Recently I got into NixOS and started setting it up – until I found Guix System. I started feeling like Nix is more of a DSL, while Guix seems more like a truly programmable system. But I still can’t decide between them. What do you find most attractive about Guix System compared to NixOS?
Likes, that are maybe not integrated in NixOs ?: Scheme and elisp, are both lisp, and while It looks shit to start with, I’m coming around to it. Lisp is a clever language imho, so I like it as a configuration language (scheme). Emacs looks almost like a natural extension of Guix, and I’m finally starting playing with it. I feel that every little corner of the Guix have been designed for a purpose from the ground up. Repo is curated with floss goodness, and flatpak for the rest. I like the simplicity and ‘order’ of it all. Ah, the system installer is shaky, but…
I find guix as both a system and package manager easy and very powerful out of the box. I’ve had other systems/package managers for many years without using as many build-in features as now.
Besides std Guix, there are 2 spinoffs, pantherx that is supposed to be more enduser polished and rdb that are Guix+Emacs in a love relationship I think. Not sure, but you can check it out.
Maybe NixOS would do the same, but I’ve never been ‘giddy’ about a new distribution before, so I I’m just happy I found my new permanent distro. Not leaving.
@Sims @tomateaux ``Emacs looks almost like a natural extension of Guix’’
!!!
Same here, Guix SD is my permanent distro, never hopping again
GNU and scheme. I know that’s kind of an obvious answer, but they’re things I appreciate. Unfortunately guix hasn’t really worked for me as a distribution. I’ll probably look again some time in the future.
what didn’t work for you?
I’d also love to know what didn’t work for you
check out my config for a real world example, many things here are simply inconceivable without the power of a proper programming language, and a powerful one like Scheme
I think Guix is recommended by the FSF, so that makes me more interested in it over Nix.
I prefer NixOS over Guix because Guix is a non-standard distro as it doesn’t use systemd. Because I run Gnome and they pretty much make it a requirement now, that’s what I will go with. Also, I kinda like it and have no reason to change.
On the otherhand, having an operating system that’s entirely programmable and Scheme is pretty damn cool and fairly easy and legible. It is tempting tho, ngl.
