1# nina23**the best way to use nixos.**45Nina wraps the full NixOS workflow in plain, memorable verbs — packages, rebuilds, generations, flakes, services, remote machines. Written in Zig. Zero dependencies. One binary.67```8$ nina search ripgrep9$ nina apply10$ nina back11$ nina status --all12```1314---1516## install1718**nix profile** (recommended — instant, per-user, no `sudo`):1920```sh21nix profile add 'https://kepr.uk/nina/archive/HEAD.tar.gz#nina'22```2324Remove any time with `nina goodbye`.2526**koh** (build from source via koh):2728```sh29koh steal kepr.uk/nina30cd nina && zig build -Doptimize=ReleaseFast31sudo cp zig-out/bin/nina /usr/local/bin/nina32```3334**source archive** (download and build manually):3536Download the source archive from [kepr.uk/nina/releases](https://kepr.uk/nina/releases), then:3738```sh39tar xf nina-*.tar.gz && cd nina-*/40zig build -Doptimize=ReleaseFast41sudo cp zig-out/bin/nina /usr/local/bin/nina42```4344**linux · nixos 24.05+** — requires `nix-command` and `flakes` experimental features. 45Run `nina setup` on first use to enable them automatically.4647---4849## the commands you'll actually use5051```52nina apply rebuild and switch to the new configuration53nina apply --dry preview what would change without switching54nina back roll back to the previous generation55nina go <n> jump to any generation by number56nina history list all generations57nina clean remove old generations and free store space5859nina search <q> search nixpkgs inline — browse, install, or try60nina option <q> search NixOS options inline61nina install <p> add a package — profile (instant) or system config62nina remove <p> remove a package from profile or system config63nina try <p> run a package without installing it64nina list show installed packages6566nina home apply apply home-manager config67nina home back roll back one home-manager generation68nina home history list home-manager generations69nina home edit open home.nix70nina home check validate home config without switching71nina home diff compare the latest two home generations72nina home packages list packages managed by home-manager7374nina status machine health at a glance75nina status --all health across every configured machine76nina doctor diagnose common issues77nina diff what changed between generations78nina log operation history7980nina service list list systemd services and their state81nina service logs <s> journal logs for a service82nina service start/stop/restart <s>8384nina flake show inspect flake outputs85nina flake update update lock files86nina develop enter a dev shell87nina build build a flake output88nina run <p> run a package without installing8990nina edit open configuration.nix in your editor91nina check validate config without switching92nina fmt format nix files93nina info nixos version, kernel, uptime94nina boot boot entries9596nina help all commands97nina --version version info98```99100---101102## multi-machine103104Any command runs on a remote machine with `--on <name>`. Configure machines in `~/.nina.conf`:105106```ini107[machine]108name = kyoshi109config = /etc/nixos110local = true111default = true112113[machine]114name = azula115host = azula116user = june117ssh_key = ~/.ssh/id_ed25519118```119120```121nina apply --on azula122nina service logs ollama -f --on azula123nina status --all124```125126```127:: status128129 kyoshi gen 348 3m ago 42 GB130 azula gen 192 14m ago 18 GB131```132133---134135## search that stays at the prompt136137`nina search` opens an inline widget — no fullscreen takeover. Browse results, see versions and licenses, install to your profile or system config, copy the attr name, or try the package in a temporary shell.138139```140:: search nixpkgs ripgrep 12 results141142 > ripgrep 14.1.1 free fast line-oriented search143 ripgrep-all 0.9.6 free search across file formats144 ugrep 6.0.0 free grep compatible ripgrep alt145146 ripgrep 14.1.1 free147 recursively search directories for a regex pattern148 attr pkgs.ripgrep149150 [i] profile [s] system [t] try [c] copy [esc] exit151```152153---154155## install that actually works156157`nina install` uses `nix search nixpkgs` directly — no external API, no network dependency after your first channel update, no silent failures. Works offline.158159Two install paths, your choice:160161- **profile** — instant. package available immediately. no rebuild.162- **system** — opens your editor at the right line in `configuration.nix`, then offers to apply.163164---165166## config167168`~/.nina.conf` — plain text, no surprises:169170```ini171editor = hx172generations = 5173confirm = true174teach = false175color = true176177[machine]178name = my-machine179config = /etc/nixos180local = true181default = true182```183184`teach = true` prints the underlying nix command after each operation so you learn while you work.185186---187188## what nina outputs189190```191:: rebuilding kyoshi...192193 -> [build output]194195:: generation 14 [42.3s]196```197198```199:: error: 'firefocks' not found in nixpkgs200 -> try: nina search firefox201```202203Pink `::` marks Nina's voice. Green for success. Red for errors. Yellow for warnings. Color auto-disables when stdout is not a TTY. Respects `NO_COLOR`.204205---206207## built by208209[asha software](https://asha.software) — hope in every line of code.210211**[nina.asha.software](https://nina.asha.software)** · [source](https://kepr.uk/nina) · [docs](https://nina.asha.software/docs)