# User Configuration Template This directory contains templates for creating external user configuration modules that can be referenced from the main `nixos-systems/users.nix` file. ## Overview External user modules allow users to maintain their personal configurations (dotfiles, packages, settings) in separate Git repositories and reference them from the main `nixos-systems` repository using `builtins.fetchGit`. ## Structure ``` user-dotfiles-repo/ ├── user.nix # Optional: User options AND home-manager configuration ├── nixos.nix # Optional: System-level NixOS configuration ├── README.md # Documentation └── dotfiles/ # Optional: Dotfiles to symlink ``` **Note:** Both `.nix` files are optional, but at least one should be present for the module to be useful. ## Usage ### 1. Create Your User Configuration Repository Copy the templates from this directory to your own Git repository: - `home.nix` - Required for home-manager configuration - `nixos.nix` - Optional for system-level configuration ### 2. Reference It in users.nix ```nix { ugaif.users = { myusername = { # Option 1: Set user options in users.nix description = "My Name"; extraGroups = [ "wheel" "networkmanager" ]; shell = pkgs.zsh; # Option 2: Or let the external module's user.nix set these options # Reference external dotfiles module external = builtins.fetchGit { url = "https://github.com/username/dotfiles"; rev = "abc123def456..."; # Full commit hash for reproducibility ref = "main"; # Optional: branch/tag name }; # Or use local path for testing # external = /path/to/local/dotfiles; # }; }; }; } ``` ### 3. Enable on Systems Enable the user in `inventory.nix`: ```nix { "my-system" = { devices = { "hostname" = { ugaif.users.myusername.enable = true; }; }; }; } ``` ## File Descriptions ### user.nix (Optional) This file serves dual purpose: 1. Sets `ugaif.users.` options (description, shell, extraGroups, etc.) 2. Provides home-manager configuration (programs.*, home.*, services.*) **How it works:** - The `ugaif.users.` options are extracted and loaded as **data** during module evaluation - These options override any defaults set in `users.nix` (which uses `lib.mkDefault`) - The home-manager options (`home.*`, `programs.*`, etc.) are imported as a module for home-manager - External module options take precedence over `users.nix` base configuration The same file is imported in two contexts: - As a NixOS module to read ugaif.users options - As a home-manager module for home.*, programs.*, services.*, etc. Simply include both types of options in the same file. **Receives:** - `inputs` - Flake inputs (nixpkgs, home-manager, etc.) - `config` - Config (NixOS or home-manager depending on context) - `lib` - Nixpkgs library - `pkgs` - Nixpkgs package set - `osConfig` - (home-manager context only) OS-level configuration **Example:** See `user.nix` template ### nixos.nix (Optional) This file contains system-level NixOS configuration. Only needed for: - System services related to the user - System packages requiring root - Special permissions or system settings **Receives:** - `inputs` - Flake inputs (nixpkgs, home-manager, etc.) - `config` - NixOS config - `lib` - Nixpkgs library - `pkgs` - Nixpkgs package set ## Examples ### Minimal user.nix ```nix { inputs, ... }: { config, lib, pkgs, ... }: { # User account options (imported as NixOS module) ugaif.users.myuser = { description = "My Name"; shell = pkgs.zsh; extraGroups = [ "wheel" "networkmanager" ]; }; # Home-manager configuration (imported into home-manager) home.packages = with pkgs; [ vim git htop ]; programs.git = { enable = true; userName = "My Name"; userEmail = "me@example.com"; }; } ``` ### With Dotfiles ```nix { inputs, ... }: { config, lib, pkgs, ... }: { ugaif.users.myuser = { description = "My Name"; shell = pkgs.zsh; }; home.packages = with pkgs; [ ripgrep fd bat ]; # Symlink dotfiles home.file.".bashrc".source = ./dotfiles/bashrc; home.file.".vimrc".source = ./dotfiles/vimrc; programs.git = { enable = true; userName = "My Name"; userEmail = "me@example.com"; }; } ``` ### With System Configuration (nixos.nix) ```nix { inputs, ... }: { config, lib, pkgs, ... }: { # Add user to docker group users.users.myusername.extraGroups = [ "docker" ]; # Install system package environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.docker ]; } ``` ## Integration Features External user modules: - Receive the same flake inputs as nixos-systems - Can set user options via user.nix (description, shell, home-manager, etc.) - Optionally provide system-level configuration (nixos.nix) - System zsh theme applied if `useZshTheme = true` (default) - System nvim config applied if `useNvimPlugins = true` (default) - Settings from user.nix override base users.nix definitions ## Development Workflow 1. Create your user config repository with `user.nix` and/or `nixos.nix` 2. Set user options in user.nix OR in the main users.nix 3. Test locally: `external = /path/to/local/repo;` 4. Build: `nix build .#nixosConfigurations.hostname.config.system.build.toplevel` 5. Commit and push changes 6. Update users.nix with commit hash 7. Deploy to systems ## Benefits - **Personal Ownership**: Users maintain their own configs - **Version Control**: Track dotfile changes over time - **Portability**: Use same config across multiple machines - **Reproducibility**: Pin to specific commits - **Privacy**: Use private repositories for personal settings - **Separation**: Keep personal configs separate from system configs