My daily driver's Snowfall🌨️🍂 NixOS❄️ desktop flake

• My daily driver's Snowfall🌨️🍂 NixOS❄️ desktop flake
  • Notes
  • Programs and Features
  • Installation
    • On a new host machine
  • Usage
    • Flake
      • Shell environment
      • Overview
      • Build and switch configuration
      • Update flake inputs
      • Rollback
      • Code formatting
      • snowfallorg/flake
    • Hyprkeys
    • NixOS stable branch
  • Structure
    • You want to build from here?
  • Troubleshooting
    • Some options in modules/home/ or homes/ are not being applied with nixos-rebuild
  • 👀, 🏆 and ❤️

My dotfiles are not perfekt, but they strive to be:

• fully declarative 📝
• highly structured 🧱
• modular 🎛️
• a consistent look'n'feel ✨
• KISS (keep it stupid simple)🥴

Notes

This flake can and will radically change as I learn, discover new things and have new ideas.

Programs and Features

• 👥 Multiple hosts
• 🧍 Standalone home
• ❄️🏗️ Snowfall-lib structure
• ❄️ almost every module can be disabled
• ❄️💲 Snowfall-flake commands
• 📦 Declarative flatpaks
• 📦 Appimage support

Operating System 💻	NixOS
Window manager 🪟	Gnome with extensions, Hyprland with plugins
Login manager 🔒	gdm, greetd, tty
Session locking 🔒	hyprlock
Terminal ⌨️	kitty
Shell 🐚	fish
Prompt ➡️	starship
File manager 📁	nautilus, pcmanfm, yazi
Editor ✏️	VSCodium
Web 🌍	Firefox, Librewolf, Epiphany
Theming 🎨	Stylix - modified catppuccin 🌿 Mocha
Networking 🌐	networkmanager, connman
Virtualization 🪟	virt-manager, bottles

Installation

On a new host machine

1. Install NixOS

2. Dotfiles preparation: mandatory changes to my dotfiles

   1. git clone https://github.com/dafitt/dotfiles.git

   2. Add a new system-configuration to /systems/<architecture>/<host>/default.nix (available dafitt-nixos options can be found at templates/system/default.nix)

   3. Copy and import hardware-configuration.nix!

   4. Set the correct system.stateVersion

   5. Add a new home-configuration to homes/<architecture>/<user>[@<host>]/default.nix (available dafitt-home options can be found at templates/home/default.nix)

   6. Commit all changes:

      git add . && git commit -m "systems: added new host"
      

   7. Uncomment nixConfig in flake.nix and enter nix develop on your first build for faster build time

3. System preparation

   1. Remove (or save) some files for the Home-manager so that the first build is not interrupted:

      rm ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs ~/.config/mimeapps.list ~/.config/fish/config.fish ~/.config/hypr/hyprland.conf
      

4. Build

   1. nix-shell and then nix develop

   2. sudo nixos-rebuild boot --flake .#<host>

   3. Check for home-manager errors systemctl status home-manager-<user>.service and resolve them if necessary

   • NOTE First install: may take some time; especially flatpaks

5. reboot

6. Personal imperative setup:

   1. Configure monitor setup with nwg-displays
   2. Syncthing setup
   3. firefox: Sync Login
      1. NoScript
      2. 1Password
      3. Sidebery
   4. pavucontrol: Set standard audio output
   5. vscode: codeium plugin

Usage

Flake

Some basic flake commands

Shell environment

nix-shell shell.nix # only when on legacy-nix: enables flakes & git (works only locally)

nix develop github:dafitt/dotfiles#default

Overview

nix flake show github:dafitt/dotfiles

Build and switch configuration

NixOS & Home-manager:

nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#<host>

Home-manager standalone:

home-manager switch --flake .#<user>@<host>

Update flake inputs

nix flake update --commit-lock-file

# specific input
nix flake lock --update-input [input]

Rollback

NixOS confituration: sudo nixos-rebuild switch --rollback

Home-manager standalone: Home-manager documentation

Code formatting

nix fmt [./folder] [./file.nix]

snowfallorg/flake

snowfallorg/flake provides some faster to type commands:

nix shell github:snowfallorg/flake

flake dev
flake test
flake switch
flake update

# Explore flake
flake show github:dafitt/dotfiles
flake option github:dafitt/dotfiles --pick

Hyprkeys

SUPER_CONTROL - System and Hyprland control
SUPER - Window control
SUPER_ALT - Applications
SHIFT - reverse, grab, move

Keybind	Dispatcher	Command
SUPER_ALT G	exec	codium
SUPER_ALT M	exec	thunderbird
SUPER_ALT W	exec	firefox
SUPER_ALT B	exec	pypr toggle bluetooth
SUPER_CONTROL Q	exit
SUPER_CONTROL R	exec	hyprctl reload && forcerendererreload
SUPER_CONTROL ADIAERESIS	exec	poweroff
SUPER_CONTROL ODIAERESIS	exec	poweroff --reboot
SUPER UDIAERESIS	exec	systemctl suspend
SUPER DELETE	exec	hyprctl kill
SUPER X	killactive
SUPER P	pseudo
SUPER S	togglesplit
SUPER H	swapnext
SUPER_SHIFT H	swapnext	prev
SUPER F	fullscreen
SUPER A	fullscreen	1
SUPER V	togglefloating
SUPER B	pin
SUPER left	movefocus	l
SUPER right	movefocus	r
SUPER up	movefocus	u
SUPER down	movefocus	d
SUPER Tab	cyclenext
SUPER_SHIFT left	movewindow	l
SUPER_SHIFT right	movewindow	r
SUPER_SHIFT up	movewindow	u
SUPER_SHIFT down	movewindow	d
SUPER_SHIFT Tab	swapnext
SUPER_ALT left	resizeactive	-100 0
SUPER_ALT right	resizeactive	100 0
SUPER_ALT up	resizeactive	0 -100
SUPER_ALT down	resizeactive	0 100
SUPER 1	workspace	1
SUPER 2	workspace	2
SUPER 3	workspace	3
SUPER 4	workspace	4
SUPER 5	workspace	5
SUPER 6	workspace	6
SUPER 7	workspace	7
SUPER 8	workspace	8
SUPER 9	workspace	9
SUPER 0	workspace	10
SUPER D	workspace	name:D
SUPER code:87	workspace	1
SUPER code:88	workspace	2
SUPER code:89	workspace	3
SUPER code:83	workspace	4
SUPER code:84	workspace	5
SUPER code:85	workspace	6
SUPER code:79	workspace	7
SUPER code:80	workspace	8
SUPER code:81	workspace	9
SUPER code:91	workspace	10
SUPER code:86	workspace	+1
SUPER code:82	workspace	-1
SUPER backspace	workspace	previous
SUPER mouse_down	workspace	-1
SUPER mouse_up	workspace	+1
SUPER_SHIFT 1	movetoworkspacesilent	1
SUPER_SHIFT 2	movetoworkspacesilent	2
SUPER_SHIFT 3	movetoworkspacesilent	3
SUPER_SHIFT 4	movetoworkspacesilent	4
SUPER_SHIFT 5	movetoworkspacesilent	5
SUPER_SHIFT 6	movetoworkspacesilent	6
SUPER_SHIFT 7	movetoworkspacesilent	7
SUPER_SHIFT 8	movetoworkspacesilent	8
SUPER_SHIFT 9	movetoworkspacesilent	9
SUPER_SHIFT 0	movetoworkspacesilent	10
SUPER_SHIFT code:87	movetoworkspacesilent	1
SUPER_SHIFT code:88	movetoworkspacesilent	2
SUPER_SHIFT code:89	movetoworkspacesilent	3
SUPER_SHIFT code:83	movetoworkspacesilent	4
SUPER_SHIFT code:84	movetoworkspacesilent	5
SUPER_SHIFT code:85	movetoworkspacesilent	6
SUPER_SHIFT code:79	movetoworkspacesilent	7
SUPER_SHIFT code:80	movetoworkspacesilent	8
SUPER_SHIFT code:81	movetoworkspacesilent	9
SUPER_SHIFT code:91	movetoworkspacesilent	10
SUPER_SHIFT code:86	movetoworkspacesilent	+1
SUPER_SHIFT code:82	movetoworkspacesilent	-1
SUPER_CTRL left	movecurrentworkspacetomonitor	l
SUPER_CTRL right	movecurrentworkspacetomonitor	r
SUPER_CTRL up	movecurrentworkspacetomonitor	u
SUPER_CTRL down	movecurrentworkspacetomonitor	d
PRINT	exec	grimblast copysave output /home/david/Pictures/$(date +'%F-%T_%N.png')
SUPER PRINT	exec	grimblast --notify --freeze copysave area /home/david/Pictures/$(date +'%F-%T_%N.png')
ALT PRINT	exec	satty --filename - --fullscreen --output-filename /home/david/Pictures/$(date +'%F-%T_%N.png')
SUPER_ALT PRINT	exec	satty --filename - --output-filename /home/david/Pictures/$(date +'%F-%T_%N.png')
SUPER_ALT U	exec	gnome-characters
SUPER_ALT K	exec	wl-copy
XF86Calculator	exec	gnome-calculator
SUPER_ALT V	exec	wl-copy'
SUPER L	exec	hyprlock
SUPER_ALT A	exec	pypr toggle pavucontrol
XF86AudioPlay	exec	playerctl play-pause
XF86AudioPause	exec	playerctl play-pause
XF86AudioStop	exec	playerctl stop
XF86AudioNext	exec	playerctl next
XF86AudioPrev	exec	playerctl previous
CTRL XF86AudioRaiseVolume	exec	playerctl position 1+
CTRL XF86AudioLowerVolume	exec	playerctl position 1-
ALT XF86AudioNext	exec	playerctld shift
ALT XF86AudioPrev	exec	playerctld unshift
ALT XF86AudioPlay	exec	systemctl --user restart playerctld
SUPER O	invertactivewindow
SUPER acute	hyprexpo:expo	toggle
SUPER E	exec	pypr expose
SUPER Z	exec	pypr zoom
SUPER minus	exec	pypr zoom --0.5
SUPER plus	exec	pypr zoom ++0.5
SUPER_ALT mouse_down	exec	pypr zoom ++0.5
SUPER_ALT mouse_up	exec	pypr zoom --0.5
SUPER_ALT mouse:274	exec	pypr zoom
SUPER ODIAERESIS	exec	pypr toggle_dpms
SUPER Y	exec	pypr toggle_special minimized
SUPER_SHIFT Y	togglespecialworkspace	minimized
XF86AudioMute	exec	swayosd-client --output-volume mute-toggle
ALT XF86AudioMute	exec	swayosd-client --input-volume mute-toggle
XF86AudioMicMute	exec	swayosd-client --input-volume mute-toggle
Caps_Lock	exec	swayosd-client --caps-lock
SUPER W	exec	killall -SIGUSR1 .waybar-wrapped
SUPER_ALT PERIOD	exec	1password
SUPER_ALT P	exec	pypr toggle btop
SUPER_ALT E	exec	micro
SUPER_ALT F	exec	nautilus
SUPER SPACE	exec	fuzzel
SUPER_ALT Z	exec	xdg-open https://localhost:8384
SUPER RETURN	exec	kitty
SUPER_ALT T	exec	pypr toggle kitty
SUPER_ALT N	exec	pypr toggle networkmanager
XF86KbdBrightnessUp	exec	light -s sysfs/leds/kbd_backlight -A 10
XF86KbdBrightnessDown	exec	light -s sysfs/leds/kbd_backlight -U 10
XF86AudioRaiseVolume	execr	swayosd-client --output-volume raise
XF86AudioLowerVolume	execr	swayosd-client --output-volume lower
ALT XF86AudioRaiseVolume	exec	swayosd-client --input-volume raise
ALT XF86AudioLowerVolume	exec	swayosd-client --input-volume lower
XF86MonBrightnessUp	exec	swayosd-client --brightness raise
XF86MonBrightnessDown	exec	swayosd-client --brightness lower
SUPER mouse:272	movewindow
SUPER mouse:273	resizewindow

NixOS stable branch

To use nixpkgs stable branch, update the following inputs to the latest release (23.11 as an example) in flake.nix and rebuild the system.
ATTENTION! When the last release of nixpkgs is some time away, then you will likely need to refactor some changed options. So directly after a new release should be the best time to switch.

{
  inputs = {
    nixpkgs.url = "github:nixos/nixpkgs/nixos-23.11";
    unstable.url = "github:nixos/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
    home-manager = { url = "github:nix-community/home-manager/release-23.11"; inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs"; };
    stylix.url = "github:danth/stylix/release-23.11";
  };
}

To still let specific packages follow nixpkgs unstable while on the stable branch you can add a overlays/unstable/default.nix:

{ channels, ... }:

final: prev:
with channels.unstable; {
  # packages to get from inputs.unstable
  inherit
    gamescope
    lutris
    vscodium
    ;
}

Structure

I use snowfall-lib, so every default.nix is automatically imported.

My systems and homes are assembled using custom modules. Any custom module has at least one enable option which name matches the folder: config.dafitt.<myModule>.enable. Keep in mind some modules are enabled by default some are not. Special modules:

• Desktops
  • desktops/gnome
  • desktops/hyprland
• Suites (disabled by default)
  • Development
  • Editing
  • Gaming
  • Music
  • Office
  • Ricing
  • Social
  • Virtualization
  • Web
• Firmly integrated, non-disableable
  • stylix (because of extensive usage of config.lib.stylix.colors)

Modules in modules/nixos/ are built with the standard nixos-rebuild command; modules/home/ with home-manager (standalone) or in addition to nixos-rebuild if the homes-hostname "<user>[@<host>]" matches with the host your building on (this is done by snowfall-lib with the systemd-service home-manager-<user>.service).

Some modules/home/ are automatically activated, if the sister module in modules/nixos/ is enabled. E.g. options.dafitt.Gaming.enableSuite = mkBoolOpt (osConfig.dafitt.Gaming.enableSuite or false) ".... The special attribute set osConfig is only present when building with nixos-rebuild.

To keep things simple I put hardware/system dependent configurations directly into systems/ themselves.

You want to build from here?

What you have to customize:

• modules/nixos/time/default.nix: timezone
• modules/nixos/locale/default.nix: locale
• modules/nixos/users/main/default.nix: username
• modules/home/Office/thunderbird/default.nix
• modules/home/Web/firefox/default.nix:
  • the default searx search engine is my own local instance/server, use a official one or setup your own
  • custom firefox plugins
• systems/<architecure>/<host>/default.nix: obviously your own host-configuration
  • hardware-configuration.nix
  • maybe some host-specific configuration.nix: make sure to import it: imports = [ ./configuration.nix ];
• homes/<architecure>/<user>[@<host>]/default.nix: obviously your own home-configuration
• modules/nixos/security/certificateFiles/default.nix: change list of root ssl certificate agent files or disable this module

Optionally:

• modules/home/desktops/hyprland/default.nix: familiar keybindings
• modules/home/stylix/default.nix: custom base16 theme / icon theme
• Packages and programs you need

Troubleshooting

Some options in modules/home/ or homes/ are not being applied with nixos-rebuild

Check if your option is being set through osCfg. Like this:

enable = mkBoolOpt (osCfg.enable or config.dafitt.Gaming.enableSuite) "Enable steam.";

If that is the case and osCfg.enable is not null then the osCfg-option will be preferred. Even if it is false.

To solve this set your option to true in modules/nixos/ or systems/.

👀, 🏆 and ❤️

• Vimjoyer - Youtube
• IogaMaster - Youtube
• mikeroyal/NixOS-Guide
• jakehamilton/config
• IogaMaster/dotfiles
• IogaMaster/snowfall-starter
• Misterio77/nix-config
• Aylur/dotfiles