nix by design↗A different way to Linux.
YOUR JOURNEY
04 / 18
01 — NIX FUNDAMENTALS 5 MIN READ
LESSON 04 / YOUR FIRST NIX SHELL

Try a tool.
Leave no setup.

Borrow a package for one shell session.

Let’s make the mental model tangible. Open a shell with a package, use it, then return to your original environment.

Explore the lesson
~$ Build your understanding, one idea at a time.
THE NIX MODEL01 / 03
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Nix obtains the requested packages in its store.

Packages cached in the store
04.1 — FIRST, NIX

Keep your current Linux distribution.

If Nix is not installed, follow the official installation guide linked below for your platform, then open a new terminal and check nix --version. These examples run on your machine; this website does not execute shell commands.

The classic nix-shell command works without enabling flakes. It looks up packages through your configured Nixpkgs source, often a channel. If <nixpkgs> cannot be found, finish your installer’s channel setup first.

terminal
nix --version
nix-shell -p hello git
 
# Inside the new shell:
hello
git --version
exit
Next section: A new shell, not a container.
04.2 — WHAT CHANGED?

A new shell, not a container.

Within the shell, the requested programs are available on PATH. Exiting returns to the parent environment. Downloaded files can remain in /nix/store until garbage collection removes them.

This shell is not a security sandbox. Programs can still access your normal files and network. Also, an unpinned Nixpkgs source can change over time: “the same command” alone does not guarantee the same package versions.

run once
nix-shell -p hello --run hello
# Expected program output: Hello, world!
TAKE THIS WITH YOU

A Nix shell changes which tools are available; it does not isolate your files or erase cached packages on exit.

Go a little deeperOfficial shell tutorialInstall Nix
UP NEXT

Read the Nix language

You only need a few building blocks to start reading Nix.

Next lesson