nix/doc/manual/nix-env.xml

<refentry>
  <refnamediv>
    <refname>nix-env</refname>
    <refpurpose>manipulate or query Nix user environments</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>nix-env</command>
      <arg rep='repeat'><option>--verbose</option></arg>
      <arg rep='repeat'><option>-v</option></arg>
      <arg><option>--build-output</option></arg>
      <arg><option>-B</option></arg>
      <arg><option>--keep-failed</option></arg>
      <arg><option>-K</option></arg>
      <arg>
        <group choice='req'>
          <arg choice='plain'><option>--file</option></arg>
          <arg choice='plain'><option>-f</option></arg>
        </group>
        <replaceable>path</replaceable>
      </arg>
      <arg choice='plain'><replaceable>operation</replaceable></arg>
      <arg rep='repeat'><replaceable>options</replaceable></arg>
      <arg rep='repeat'><replaceable>arguments</replaceable></arg>
    </cmdsynopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsection>
    <title>Description</title>

    <para>
      The command <command>nix-env</command> is used to manipulate Nix
      user environments.  User environments are sets of software
      components available to a user at some point in time.  In other
      words, they are a synthesised view of the programs available in
      the Nix store.  There may be many user environments: different
      users can have different environments, and individual users can
      switch between different environments.
    </para>

<!--    <para>
      Environments are manipulated by operations such as the
      installation and removal of components (hereafter called
      <emphasis>derivations</emphasis>).  These operations are not
      destructive: rather than overwrite the current environment, they
      create a new environment to which we can then atomically
      <emphasis>switch</emphasis> by flipping a symlink.
    </para> -->

    <para>
      <command>nix-env</command> takes exactly one
      <emphasis>operation</emphasis> flag which indicates the
      subcommand to be performed.  These are documented below.
    </para>
    
  </refsection>



  <!--######################################################################-->

  <refsection>
    <title>Common options</title>

    <para>
      This section lists the options that are common to all
      operations.  These options are allowed for every subcommand,
      though they may not always have an effect.
    </para>

    <variablelist>

      &opt-verbose;

      <varlistentry>
        <term><option>--file</option> / <option>-f</option></term>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            Specifies the Nix expression used by the
            <option>--install</option>, <option>--upgrade</option>,
            and <option>--query --available</option> operations to
            obtain derivations.  The default is
            <filename>~/.nix-defexpr</filename>.
          </para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      
    </variablelist>

  </refsection>

  

  <!--######################################################################-->

  <refsection>
    <title>Files</title>

    <variablelist>

      <varlistentry>
        <term><filename>~/.nix-defexpr</filename></term>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            The default Nix expression used by the
            <option>--install</option>, <option>--upgrade</option>,
            and <option>--query --available</option> operations to
            obtain derivations.  It is generally a symbolic link to
            some other location set using the
            <option>--import</option> operation.  The
            <option>--file</option> option may be used to override
            this default.
          </para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term><filename>~/.nix-userenv</filename></term>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            A symbolic link to the user's current user environment.
            By default, it points to
            <filename><replaceable>prefix</replaceable>/var/nix/links/current</filename>.
            The <envar>PATH</envar> environment variable should
            include <filename>~/.nix-userenv</filename> for the user
            environment to be visible to the user.
          </para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>

    </variablelist>
        
  </refsection>

  

  <!--######################################################################-->

  <refsection>
    <title>Operation <option>--install</option></title>

    <refsection>
      <title>Synopsis</title>
      <cmdsynopsis>
        <command>nix-env</command>
        <group choice='req'>
          <arg choice='plain'><option>--install</option></arg>
          <arg choice='plain'><option>-i</option></arg>
        </group>
      </cmdsynopsis>
    </refsection>

    <refsection>
      <title>Description</title>
            
      <para>
      </para>

    </refsection>
            
  </refsection>

  
</refentry>