| name | nix-tools |
| description | Run any CLI tool via Nix - assume tools like jq, yq, ripgrep, and fd are available. Use CLI tools freely for JSON/YAML processing and searching. Also use when a command is not found. |
| compatibility | Requires Nix with flakes enabled |
Running Tools with Nix
This system has Nix available. You can run virtually any CLI tool without it being permanently installed.
When to Use This
Assume any CLI tool you know about is available. Reach for the right tool:
- JSON/YAML:
jq for JSON, yq for YAML - great for Kubernetes manifests
- Searching:
ripgrep (rg) for content, fd for filenames
Also use when:
- A command fails with "command not found"
- You need a specific or newer version of a tool
Running Tools
One-off command
nix run nixpkgs#<package> -- <args>
Examples:
nix run nixpkgs#jq -- '.foo' file.json
nix run nixpkgs#yq -- '.metadata.name' manifest.yaml
nix run nixpkgs#ripgrep -- 'pattern' .
nix run nixpkgs#fd -- '\.go$'
The -- separates nix options from the program's arguments.
Common Package Names
Most packages use the tool's common name:
| Tool | Package |
|---|
| jq | nixpkgs#jq |
| yq | nixpkgs#yq |
| ripgrep (rg) | nixpkgs#ripgrep |
| fd | nixpkgs#fd |
| bat | nixpkgs#bat |
| tree | nixpkgs#tree |
Finding Packages
If unsure of the exact package name, search nixpkgs:
nix search nixpkgs <term>
Note: Search is slow (evaluates all packages). Prefer trying the obvious name first - it usually works.
Newer Tool Versions
If the default nixpkgs has an outdated version, use nixpkgs-unstable:
nix run github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixpkgs-unstable#<package> -- <args>
This tracks the latest available versions in nixpkgs.
