build .

Update Homebrew packages (managed via nix-homebrew):

nix flake update homebrew-core homebrew-cask
nh darwin switch .

NixOS (Linux)

Rebuild system:

nh os switch .
# or build only
nh os build .

Hosts

Host	Platform	Type	User
mbp	macOS (aarch64-darwin)	Desktop	cal
vm	NixOS (aarch64-linux)	Desktop	morpheus
vps	NixOS (x86_64-linux)	Server	morpheus

What's Included

System

• Nix flakes with automatic host discovery
• Home Manager integration
• Platform-specific defaults (macOS: Dock, Finder, keyboard settings)
• Homebrew integration for macOS casks not in nixpkgs

Shell & Terminal

• Zsh with autosuggestions, syntax highlighting
• Starship prompt
• Ghostty terminal
• Zellij multiplexer with zjstatus

Keybindings

Modifier hierarchy for consistent muscle memory across tools:

• Ctrl = Pane operations (Zellij)
• Cmd = Tab operations (Ghostty)
• + Shift = Destructive/moving operations
• + Alt = Resize operations

Zellij (Panes)

Action	Keybind
Navigate panes	Ctrl+h/j/k/l
Move panes	Ctrl+Shift+h/j/k/l
Resize panes	Ctrl+Alt+h/j/k/l
New pane down	Ctrl+p d
New pane right	Ctrl+p r
Close pane	Ctrl+p x
Toggle floating	Alt+f

Ghostty (Tabs)

Action	Keybind
New tab	Cmd+t
Close tab	Cmd+w
Previous tab	Cmd+Shift+[
Next tab	Cmd+Shift+]

Development

• Editors: Neovim, Helix, Zed (macOS)
• VCS: Git, Jujutsu, lazygit, gitui
• Languages: Rust (rustup, bacon), Python (uv, ruff), Bun, Lua
• LSP: nil, lua-language-server, ruff
• Formatters: nixfmt-rfc-style, stylua, ty

Tools

• eza, bat, ripgrep, fd, fzf, zoxide
• yazi, glow, jless, jnv
• ffmpeg, yt-dlp, xh, tokei
• nix-output-monitor (nom)

AI/LLM

• claude-code
• opencode
• llm

macOS Apps (via nix)

• Raycast, Anki, Telegram, Zotero, OrbStack

macOS Apps (via Homebrew)

• Figma, ProtonVPN, Sublime Text

TODO

• VPS: ensure morpheus has a password or passwordless sudo to avoid lockout when SSH password auth and root login are disabled.
• Review Linux firewall defaults; currently disabled by default.
• Consider avoiding bun install -g in activation scripts; move to declarative packages or pin versions.
• README: reconcile formatter/tool list (mentions nixfmt-rfc-style but config installs nixfmt).
• Homebrew-to-Nix review (macOS): periodically re-check gitui and yt-dlp in nixpkgs and move back to Nix packages when stable.