is presented Production distribution kit Nixos 21.05 , based on the package manager nix and providing a number of own developments that simplify the setting and maintenance of the system. For example, Nixos uses a single system configuration file (configuration.nix), it is possible to quickly roll back updates, there is support for switching between different systems of the system, the installation of individual packages is supported by individual users (the packet is installed in the home directory), it is possible to simultaneously install multiple versions of one program , reproduced assemblies are provided. The size of the full the setting image with KDE 1.4 GB, GNOME is 1.8 GB, a short-range console version – 660 MB.
Basic innovations :
- Added 12985 packets, 14109 packages are deleted, updated 16768 packages. Updated versions of distribution components, including GCC 10.3.0, GLIBC 2.32, MESA 21.0.1. The Linux basic kernel is updated from version 5.4 to 5.10, a kernel is proposed as an option 5.12.
- Desktops updated to KDE 5.21.3 (+ KDE Applications 20.12.3), GNOME 3.40 and CINNAMON 4.8.1.
- added new services with GNURADIO 3.8, KEYCLOAK authentication server and discussion platform DisCourse.
When using the NIX packets are installed in a separate directory / store tree or subdirectory in the user directory. For example, the package is set as /Nix/store/F2B5…8A163-FIREFOX-89.0.0/, where “F2B5 …” is a unique package identifier used to control dependencies. Packages are made in the form of containers containing the components necessary for the application.
A similar approach is used in the GNU GUIX batch manager, which is based on NIX.
Between the packages, it is possible to define dependencies, while to search for the presence of already installed dependencies use the scanning of the hache identifiers in the directory of the installed packages. It is possible how to download ready-made binary packages from the repository (only Delta-changes are downloaded to the binary packages when installing updates) and the assembly of source texts with all dependencies. The collection of packages is presented in a special repository nixpkgs .