I've used dozens of distros as a Linux power user, but this one feels truly different

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• NixOS is an open-source operating strategy that is disposable to instal and usage for free.
• It offers respective desktop environments to take from, is arsenic rock-solid arsenic immoderate OS connected the market, and performs rather well.
• However, there's a reasonably steep learning curve for installing non-free software.

Before we get into this review, I privation to connection immoderate accusation for caller Linux users. If you're uncomfortable utilizing the bid enactment oregon diving down rabbit holes to fig retired however to bash thing that should "just enactment retired of the box," past NixOS is astir apt not for you. 

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However, that's not to accidental idiosyncratic with minimal familiarity with the bid enactment would neglect with this distribution. For example, if you lone request open-source software, NixOS could beryllium a viable option. If, however, you request apps similar Chrome, Slack, and Spotify, you mightiness tally into immoderate vexation that volition nonstop you packing backmost to Ubuntu, Linux Mint, oregon Windows.

With that said, let's get to what makes this organisation great. 

Not everyone wants an Ubuntu oregon Linux Mint distribution. I'm not saying those 2 operating systems aren't outstanding, but astatine immoderate point, a Linux idiosyncratic mightiness privation thing a spot much robust. 

I've tried astir each Linux OS I've travel across, from the ridiculously elemental (Ubuntu) to the astoundingly analyzable (Gentoo) and everything successful between. So erstwhile I find a Linux organisation that tin situation me, I leap astatine the accidental to spot what it tin do.

Such is the lawsuit with NixOS. This from-scratch Linux organisation isn't astir arsenic hard arsenic Gentoo, but it's not rather arsenic user-friendly arsenic Ubuntu. Where does that permission it? I'd accidental determination betwixt Ubuntu and Arch Linux.

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You'll find 2 authoritative versions of NixOS -- 1 with GNOME and 1 with Plasma Desktop. During the installation, you'll beryllium offered the accidental to instal from a database of antithetic desktop environments. For my testing, I chose Deepin Desktop because I'm a instrumentality of its layout. So you mightiness beryllium asking: With truthful galore easy-to-use desktop environments, wherefore would NixOS beryllium considered challenging for caller users?

First off, there's nary GUI app store. That's right. With NixOS, you instal packages via the bid line. But don't worry, NixOS has thing to assistance you retired with that. Open your web browser and constituent it to search.nixos.org. On that site, you tin hunt for immoderate portion of bundle you request to install, and it volition springiness you the bid to bash conscionable that. For example, to hunt for Slack, the instal bid is:

Ah, but we past tally into our archetypal problem. You see, retired of the box, NixOS is configured not to instal non-free bundle without a spot of help. When you tally the supra command, you'll spot successful the output that determination are 2 ways astir this:

• a) To temporarily let non-free packages, you tin acceptable a peculiar situation adaptable with the command: export NIXPKGS_ALLOW_UNFREE=1
• b) For `nixos-rebuild` acceptable { nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true; } successful /etc/nixos/configuration.nix.
  

However, erstwhile I look successful configuration.nix, the allowUnfree enactment is already acceptable to true. What's the deal? Turns out, adjacent though that enactment is global, you inactive person to make a config record successful your location directory, specifically successful ~/.config/nixpkgs. Oh, but wait, the nixpkgs directory doesn't exist, truthful you person to make it first. 

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Hopefully, you're starting to spot why, adjacent with a user-friendly GUI, NixOS isn't a bully prime for caller users. It's a large prime if you person plentifulness of Linux experience, arsenic it's arsenic stone coagulated arsenic Debian oregon Arch. And if you lone privation to usage open-source (free) software, you won't person overmuch successful the mode of problems (as agelong arsenic you're comfy with the bid line).

Beyond the installation of non-free software, what is NixOS like? It's a stable, businesslike operating strategy that's besides unafraid and includes astir everything you request to get started (minus an bureau suite and email client). For those who request an bureau suite, you tin instal LibreOffice with:

If you request an email client, try:

The last vexation I'll notation with this is that, adjacent aft successfully installing an app, you won't find it successful the menu. Argh! I adjacent had an lawsuit where, aft installing LibreOffice and logging out, it seemed LibreOffice vanished, and I had to instal it again. 

Even then, I opened the app and tried adding it to the dock, lone to observe it was an unrecognized application. The bully quality is that aft a reboot, everything was precisely arsenic it should person been. I'm conscionable not utilized to rebooting aft installing an exertion successful Linux. Go figure.

All it took was a reboot aft installation and LibreOffice was successful the desktop paper and acceptable to use.

Jack Wallen\ZDNET

Frustrations tin equine rapidly with NixOS. Those frustrations are, however, surmountable. It conscionable takes time. And effort. And Google (or DuckDuckGo). That's wherefore I urge NixOS to Linux users who person a coagulated knowing of the basics. 

ZDNET's advice

Usually, erstwhile I bash a reappraisal of a Linux distribution, I instal it arsenic a VirtualBox virtual machine, footwear the tires, and delete the VM erstwhile I'm finished. However, with NixOS, I program connected keeping it astir for a portion truthful I tin amended larn the ins and outs of utilizing this fascinating OS.

If you're comfy utilizing the Linux bid enactment and similar a challenge, you should surely springiness NixOS a try. Once you person everything up and moving with this open-source operating system, it volition not fto you down.