| name | nixos-environment |
| description | Survival guide for this NixOS workstation: no pip/brew/apt, Python only via uv run, nix store paths,
CJK font locations, systemd user services, and the Hermes gateway layout. Load when a command is
"not found", an install step suggests pip/brew/apt, Python imports fail, fonts break, or you need to
run/inspect services or system packages on this machine.
|
| version | 1.0.0 |
| author | gohan (via Claude Code tuning) |
| license | MIT |
| platforms | ["linux"] |
| metadata | {"hermes":{"tags":["nixos","environment","uv","nix","systemd","fonts","troubleshooting"]}} |
NixOS Workstation Environment
This machine is NixOS: the filesystem is immutable outside your home dir, and FHS paths
(/usr/bin, /usr/share, /lib) mostly don't exist. GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5090.
Package management — what to do INSTEAD
| If docs say… | Do this here |
|---|
pip install X | uv run --with X python3 … (ephemeral, no global installs) |
brew install X / apt install X | nix-shell -p X --run '…' for one-offs; permanent installs need /etc/nixos + sudo nixos-rebuild switch (ask the user) |
npm install -g X | npx -y X (ephemeral) |
| binary download (dynamic-linked) | often FAILS on NixOS (missing FHS loader) — prefer nix-shell or a static binary |
Python
- ALWAYS
uv run, never bare python3/pip:
uv run --with matplotlib,numpy,pandas python3 -c "…"
ModuleNotFoundError → add the package to --with and retry- Charts with Japanese text: matplotlib FT2Font cannot load the system Noto CJK Variable Font
by fname — set
font.family to a name list (Noto Sans CJK JP, …) after a font-cache refresh;
see creative/emotion-curve-feedback/references/matplotlib-cjk-fonts.md for the full fix
Useful paths
- Fonts:
/run/current-system/sw/share/fonts/opentype/noto-cjk/ (Noto Sans CJK JP installed);
list with fc-list :lang=ja
- System binaries:
/run/current-system/sw/bin/
- Nix store (immutable):
/nix/store/… — never edit; rebuilds swap symlinks
Services (systemd user units)
- Hermes gateway:
systemctl --user status hermes-gateway (defined via home-manager in
/etc/nixos/home-hermes.nix, pinned to a nix store path — updates need a rebuild, see below)
- Logs:
journalctl --user -u hermes-gateway -n 100
Hermes self-knowledge
- Config/state:
~/.hermes/ (config.yaml, skills/, memories/, workspace/)
- Secrets live in
~/.hermes/.env (referenced from config via ${VAR} / key_env) — never
write plaintext tokens into config.yaml
- Upgrading hermes:
cd ~/hermes-agent && git fetch --tags && git merge --ff-only <tag> && nix build .#messaging, then swap the hermesPkg pin in /etc/nixos/home-hermes.nix and
sudo nixos-rebuild switch (needs the user)
