[Nix-dev] Staring Xorg - common newcomer problem - what about nixos-newcomer-help ?

[Marc Weber]

Let's welcome blast_hardcheese as well.

        09:31 < blast_hardcheese> I'm American, from Los Angeles
        09:32 < MarcWeber> He huh. How have you heard about nix(os)? (Just curious)
        [...]
        09:32 < blast_hardcheese> Hmm... either searching for alternate package managers or searching for 
                                  alternate distros


He has asked about the same Xorg trouble..
What do you think about adding a small script called
nixos-newcomer-help to system path by default?

This should launch less and tell about the basic concepts of NixOS with
minimal words:
Of course it's not meant to replace the documentation. But it should
help the newcomer to get to konw the most impartant things right at the
beginning and tell him where to start reading.

Any thoughts?

eg:

Welcome to NixOS
================

Before contacting anyone you should have read this document

Where you can get some help:
  * Nix manual http://nixos.org/releases/nix/nix-unstable/manual/#chap-writing-nix-expressions
  * NixOS manual http://nixos.org/releases/nix/nix-unstable/manual/
  * The papers (see nixos.org)

  That's too much to read for now, I'd like to ask a simple question now:
  * mailinglist (see nixos.org)
  * #nixos on irc.freenode.net

NixOS basics (mini FAQ)
Keep this short and simple.

Q: What is the first thing I should to?
A: update the source which from which nixos-rebuild builds your system.
   Then after configuring your system update it
  $ nixos-checkout
  # nixos-rebuild switch # update the system, keep reference to the running  one automatically and make the new the boot default
  You should do so at least once a month to keep up to date

Q: /etc/nixos/configuration.nix ?
A: That's no question. Everythign is done here.
   To get a comprehensive list of all options open
  /etc/nixos/nixos/system/options.nix which is always as up to date as
  your sources are.

Q: How to setup my system (I'd like to use vi(m), emacs)
A: Everything is done by /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
  You can add your favourite packages to the global system path by
    environment = {
      extraPackages = ( x : [ x.usbutils x.diffutils x.vim x.subversion /* x.mercurial */ ] );
    }
   How to get to know the package name ? (see below (TODO) )

Q: How to start Xorg ?
  Xorg is a service beeing conrolled by upstart.
  $ initctl start xserver
  if there is a failure you need to enable the service in /etc/nixos/configuration.nix.
  eg add
      xserver = {
        enable = true;
        resolutions = [ { x=1600; y=1200;} { x=1024; y=768;}  ];
        videoDriver = "ati";  # nviida ...
      }
Q: How do I install packages as user
A: see below
  
[ less important stuff ]

* per user package management..
 reference to documentation
* How to setup your editor to be comfortable with nix files etc..

Are you missing an important thing? Write to the mailinglist and ask to
add someone to add it..

Marc