Устали от обычных Linux-дистрибутивов? NixOS предлагает свежий взгляд: неизменяемость, атомарные обновления и декларативную настройку системы. 🚀🔥 Идеально для тех, кто хочет контроля без головной боли. #Linux #DevOps
| I’ve used dozens of distros as a Linux power user, but this one feels truly different |
ZDNET X Trending After years with Windows, I used the MacBook Air M4 for one week Finally, a Bluetooth speaker that rivals my Bose SoundLink Max I spent hours testing Samsung’s new flagship soundbar This Linux distro has the most refreshing take on OS design This gadget gave my Android thermal vision superpowers Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4 Best CRM software of 2025 Best small business CRM software of 2025 Best free website builders of 2025 Best website builders of 2025 Best free web hosting services of 2025 Best malware removal software of 2025 Best remote access software of 2025 Best password managers for families in 2025 Best password managers for businesses of 2025 Best VPNs for school of 2025 Best business VoIP providers of 2025 Best data removal services: Delete yourself from the internet Best email hosting service Best VPS hosting service How to clear the cache on your Windows 11 PC Finally, a Windows 11 tablet I’d recommend to both business and professional users NEO QLED vs OLED: Which TV tech is right for you? 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ZDNET Recommends Tech Gaming Headphones Laptops Mobile Accessories Networking PCs Printers Smartphones Smart Watches Speakers Streaming Devices Streaming Services Tablets TVs Wearables Kitchen & Household Office Furniture Office Hardware & Appliances Smart Home Smart Lighting Yard & Outdoors Innovation Artificial Intelligence AR + VR Cloud Digital Transformation Energy Robotics Sustainability Transportation Work Life Accelerate your tech game Paid Content How the New Space Race Will Drive Innovation How the metaverse will change the future of work and society Managing the Multicloud The Future of the Internet The New Rules of Work The Tech Trends to Watch in 2023 Business See all Business Amazon Apple Developer E-Commerce Edge Computing Enterprise Software Executive Google Microsoft Professional Development Social Media SMB Windows How AI is transforming organizations everywhere The intersection of generative AI and engineering Software development: Emerging trends and changing roles Security See all Security Cyber Threats Password Manager Ransomware VPN Cybersecurity: Let’s get tactical Securing the Cloud Advice Deals How-to Product Comparisons Product Spotlights Reviews Buying Guides See all Buying Guides Best Samsung phones Best Android phones Best smart rings Best blood pressure watches Best headphones for sleeping Best robot vacuum mops Best web hosting services Best travel VPNs Best VPNs Best AI image generators Best AI chatbots Best 75-inch TVs Best smartphones Best iPhones Best MagSafe battery packs Best digital notebooks Best TV antennas Best TVs Best laptops Best tablets Best smartwatches Best headphones Best live TV streaming services More See all Topics Finance Education Health Special Features ZDNET In Depth ZDNET Recommends Newsletters Videos Editorial Guidelines Tech Why you can trust ZDNET |
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Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. ZDNET’s editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form . Close Home Tech Services & Software Operating Systems Linux I’ve used dozens of distros as a Linux power user, but this one feels truly different If you’re ready for a new approach to Linux, NixOS offers a thoughtful design experience with plenty of customization options. Written by Jack Wallen, Contributing Writer May 6, 2025 at 9:34 a.m. PT ZDNET’s key takeaways NixOS is an open-source operating system that is available to install and use for free. It offers several desktop environments to choose from, is as rock-solid as any OS on the market, and performs quite well. However, there’s a fairly steep learning curve for installing non-free software. View now at Nixos Before we get into this review, I want to offer some information for new Linux users. If you’re uncomfortable using the command line or diving down rabbit holes to figure out how to do something that should «just work out of the box,» then NixOS is probably not for you. Also: Project management apps are my top productivity hack — and these are my favorites on Linux However, that’s not to say someone with minimal familiarity with the command line would fail with this distribution. For example, if you only need open-source software, NixOS could be a viable option. If, however, you need apps like Chrome , Slack , and Spotify , you might run into some frustration that will send you packing back to Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or Windows. With that said, let’s get to what makes this distribution great. Not everyone wants an Ubuntu or Linux Mint distribution. I’m not saying those two operating systems aren’t outstanding, but at some point, a Linux user might want something a bit more robust. I’ve tried nearly every Linux OS I’ve come across, from the ridiculously simple ( Ubuntu ) to the astoundingly complex ( Gentoo ) and everything in between. So when I find a Linux distribution that can challenge me, I jump at the chance to see what it can do. Such is the case with NixOS . This from-scratch Linux distribution isn’t nearly as difficult as Gentoo, but it’s not quite as user-friendly as Ubuntu. Where does that leave it? I’d say somewhere between Ubuntu and Arch Linux. Also: 5 most Windows-like Linux distros because old habits die hard You’ll find two official versions of NixOS — one with GNOME and one with Plasma Desktop. During the installation, you’ll be offered the opportunity to install from a list of different desktop environments. For my testing, I chose Deepin Desktop because I’m a fan of its layout. So you might be asking: With so many easy-to-use desktop environments, why would NixOS be considered challenging for new users? First off, there’s no GUI app store. That’s right. With NixOS, you install packages via the command line. But don’t worry, NixOS has something to help you out with that. Open your web browser and point it to search.nixos.org . On that site, you can search for any piece of software you need to install, and it will give you the command to do just that. For example, to search for Slack, the install command is: nix-shell -p slack Ah, but we then run into our first problem. You see, out of the box, NixOS is configured not to install non-free software without a bit of help. When you run the above command, you’ll see in the output that there are two ways around this: a) To temporarily allow non-free packages, you can set a particular environment variable with the command: export NIXPKGS_ALLOW_UNFREE=1 b) For nixos-rebuild set { nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true; } in /etc/nixos/configuration.nix. However, when I look in configuration.nix, the allowUnfree option is already set to true. What’s the deal? Turns out, even though that option is global, you still have to create a config file in your home directory, specifically in ~/.config/nixpkgs. Oh, but wait, the nixpkgs directory doesn’t exist, so you have to create it first. Also: I’ve tested every Linux music player, and this one is my new favorite — here’s why Hopefully, you’re starting to see why, even with a user-friendly GUI, NixOS isn’t a good choice for new users. It’s a great choice if you have plenty of Linux experience, as it’s as rock solid as Debian or Arch. And if you only want to use open-source (free) software, you won’t have much in the way of problems (as long as you’re comfortable with the command line). Beyond the installation of non-free software, what is NixOS like? It’s a stable, efficient operating system that’s also secure and includes nearly everything you need to get started (minus an office suite and email client). For those who need an office suite, you can install LibreOffice with: nix-shell -p libreoffice If you need an email client, try: nix-shell -p thunderbird The final frustration I’ll mention with this is that, even after successfully installing an app, you won’t find it in the menu. Argh! I even had an instance where, after installing LibreOffice and logging out, it seemed LibreOffice vanished, and I had to install it again. Even then, I opened the app and tried adding it to the dock, only to discover it was an unrecognized application. The good news is that after a reboot, everything was exactly as it should have been. I’m just not used to rebooting after installing an application in Linux. Go figure. All it took was a reboot after installation and LibreOffice was in the desktop menu and ready to use. Jack Wallen\ZDNET Frustrations can mount quickly with NixOS. Those frustrations are, however, surmountable. It just takes time. And effort. And Google (or DuckDuckGo). That’s why I recommend NixOS to Linux users who have a solid understanding of the basics. ZDNET’s advice Usually, when I do a review of a Linux distribution, I install it as a VirtualBox virtual machine, kick the tires, and delete the VM when I’m finished. However, with NixOS, I plan on keeping it around for a while so I can better learn the ins and outs of using this fascinating OS. If you’re comfortable using the Linux command line and like a challenge, you should certainly give NixOS a try. Once you have everything up and running with this open-source operating system, it will not let you down. Open Source The open-source tools that could disrupt the entire IT incident management market This Linux distro could let your old laptop ‘shine on’ after Windows 10’s sunset 6 Linux myths, busted 5 lightweight Linux distributions with very low system requirements The open-source tools that could disrupt the entire IT incident management market This Linux distro could let your old laptop ‘shine on’ after Windows 10’s sunset 6 Linux myths, busted 5 lightweight Linux distributions with very low system requirements Editorial standards Show Comments Log In to Comment Community Guidelines Related Project management apps are my top productivity hack — and these are my favorites on Linux 7 Linux distros you should avoid until you’ve mastered the command line 5 most Windows-like Linux distros because old habits die hard ZDNET we equip you to harness the power of disruptive innovation, at work and at home. 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