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# Dendritic Pattern
Dendritic is the way to organize your packages in NixOS — around features. https://github.com/mightyiam/dendritic this is a good example!
# Adding Packages
This configuration is composed from `hosts/opus/default.nix` and focused modules
under `modules/features/`. There is no central package list.
## Where a package belongs
| Package type | Module |
| --- | --- |
| Terminal | `modules/features/terminals/default.nix` |
| CLI tool (incl. shell prompts like starship) | `modules/features/cli-tools/default.nix` |
| Editor or IDE | `modules/features/editors/default.nix` |
| Compiler, linter, language tool | `modules/features/dev-tools/default.nix` |
| File manager or archive tool (incl. drag & drop tools) | `modules/features/file-managers/default.nix` |
| Wayland clipboard, screenshot, or input tool | `modules/features/wayland-tools/default.nix` |
| Audio application | `modules/features/audio-tools/default.nix` |
| Media recording or streaming tool | `modules/features/media-tools/default.nix` |
| System monitor or fetch tool | `modules/features/monitoring/default.nix` |
| Font | `modules/features/fonts/default.nix` |
| GStreamer plugin | `modules/features/gst-codecs/default.nix` |
| Runtime library for external binaries | `modules/features/binary-compat/default.nix` |
| Web browser | `modules/features/browsers/default.nix` |
| Messaging or communication app | `modules/features/messaging/default.nix` |
| Office suite, note-taking app, or document viewer/editor | `modules/features/productivity/default.nix` |
| Password manager or encryption tool | `modules/features/security/default.nix` |
| Gaming app, game launcher, or gaming service (Steam, etc.) | `modules/features/gaming/default.nix` |
| P2P or torrent client | `modules/features/p2p/default.nix` |
| Language dictionary or spell-check data | `modules/features/language-tools/default.nix` |
| Desktop application (catch-all for GUI apps without a fitting category) | `modules/features/desktop-apps/default.nix` |
First use an existing category. Create a new feature module only if the package is
its own service, subsystem, or a group of related packages without a fitting category.
## Add to an existing module
Add the package to that module's `environment.systemPackages` list:
```nix
{ pkgs, ... }:
{
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
existing-package
ripgrep
];
}
```
Most modules use `with pkgs;`, so use unqualified package names. Use `pkgs.<name>`
when an explicit path is useful, such as `pkgs.vimPlugins.im-select-nvim`, or when
applying an override:
```nix
(emacs.override { withNativeCompilation = true; })
```
Keep related packages together and follow the local ordering of the file.
## Fonts are different
Fonts belong in `modules/features/fonts/default.nix` under `fonts.packages`, not
`environment.systemPackages`:
```nix
fonts.packages = with pkgs; [
nerd-fonts.jetbrains-mono
noto-fonts-color-emoji
];
```
## Language dictionaries are different
Spell-check dictionaries, transliteration data, and other language data belong in
`modules/features/language-tools/default.nix` under `environment.systemPackages`, not
in `fonts.packages` or a general-purpose module:
```nix
{ pkgs, ... }:
{
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
hunspellDicts.ru_RU
];
}
```
## Gaming services live in the gaming module
Gaming-related services and packages — Steam configuration, game launchers, Wine-based
app runners — belong in `modules/features/gaming/default.nix`. This keeps the host file
lean and makes the gaming stack reusable across hosts:
```nix
{ pkgs, ... }:
{
programs.steam = {
enable = true;
remotePlay.openFirewall = true;
};
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
pkgs.lutris
pkgs.prismlauncher
];
}
```
## Create a new feature module
1. Create `modules/features/<category>/default.nix`:
```nix
{ pkgs, ... }:
{
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
package-name
];
}
```
2. Add its directory to the `imports` list in `hosts/opus/default.nix`:
```nix
../../modules/features/<category>
```
3. Put services and program options in the same module when they belong to that
feature, as done by `modules/features/mpd/default.nix`.
## Host-only packages
For a package that is truly specific to this desktop, add it to the small
`environment.systemPackages` list in `hosts/opus/default.nix`. If that list starts to
represent a reusable category, extract a feature module.
## Packages from flake inputs
Packages provided by a flake input use `inputs` and the host platform, following
`modules/features/browsers/default.nix`:
```nix
{ pkgs, inputs, ... }:
{
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
inputs.helium-browser.packages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.helium
];
}
```
If an input provides a NixOS module, import it in the feature module, following
`modules/features/noctalia-greeter/default.nix`:
```nix
imports = [
inputs.some-input.nixosModules.default
];
```
The input itself must first be declared in `flake.nix`.
## Build and switch
From the `nixos/` directory, first test that the configuration evaluates and builds:
```bash
doas nixos-rebuild build --flake .#opus
```
Then activate it:
```bash
doas nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#opus
```
If a terminal's font icons do not update after adding fonts, restart the terminal or
log out and back in after the switch.
|
