webbureaucrat

I'm not happy as a #NixOS user because of #NixLang but I'm finding I'm also not really happy as a former #Nix user either.

Anybody want to give me the hard sell on #guix? Do you find the free software licensing requirement to be limiting? Is package availability a problem otherwise?

Or should I give NixOS another shot?

Aug 28, 2024 at 4:26pmWeb
Show threadwebbureaucratAug 28, 2024
The trouble is I got spoiled by NixOS being objectively an excellent operating system. It's really hard to go back.
Show threadRoss A. BakerAug 28, 2024

@webbureaucrat If I could throw my Mac into the creek, I'd try Guix, but then I'd owe work a new laptop and still need Nix for the replacement.

I'm also skeptical of leaving behind systemd.

Show threadbitspookAug 28, 2024
@webbureaucrat I recently jumped ship. So far I am loving #guix I do use Linux kernel from nonguix channel because shitty wifi-hardware
I am still in process of setting everything up, slowly reading the docs and getting more familiar with the ecosystem, and I am enjoying the journey a lot.
Show threadHartmut GoebelAug 28, 2024

There are channels available providing no-free software. Most notable is nonguix.

Leaving systemd behind helps getting rid of defaults using google, cloudflare, etc.
@webbureaucrat

Show threadwebbureaucratAug 28, 2024
@kirschwipfel Do you find that between the free and nonfree channels you can generally get what you need?
Show threadHartmut GoebelAug 29, 2024

I even get everything I need in free.

Anyhow I have to admit that I'm not using Guix as an operating system (yet) but only atop of a "foreign distro". This is mainly for two reasons: I'm using KDE Plasma which is available in guix only since some month. And I don't see too much benefit in switching my own systems (Rethinking this switching my home server would be a good think, though. Anyhow, this is a virtual machine and free will suffice for sure)

I might switch the only server I'm running in the internet soon, since ejabberd is now available in guix. This is a virtual machine, so I will get along with free for sure :-)
@webbureaucrat

Show threadNoé LopezAug 28, 2024
@webbureaucrat #Guix had me hooked after failing to learn nix so I'd say its pretty good. You can get nonfree software using external package repositories like "nonguix". The documentation is the biggest difference IMO
Show threadAthena L.M.Sep 12, 2024
@webbureaucrat Non-free packages are available in nonguix and other channels. I very strongly recommend you use the Linux from nonguix if you go for Guix System, as Linux-Libre cannot load CPU microcode patches.
Nonguix / nonguix · GitLab

Guix channel for packages that can't be included upstream. Please do NOT promote or refer to this repository on any official Guix communication channels.

GitLab
Show threadAthena L.M.Sep 12, 2024
@webbureaucrat (You will also need to substitute a nonguix initramfs with the microcode patches themselves.)