Need to debug a #guix PACKAGE definition with errors ? Build it with the --keep-failed flag.

Then, go to /tmp/guix-build-PACKAGE and run a Guix shell container with

$GUIX/pre-inst-en guix shell --no-grafts -CN -D PACKAGE --writable-root # coreutils which
source ./environment-variables
rm /bin/sh
cd PACKAGE

These steps reproduce the exact context where the build error arises, and allows debugging it.

#guixtips

Need to contribute to #guix using the #agit #git flow ? Wonder how could you send a long pull request description in a markdown file ?

Customize your pull_request_template.md file and use the push.sh script in this example:

https://codeberg.org/csantosb/guix/pulls/1

#guixtips

Do you have a sensitive package you cannot live without, built on a codebase or tarball ?

Double check there is a backup available at #softwareheritage

https://archive.softwareheritage.org

#Guix will fall back to using it in case the upstream code or tarball just vanishes. And it happens (gnat-x86_64-linux-15.1.0-1.tar.gz, looking at you ... ).

Also possible with tarballs.nixos.org and web.archive.org.

#guixtips

Problems of space in your disk’s /gnu/store when using #guix ? Remember you have a couple of #systemd units to get you covered.

https://codeberg.org/guix/guix/src/master/etc/guix-gc.timer
https://codeberg.org/guix/guix/src/master/etc/guix-gc.service

Bring them to the right place in your system, and be sure you’ll never exceed your disk capacity.

#guixtips

Having a 502 error from the server when you install or update #guix ?

Just replace the official savannah repository by this official mirror at #codeberg, with a much better uptime

    guix pull --url=https://codeberg.org/guix/guix-mirror

#guixtips

#guixtips

In case of minor modifications in upstream repository, you can let #guix update an outdated package definition with:

guix refresh PACKAGE --update

https://sigmoid.social/@csantosb/113945318851096838

Ever wanted to read the #guix manual other than in your pc ? Export it to #epub and take it to your favourite mobile device.

cd guix/doc
guix shell -C texinfo
TEXINPUTS=".:.:" MAKEINFO="makeinfo --force --enable-encoding -I ." texi2any --epub3 guix.texi

#guixtips

Ever wanted to contribute to #guix or #emacs commons ? A bit scary about the #email based workflow ? Afraid of having to manipulate thousands of emails locally ?

No worries: https://yhetil.org, a public-inbox based service, provides a nice web front end to browse for patches, issues and bugs you may contribute to fix: thread overview, outlining, reply links, thread download in #mbox format, everything you need to start contributing is there.

#guixtips #emailrenaissance #emailisnotdead

#guixtips

Check for available new releases of packages in a #guix module of guix itself:

guix refresh -s module:emacs-xyz

or, using the full path to some module on $GUIX_PACKAGE_PATH

guix refresh -s module:"(electronics packages ancillary)"

or, setting the path to current directory

guix refresh -L . -s module:"(electronics packages ancillary)"