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hdh20267-nix/README.md
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# 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/
├── home.nix # Required: Home-manager configuration
├── nixos.nix # Optional: System-level NixOS configuration
├── README.md # Documentation
└── dotfiles/ # Optional: Dotfiles to symlink
```
## 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 = {
description = "My Name";
extraGroups = [ "wheel" "networkmanager" ];
shell = pkgs.zsh;
# Option 1: External module from Git
home = builtins.fetchGit {
url = "https://github.com/username/dotfiles";
rev = "abc123def456..."; # Full commit hash for reproducibility
ref = "main"; # Optional: branch/tag name
};
# Option 2: Local path for testing
# home = /path/to/local/dotfiles;
# Option 3: Inline configuration
# home = {
# home.packages = [ pkgs.vim ];
# programs.git.enable = true;
# };
};
};
}
```
### 3. Enable on Systems
Enable the user in `inventory.nix`:
```nix
{
"my-system" = {
devices = {
"hostname" = {
extraUsers = [ "myusername" ];
};
};
};
}
```
## File Descriptions
### home.nix (Required)
This file contains your home-manager configuration. It must be a valid NixOS module that accepts `{ inputs, ... }` and returns a home-manager configuration.
**Must export:**
- Home-manager options (programs.*, home.packages, etc.)
**Receives:**
- `inputs` - Flake inputs (nixpkgs, home-manager, etc.)
- `config` - Home-manager config
- `pkgs` - Nixpkgs package set
- `osConfig` - Access to OS-level configuration
### 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
## Examples
### Minimal home.nix
```nix
{ inputs, ... }:
{ config, lib, pkgs, ... }:
{
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, ... }:
{
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 use all home-manager options
- Optionally provide system-level configuration (nixos.nix)
- System zsh theme applied if `useZshTheme = true` (default)
- System nvim config applied if `useNvimPlugins = true` (default)
- Merged with inventory.nix user settings (groups, shell, etc.)
## Development Workflow
1. Create your user config repository with `home.nix`
2. Test locally: `home = /path/to/local/repo;`
3. Build: `nix build .#nixosConfigurations.hostname.config.system.build.toplevel`
4. Commit and push changes
5. Update users.nix with commit hash
6. 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