Package manager for nix-darwin, NixOS, and homebrew. nex.styrene.io
# Install nex
curl -fsSL https://nex.styrene.io/install.sh | sh
# Bootstrap nix-darwin + homebrew (macOS) or NixOS (Linux)
nex init
# Start using it
nex install htopOr clone an existing config: nex init --from https://github.com/your-org/macos-nix
nex install htop # Auto-resolves nix vs cask vs brew
nex install --cask slack # Force Homebrew cask (GUI app)
nex install --brew rustup # Force Homebrew formula
nex install --nix htop # Force Nix (skip resolution)
nex remove htop # Remove from wherever it's declared
nex search "http" # Search nixpkgs
nex list # Show all declared packages
nex init # Bootstrap nix + homebrew + system config
nex switch # Rebuild and activate
nex update # Update flake inputs + switch
nex rollback # Revert to previous generation
nex doctor # Check and fix config issues
nex relocate # Move system config to user-writable directory
nex profile apply user/repo # Apply a machine profile from GitHub
nex forge user/profile # Burn a bootable NixOS USB with profile baked in
nex polymerize # Interactive NixOS installer (on target machine)
nex build-image user/profile # Build an OCI container from a profile
nex build-image ./agent-pkg # Build from ./agent-pkg/styrene-package.toml
nex develop ./path/to/flake # Enter a flake dev shell
nex dev user/repo # Dev shell + omegon AI agent
nex try htop # Ephemeral nix shell (no install)
nex diff # Preview what would change
nex gc # Garbage collect nix store
nex self-update # Update nex itself
Global flags: --dry-run, --repo <path>, --hostname <name>
nex install slack checks nixpkgs and Homebrew, compares versions (semver-aware), detects GUI apps vs CLI tools, and recommends the right source:
slack found in multiple sources:
nixpkgs 4.41.97
* brew cask 4.42.3
recommended: brew cask is 4.42.3 (nix has 4.41.97)
For CLI tools found only in nixpkgs, it just installs -- no prompt needed.
Every edit is backed up before rebuild. If the build fails, your config is restored automatically.
Define a machine with a TOML file:
[packages]
nix = ["htop", "bat", "eza", "ripgrep"]
casks = ["firefox", "kitty"]
[shell]
aliases = { ll = "eza -la", cat = "bat" }
[git]
name = "Your Name"
email = "[email protected]"
[macos]
dock_autohide = true
tap_to_click = trueProfiles compose via extends for team/personal layering. Apply with nex profile apply user/repo.
nex build-image also accepts a Styrene package manifest. This is the bridge between Nex profile composition and Auspex/Omegon deployment: the package points at a Nex profile for the environment, then supplies image and agent metadata for the deployable artifact.
[package]
name = "styrene.agent.primary"
version = "0.1.0"
[nex]
profile = "./profile.toml"
[image]
name = "ghcr.io/styrene-lab/primary"
tag = "0.1.0"
entrypoint = "/bin/omegon"
cmd = ["serve", "--control-plane", "0.0.0.0:7842"]
ports = [7842]
[agent]
role = "primary-driver"
mode = "daemon"
posture = "orchestrator"The generated image carries Styrene OCI labels for the package, Nex profile, and agent role/mode/posture so Auspex can reconcile deployed agents back to package intent.
curl -fsSL https://nex.styrene.io/install.sh | sh # auto-detects best method
cargo install nex-pkg # from crates.io
nix profile install github:styrene-lab/nex # from flakenex auto-discovers the config repo by walking up from CWD or checking well-known paths. Override with:
NEX_REPOenvironment variable--repoflag~/.config/nex/config.toml:repo_path = "/path/to/config-repo" hostname = "My-MacBook" prefer_nix_on_equal = true
just validate # format-check + lint + test
just test # cargo test
just lint # cargo clippy
just build # debug buildMIT OR Apache-2.0