# Personal Nix Configuration A comprehensive Nix configuration for macOS using nix-darwin and home-manager, featuring a modern development environment with vim-centric workflows and beautiful aesthetics. Largely generated and maintained with Claude Code. ## ✨ Features - **🎨 Beautiful UI**: Gruvbox dark theme across all applications - **⌨️ Vim-centric**: Consistent vim keybindings throughout the stack - **🚀 Modern CLI**: Enhanced tools with fuzzy finding, syntax highlighting, and smart completion - **📦 Modular Design**: Separate configuration files for easy maintenance - **🔄 Portable**: Reproducible across machines with a single command - **⚙️ System Integration**: macOS customizations and system-level preferences via nix-darwin - **🎨 Typography**: Nerd Fonts with programming ligatures and icon support ## 🚀 Quick Install Install directly from GitHub without cloning: ```bash # Darwin system configuration sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake github:Logan-Lin/nix-config # Home Manager configuration home-manager switch --flake github:Logan-Lin/nix-config#yanlin ``` ## 📁 Configuration Architecture ``` . ├── flake.nix # Main flake configuration and package definitions ├── modules/ # Home Manager configuration modules │ ├── git.nix # Git configuration with aliases and settings │ ├── nvim.nix # Neovim configuration with plugins and keymaps │ ├── ssh.nix # SSH client configuration and host management │ ├── tmux.nix # Tmux setup with vim-like navigation │ ├── zsh.nix # Zsh with Powerlevel10k and modern CLI tools │ ├── papis.nix # Reference management system │ ├── rsync.nix # File synchronization and backup │ └── termscp.nix # Terminal file transfer client ├── system/ # System-level nix-darwin configurations │ ├── default.nix # System module imports │ └── macos-defaults.nix # macOS system preferences and customizations ├── config/ # Configuration files │ ├── p10k.zsh # Powerlevel10k theme configuration │ └── projects.nix # Project shortcuts configuration └── scripts/ # Utility scripts ├── project-launcher.sh # Universal project launcher └── templates/ # Tmux session templates ├── basic.sh # Basic development template └── research.sh # Research workflow template ``` ## 🔄 Core Workflow The configuration creates an integrated development environment with a clear workflow progression: **Terminal (zsh)** → **Session Management (tmux)** → **Code Editing (nvim)** → **Version Control (git)** ### 🐚 Terminal: Zsh with Powerlevel10k **Theme**: Powerlevel10k lean style with 2-line prompt **Vim Mode**: Enabled with visual indicators #### Key Features: - **Smart Completion**: Case-insensitive with menu selection - **Autosuggestions**: Fish-like command suggestions - **Syntax Highlighting**: Real-time command syntax highlighting - **History Management**: Shared history with deduplication - **Vim Mode Indicators**: Cursor shape changes and prompt symbols #### Vim Mode Indicators: - **Insert Mode**: Line cursor `|` + `❯` prompt (green) - **Normal Mode**: Block cursor `█` + `❮` prompt - **Fast Switching**: 10ms escape timeout for responsive mode changes #### Essential Aliases: ```bash # Navigation with zoxide (smart cd replacement) cd [query] # Smart directory jumping with frecency zi [query] # Interactive directory selection with fzf .., ..., .... # Quick directory navigation # Modern CLI tools cat → bat # Syntax highlighted file viewing find → fd # Fast file finding grep → rg # Ripgrep for fast searching top → btop # Beautiful system monitor # Git shortcuts g, gs, ga, gc, gp, gl, gd, gco, gb # Git operations # Nix management hm # home-manager shortcut hms # Quick home-manager switch (rebuild) ``` ### 🖥️ Session Management: Tmux **Prefix Key**: `Ctrl+a` (instead of default `Ctrl+b`) **Theme**: Gruvbox dark with visual prefix indicator #### Key Features: - **Prefix Indicator**: Shows `` in status bar when prefix is active - **Vim-like Navigation**: hjkl for pane movement - **Smart Splitting**: Maintains current directory when creating panes - **Copy Mode**: System clipboard integration #### Essential Keybindings: | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | `Ctrl+a` | Prefix key | | `Ctrl+a \|` | Split window vertically | | `Ctrl+a -` | Split window horizontally | | `Ctrl+a h/j/k/l` | Navigate panes (vim-style) | | `Ctrl+a H/J/K/L` | Resize panes | | `Ctrl+a r` | Reload tmux config | | `Ctrl+a Ctrl+a` | Quick pane cycling | | `Ctrl+a A` | Toggle activity monitoring (useful for silencing noisy programs) | #### Copy Mode (Ctrl+a [): | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | `v` | Begin selection | | `y` | Copy selection to system clipboard | | `r` | Toggle rectangle selection | ### 🚀 Project Management **Configuration**: `config/projects.nix` **Purpose**: Quick access to project workspaces with tmux sessions #### Usage: ```bash proj # List all available projects nix-config # Launch nix-config project tmux session ``` #### Template Types: - **Basic**: Single directory (nvim + git + shell) - **Research**: Code directory + separate paper directory + optional remote server - **Remote Server Window**: Dual horizontal panes for parallel remote work - **Automatic Connection**: SSH to configured server with automatic directory navigation - **Reconnect Alias**: Type `r` in any remote pane to easily reconnect **Example Configuration:** ```nix research-project = { template = "research"; name = "Research Project"; codePath = "~/Projects/research-code"; paperPath = "~/Projects/research-paper"; description = "Academic research project"; server = "dev-server"; # SSH host from ~/.ssh/config remoteDir = "~/research"; # Remote directory path }; ``` ### 📝 Code Editing: Neovim **Theme**: Gruvbox dark with hard contrast **Leader Key**: `` #### Key Features: - **File Explorer**: nvim-tree with dotfile filtering - **Syntax Highlighting**: Treesitter with comprehensive language support - **Git Integration**: vim-fugitive for git operations - **Status Line**: lualine with gruvbox theme and relative paths - **System Clipboard**: Seamless integration for copy/paste - **Markdown Rendering**: render-markdown.nvim for beautiful in-buffer preview - **Auto-completion**: Basic word and path completion #### Essential Keybindings: **File Operations:** | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | `e` | Toggle file explorer | | `w` | Save file | | `q` | Quit | | `o` | Open file with system default app | | `f` | Show current file in Finder | **System Clipboard:** | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | `y` | Copy to system clipboard | | `p` | Paste from system clipboard | **Git Operations:** | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | `gs` | Git status | | `gd` | Git diff | | `gc` | Git commit | | `gp` | Git push | **Other:** | Key | Action | |-----|--------| | `md` | Toggle markdown rendering | #### Auto-completion: ``` Ctrl+Space # Trigger completion menu Tab # Navigate to next completion item Shift+Tab # Navigate to previous completion item Enter # Accept selected completion Ctrl+e # Close completion menu ``` ### 🌟 Version Control: Git **Configuration**: `modules/git.nix` **Purpose**: Declarative git configuration with comprehensive aliases #### Complete Aliases Reference: | Alias | Command | Description | |-------|---------|-------------| | `git st` | `status` | Show working tree status | | `git co` | `checkout` | Switch branches or restore files | | `git br` | `branch` | List, create, or delete branches | | `git ci` | `commit` | Record changes to repository | | `git cm "msg"` | `commit -m` | Quick commit with message | | `git ca` | `commit --amend` | Amend the last commit | | `git up` | `pull --rebase` | Pull and rebase (cleaner history) | | `git d` | `diff` | Show unstaged changes | | `git dc` | `diff --cached` | Show staged changes | | `git ds` | `diff --stat` | Show diff statistics | | `git lg` | `log --color --graph...` | Beautiful colored log with graph | | `git lga` | `log --color --graph... --all` | Same as lg but all branches | | `git last` | `log -1 HEAD` | Show the last commit | | `git sl` | `stash list` | List all stashes | | `git sp` | `stash pop` | Apply and remove latest stash | | `git ss` | `stash save` | Save current changes to stash | | `git unstage` | `reset HEAD --` | Remove files from staging area | | `git visual` | `!gitk` | Launch gitk GUI | #### Git Authentication with git-credential-oauth Modern OAuth-based authentication for Git operations: - Secure token-based authentication without storing passwords - Support for GitHub, GitLab, and other OAuth providers - Automatic token refresh and management - Integration with system keychain for secure credential storage #### Git Visualization with lazygit Launch `lazygit` in any git repository for: - Interactive commit graph and branch visualization - Streamlined staging, committing, and diff viewing - Easy branch management and merging - File tree navigation with git status ## ⚙️ System Customizations (macOS) **Configuration**: `system/macos-defaults.nix` **Purpose**: System-level macOS customizations and preferences via nix-darwin #### Menu Bar Spacing Configuration Customizes macOS menu bar item spacing for a cleaner look, especially useful on machines with notches: - **NSStatusItemSpacing**: Controls horizontal spacing between menu bar items - **NSStatusItemSelectionPadding**: Controls padding inside selection overlay This configuration runs during system activation to apply menu bar spacing preferences without requiring manual `defaults` commands. ## 🔐 SSH Configuration **Configuration**: `modules/ssh.nix` **Purpose**: Declarative SSH client configuration and host management #### Key Features: - **Declarative Hosts**: All SSH hosts defined in nix configuration - **Version Controlled**: SSH config tracked with git alongside other configurations - **Reproducible**: Same SSH setup deployable across multiple machines - **Security**: Private keys remain local and untracked ## 🛠️ Development Tools ### Enhanced CLI Utilities - **fzf**: Fuzzy finder for files, commands, and history with built-in zsh keybindings - **fd**: Fast, user-friendly alternative to find - **ripgrep (rg)**: Fast text search across codebases - **bat**: Syntax-highlighted cat replacement with git integration - **btop**: Modern system monitor with vim-like navigation - **zoxide**: Smart cd replacement with frecency algorithm - **httpie**: Modern HTTP client for API testing and development #### Powerful Tool Combinations: ```bash # Find and open file with interactive selection nvim $(fd --type f | fzf) # Search text content and open matching file nvim $(rg -l "search_term" | fzf) # Preview files while selecting which one to edit nvim $(fd --type f | fzf --preview 'bat --color=always {}') # Smart directory navigation with zoxide cd proj && nvim . # Jump to project directory and edit zi && fd "*.md" | fzf # Interactive directory select, then find markdown files ``` #### Built-in zsh keybindings: - `Ctrl+T` - Insert selected files/directories into command line - `Ctrl+R` - Search command history interactively - `Alt+C` - Change to selected directory ### Database Management - **sqlite3**: Official SQLite command-line interface for local databases - **lazysql**: LazyGit-style TUI database management tool for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite ### Development Languages & Tools - **Python 3.12**: With uv (modern Python package manager providing 10-100x faster performance) - **LaTeX**: Full TeXLive distribution for document preparation - **Claude Code**: AI-powered coding assistant - **GNU Make**: Essential build automation tool for C/C++ and other projects #### uv (Python Package Management): ```bash # Project initialization uv init my-project && cd my-project uv add requests pandas numpy # Add dependencies uv add --dev pytest black isort # Add dev dependencies uv sync # Install from lock file # Virtual environment management uv venv # Create virtual environment uv run python script.py # Run in venv context uv tool run black --help # Run tools without installing ``` ### File Transfer & Network Tools - **lftp**: Advanced command-line FTP/SFTP client with scripting capabilities and parallel transfers - **ncdu**: NCurses Disk Usage analyzer for exploring directory sizes interactively #### lftp Usage Examples: ```bash # Connect to FTP/SFTP server lftp ftp://user@server.com lftp sftp://user@server.com # Advanced operations lftp -c "connect sftp://server; mirror -R local/ remote/" # Sync directories lftp -c "connect ftp://server; pget -n 4 large-file.zip" # Parallel download ``` #### ncdu Usage: ```bash ncdu # Analyze current directory ncdu / # Analyze entire filesystem ncdu -x # Stay on same filesystem (don't cross mount points) ``` ## 🎨 Fonts & Typography **Configuration**: Declaratively managed via Home Manager **Purpose**: Programming fonts with icon support and enhanced readability ### Nerd Fonts Collection The configuration includes carefully selected programming fonts with icon patches: - **Fira Code**: Coding font with programming ligatures and clean aesthetics - **JetBrains Mono**: Modern monospace font designed specifically for developers #### Features: - **Icon Support**: Thousands of glyphs from popular icon fonts (Font Awesome, Devicons, etc.) - **Programming Ligatures**: Enhanced code readability with connected character combinations - **Terminal Integration**: Optimized for terminal emulators and code editors - **Cross-platform**: Consistent appearance across different applications #### Usage in Applications: ```bash # Terminal applications automatically use configured fonts # Neovim, tmux, and other TUI apps benefit from icon support # Programming ligatures enhance code readability in editors ``` The fonts are automatically installed and configured system-wide through the nix configuration, ensuring consistency across all development tools. ## 🌟 Specialized Tools ### 📚 Reference Management: papis **Purpose**: Command-line reference manager for academic papers and documents A powerful bibliography manager with centralized storage at `~/Documents/Library/papis`: #### Key Features: - **Document Library**: Centralized storage with human-readable YAML metadata - **BibTeX Integration**: Import/export references in standard academic formats - **PDF Management**: Automatic file organization and retrieval - **Search & Filter**: Fast document discovery with fuzzy finding (fzf) - **Editor Integration**: Configured with nvim for editing document metadata #### Usage Examples: ```bash # Adding documents papis add --from doi 10.1000/example.doi papis add paper.pdf # Interactive metadata entry papis add --from arxiv 2301.12345 papis add --from url https://example.com/paper.pdf # Searching and browsing papis list "machine learning" papis list author:smith year:2023 papis open # Uses fzf picker papis open bohm # Document management papis edit bohm # Edit metadata with nvim papis export --format bibtex query_term > references.bib ``` #### Workflow Aliases: ```bash pals # List documents with formatted template pafile filename.pdf # Add file from ~/Downloads/ paopen # Open documents interactively pafinder "query" # Open document directory in Finder patag "tag1#tag2" "query" # Add multiple tags using # separator ``` ### 🔄 File Synchronization: rsync **Purpose**: Declarative file synchronization and backup management #### Configuration Files: - `~/.rsync-exclude` - Common exclude patterns (macOS metadata, temp files) - `~/.rsync-backup.conf` - Standard backup options with safety features - `~/.local/bin/rsync-backup` - Convenient backup wrapper script - `~/.rsync-aliases` - Shell aliases for common operations #### Usage Examples: ```bash # Using the backup wrapper rsync-backup ~/Documents/ /backup/documents/ # Using shell aliases (source ~/.rsync-aliases first) rsync-quick source/ dest/ # Basic backup with progress rsync-dry source/ dest/ # Dry run for testing (safe) rsync-sync source/ dest/ # Sync without deleting files rsync-mirror source/ dest/ # Mirror with delete (exact copy) ``` ### 📁 File Transfer: termscp **Purpose**: Comprehensive TUI file transfer client A rich terminal UI file transfer client with multi-protocol support: #### Features: - **Rich TUI**: Interactive file browser with dual-pane view - **Multi-protocol**: FTP, SFTP, SCP, S3, WebDAV support - **Bookmarks**: Save frequently accessed servers - **File Operations**: Create, rename, delete, search, edit files - **Synchronization**: Sync directories between local and remote ```bash termscp # Launch TUI client ftp # Alias for termscp termscp ftp://user@host.com # Quick connection ``` ## 💻 Daily Workflow ### Typical Development Session: 1. **Start Terminal**: Beautiful zsh with vim mode and modern tools 2. **Navigate to Project**: Use `zi` (zoxide + fzf) for smart directory jumping 3. **Launch Project Session**: Use project shortcuts (e.g., `website`, `research-project`) 4. **Tmux Environment**: Automatic session with nvim, git, and shell panes 5. **Code & Commit**: Integrated vim-style editing with git operations 6. **File Operations**: Use fzf + fd/rg for fast file finding and content search ### Environment Management: ```bash # Refresh shell environment after nix changes exec zsh # Update and rebuild configuration nix flake update sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake . home-manager switch --flake .#yanlin # Quick home-manager rebuild hms ``` ### Clipboard Integration: - **Neovim**: `y/p` for system clipboard - **Tmux**: Copy mode automatically uses system clipboard - **Terminal**: Standard Cmd+C/V works everywhere ## 💻 Machine Configurations - **`iMac`**: iMac configuration - **`MacBook-Air`**: MacBook Air configuration Both machines use the same base configuration with potential for machine-specific customizations. ### Machine-specific Usage: ```bash # For MacBook Air sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake .#MacBook-Air # For iMac sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake .#iMac ```