NixOS/nix

Allow installing Nix without editing `/etc/bashrc` or `/etc/zshrc`

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#12,134 opened on Jan 3, 2025

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 (2 comments) (2 reactions) (0 assignees)C++ (9,803 stars) (1,293 forks)batch import
good first issueidea approvedinstaller

Description

Platform

  • Linux:
  • macOS
  • WSL

Additional information

I use fish so those changes don't affect me anyway, and I don't like unnecessary changes to system files.

Checklist

  • checked [latest Nix manual] ([source])
  • checked [open installer issues and pull requests] for possible duplicates

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Contributor guide

Tech stack
cppshell
Domain
devops
Issue type
feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-2 days
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
basic shell scriptingunderstanding of Nix installer scripts
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
70
Research direction
Examine the Nix installer script (likely `scripts/install nix.sh` or `install.in`) to locate where `/etc/bashrc` and `/etc/zshrc` are modified. Look for existing environment variables or flags controlling such modifications. The goal is to introduce a new flag (e.g., ` no mods`) that skips writing to those system files. The implementation should check for the flag before each file modification and skip accordingly.