Nix on MacOS - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Nix on Mac unfortunatelly has a long way to go yet. Not without its rough edges, Nix remains the best package manager on MacOS. As Nix evolves, we wait for the situation to hopefully improve.
Drake Rossman's Blog
Articles and Essays from Drake Rossman
Latest posts
How to Dual Boot NixOS and Windows
This article will walk you through the process of installing NixOS alongside Windows. Not only it explains the sequence of steps to be performed, but also touches on the Why's of the Linux-y things being they are, dives deeper to explain each step in thorough detail, and supplies enough context - regarding the ecosystem, historical, etc. In the end, you will get a full solution, and not something…
Why and How to Add Home Manager to NixOS
Home Manager is a tool to manage user-specific configuration on nix-enabled systems. By the end of this article you should have the understanding of why you should use it, as well as a system with Home Manager enabled.
Wayland on NixOS, or: Confusion, Conquest, Triumph
Flakes are a recent addition to NixOS. This article explains how to convert stock NixOS installation into a flaked-out one, and explains why you should do it.
How to Patch A Package Source on NixOS
This article will introduce you to Alejandra formatter, as well as teach how to leverage the Nix build system to easily patch any source code. This is the continuation of my previous article exploring nix formatters ecosystem.
Rust Development on NixOS, Part 2: How I Developed Rust Wasm Browser Extension
This is article is the continuation of my journey while developing a Rust WASM Browser Extension on NixOS. It discusses the actual implementation details and the architecture of the extension.
Rust Development on NixOS, Part 1: Bootstrapping Rust Nightly via Flake
This article with teach you how to start your Rust development on NixOS or any nix-enabled operating system. You will learn how to use flakes with development shells, how to bootstrap Rust Nightly, what is an overlay, and encounter some nix language quirks on your journey.
Interview with CTO of ListenField AgTech: Introducing NixOS to Organization
I had a fortune to interview David Hagege, the CTO of Agricultural Tech Startup ListenField. He has succesfully introduced Nix and NixOS to his organization and describes his journey in thorough detail in this interview.
Hackernews Userscript Written In Rust Wasm
The Usescript is written in Rust with Web Assembly compile target. The extension provides features, which allow users to filter submissions based on a text or a regular expression. All the filtering data and settings are stored in the localstorage. Check out the videos in this page for the features showcase!
Overview of Nix Formatters Ecosystem
This articles provides an overview of formatters available for the Nix Expression Language. Reading it will save you confusion, time, as well as some clicks, and help you choose the formatter that suits you most.
Different Ways to Set Up Environment Variables in Nix/NixOS
This short article will walk you through some ways to set env vars in your shell on a nix-enabled system.
How to Convert Default NixOS to NixOS with Flakes
Flakes are a recent addition to NixOS. This article explains how to convert stock NixOS installation into a flaked-out one, and explains why you should do it.
Practical NixOS: the Book
This book will introduce you to NixOS, and guide you through your journey towards comfortable working station and reproducible development environments and builds.
Snippet-Driven Development: My Snippets Are My Thinking Process
I want to tell you about a development technique called "Snippet-driven Development". I have successfully implemented it at one of my previous workplaces, and brought it to all the companies at which I have worked in a managerial position ever since. It can help you move faster and get feedback sooner, which is always valuable.
How and Why to Install NixOS, or: NixOS for Apt/Yum Users: a Gift That Keeps on Giving
In this article you'll learn the basics of NixOS and the Nix Expression Language. This article also reflects on my observations of NixOS's philosophy and ecosystem. By the end of the article, you should have a fully working NixOS install running on a physical host or in a Virtual Machine (with copy-paste between virtual and main systems enabled).
Avoid Learning Things That Do Not Compound
When presented with multiple paths for personal development as a software engineer, decision paralysis (also called "choice paralysis" and "analysis paralysis") may hinder your ability to reason efficiently on a long-term scale. By using a simple method I employ myself, it is possible to avoid the scope creep and focus on what matters most.