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# The Determinate Nix CLI
[](https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-src/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
**Nix** is a powerful [language], [package manager][package-management], and [build tool][cli] for [macOS](#macos), [Linux](#linux), and other Unix systems.
It enables you to create fully reproducible [development environments][envs], to build [packages] in sandboxed environments, to build entire Linux systems using [NixOS], and much more.
[**Determinate Nix**][det-nix] is a downstream distribution of [Nix][upstream] created and maintained by [Determinate Systems][detsys].
It has two components:
- The Determinate Nix CLI, a distribution of the Nix CLI built from this repository.
It's based on the [upstream Nix CLI][upstream] and continuously rebased against it, but adds a wide variety of [features] and [improvements][changelog].
- [Determinate Nixd][dnixd] is a useful daemon for Linux and macOS that handles vital tasks like configuration and enterprise certificate management.
Determinate Nix is built on SOC-2-Type-II-compliant infrastructure using [Determinate Secure Packages][secure-packages], released via a carefully orchestrated process, and, for Determinate Systems customers, backed by formal security response SLAs that meet stringent compliance standards.
> [!NOTE]
> Determinate Nix, by definition, consists of _both_ the components listed above.
> While it's possible to use the code in this repository to run just our downstream Nix CLI, we do _not_ officially support this experience and provide none of the guarantees or SLAs that we provide for Determinate Nix proper.
Determinate Nix is part of the [Determinate platform][determinate], which also includes [FlakeHub], a secure flake repository with features like [FlakeHub Cache][cache], [private flakes][private-flakes], and [semantic versioning][semver] (SemVer) for [flakes].
## Installing Determinate Nix
You can install Determinate Nix on [macOS](#macos), non-NixOS [Linux](#linux) and WSL, and [NixOS](#nixos).
### macOS
On macOS, we recommend using the graphical installer from Determinate Systems.
Click [here][gui] to download and run it.
### Linux
On Linux, including Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), we recommend installing Determinate Nix using [Determinate Nix Installer][installer]:
```shell
curl -fsSL https://install.determinate.systems/nix | sh -s -- install
```
### NixOS
On [NixOS], we recommend following our [dedicated installation guide][nixos-install].
We also provide both [Amazon Machine Images][amis] (AMIs) and [ISOs] for using Determinate on NixOS.
## Other resources
Nix was created by [Eelco Dolstra][eelco] and developed as the subject of his 2006 PhD thesis, [The Purely Functional Software Deployment Model][thesis].
Today, a worldwide developer community contributes to Nix and the ecosystem that has grown around it.
- [Zero to Nix][z2n], Determinate Systems' guide to Nix and [flakes] for beginners
- [Nixpkgs], a collection of well over 100,000 software packages that you can build and manage using Nix
- [NixOS] is a Linux distribution that can be configured fully declaratively
- The Nix, Nixpkgs, and NixOS community on [nixos.org][website]
## Reference
The primary documentation for Determinate and Determinate Nix is available at [docs.determinate.systems][determinate].
For deeply technical reference material, see the [Determinate Nix manual][manual] which is based on the upstream Nix manual.
## License
[Upstream Nix][upstream] is released under the [LGPL v2.1][license] license.
[Determinate Nix][det-nix] is also released under LGPL v2.1 in accordance with the terms of the upstream license.
## Contributing
Check the [contributing guide][contributing] if you want to get involved with developing Nix.
[amis]: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/AMIs.html
[cache]: https://docs.determinate.systems/flakehub/cache
[changelog]: https://determinate.systems/blog/categories/changelog
[cli]: https://manual.determinate.systems/command-ref/new-cli/nix.html
[contributing]: ./CONTRIBUTING.md
[det-nix]: https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix
[determinate]: https://docs.determinate.systems
[detsys]: https://determinate.systems
[dnixd]: https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix#determinate-nixd
[eelco]: https://determinate.systems/people/eelco-dolstra
[envs]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/dev-env
[features]: https://docs.determinate.systems/determinate-nix/#special-features
[flakehub]: https://flakehub.com
[flakes]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/flakes
[gui]: https://install.determinate.systems/determinate-pkg/stable/Universal
[installer]: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-installer
[isos]: https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nixos-iso
[language]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/nix-language
[license]: ./COPYING
[manual]: https://manual.determinate.systems
[nixpkgs]: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs
[nixos]: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/tree/master/nixos
[nixos-install]: https://docs.determinate.systems/guides/advanced-installation#nixos
[packages]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/packages
[package-management]: https://zero-to-nix.com/concepts/package-management
[private-flakes]: https://docs.determinate.systems/flakehub/private-flakes
[secure-packages]: https://determinate.systems/secure-packages
[semver]: https://docs.determinate.systems/flakehub/concepts/semver
[thesis]: https://edolstra.github.io/pubs/phd-thesis.pdf
[upstream]: https://github.com/NixOS/nix
[website]: https://nixos.org
[z2n]: https://zero-to-nix.com