NixOS Configuration Structure

This NixOS configuration has been refactored to make it easier to share packages and configuration between hosts while maintaining host-specific customizations.

Structure Overview

NixOS/
├── hosts/
│   ├── shared/
│   │   └── common.nix          # Shared configuration for all hosts
│   ├── default/                # Desktop configuration
│   │   ├── configuration.nix   # Desktop-specific settings
│   │   └── hardware-configuration.nix
│   └── laptop/                 # Laptop configuration
│       ├── configuration.nix   # Laptop-specific settings
│       └── hardware-configuration.nix
├── modules/
│   ├── packages/               # NEW: Shared package management
│   │   └── default.nix         # Categorized package definitions
│   ├── core/                   # Core system configuration
│   ├── desktop/                # Desktop environment management
│   ├── networking/             # Network configuration
│   └── home/                   # Home-manager integration
└── ...

Key Changes

1. Shared Package Management (modules/packages/)

The new packages module provides categorized package management:

• browsers: Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Brave, etc.)
• development: Development tools (Postman, API clients, etc.)
• media: Media and entertainment (Spotify, Discord, VLC, etc.)
• utilities: System utilities (gparted, syncthing, etc.)
• gaming: Gaming-related packages (Steam, GameMode, etc.)
• audioVideo: Audio/video tools (PipeWire, EasyEffects, etc.)
• python: Python with optional GTK support

2. Common Configuration (hosts/shared/common.nix)

Contains shared settings for:

• Basic system configuration
• Common hardware settings
• Shared services (Syncthing, SSH, etc.)
• User configuration
• Locale settings
• Desktop environment (GNOME)

3. Dotfiles Management (chezmoi)

UPDATED: Comprehensive dotfiles management with chezmoi using project-local storage:

• Project Integration: Dotfiles stored in ~/NixOS/dotfiles/ within the repository
• Pre-imported Configuration: Common dotfiles already imported and ready to use
• Instantaneous Sync: Changes apply immediately without rebuilding NixOS
• Independent Operation: Works separately from NixOS and Home Manager
• Helper Scripts: dotfiles-init, dotfiles-edit, dotfiles-apply, etc.
• Shell Aliases: dotfiles, dotfiles-diff
• Git Integration: Dotfiles directory is its own git repository

See DOTFILES_README.md and CHEZMOI_SETUP.md for complete setup and usage instructions.

4. Host-Specific Configurations

Desktop (hosts/default/configuration.nix)

• Gaming packages enabled
• AMD GPU configuration
• Java and Android development tools
• LaTeX documentation tools
• Desktop-specific ports (3000)

Laptop (hosts/laptop/configuration.nix)

• Gaming packages disabled (laptop-friendly)
• Intel graphics configuration
• Minimal package set
• Tailscale enabled for mobile connectivity

Usage Examples

Adding a New Package Category

To add a new package category, edit modules/packages/default.nix:

newCategory = {
  enable = mkEnableOption "new category packages";
  packages = mkOption {
    type = types.listOf types.package;
    default = with pkgs; [
      # your packages here
    ];
    description = "List of new category packages";
  };
};

Enabling/Disabling Package Categories per Host

In any host configuration:

modules.packages = {
  enable = true;
  browsers.enable = true;     # Enable browsers
  gaming.enable = false;      # Disable gaming (good for laptops)
  development.enable = true;  # Enable development tools
};

Adding Host-Specific Packages

modules.packages.extraPackages = with pkgs; [
  # Host-specific packages that don't fit in categories
  specialTool
  hostSpecificApp
];

Benefits

1. DRY Principle: No more duplicated package lists between hosts
2. Easy Maintenance: Update packages in one place
3. Flexible: Enable/disable entire categories per host
4. Scalable: Easy to add new hosts that inherit common configuration
5. Clear Separation: Host-specific vs. shared configuration is obvious

Migration Guide

When adding a new host:

1. Create the host directory: hosts/newhost/
2. Add hardware configuration: hardware-configuration.nix
3. Create minimal configuration.nix that imports common.nix
4. Add only host-specific overrides and packages

Example minimal host configuration:

{
  imports = [
    ./hardware-configuration.nix
    ../../modules
    ../shared/common.nix
  ];

  # Override hostname
  modules.networking.hostName = "my-new-host";
  modules.home.hostName = "newhost";

  # Host-specific packages
  modules.packages.gaming.enable = true; # or false
  modules.packages.extraPackages = with pkgs; [
    hostSpecificTool
  ];

  # Host-specific hardware/boot configuration
  # ...
}

This structure makes it much easier to maintain multiple NixOS configurations while sharing common functionality.

Quick Reference

Dotfiles Management Commands

# Initialize dotfiles
dotfiles-init

# Check status
dotfiles-status  # or dotfiles

# Edit dotfiles in VS Code/Cursor
dotfiles-edit

# Apply changes to system
dotfiles-apply

# Add new files to management
dotfiles-add ~/.new-config

# Sync with git
dotfiles-sync

NixOS Rebuild Commands

# Test configuration
sudo nixos-rebuild test --flake .

# Switch to new configuration
sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .

# Build without switching
sudo nixos-rebuild build --flake .