[maxmcd]

Isn't this what you want? You are reliably linking to the specific dynamic libraries you are compiling against.

Or was the issue that you expected them to be portable? Or use commonly known dynamic library locations?

[aliasxneo]

It was just surprising, is all. When I use use <x> application from a nix shell, it pretty much always works the way I think. The compiler experience was very jarring, but yes I understand why it works the way it does.

I was more or less pointing out the UX issues with Nix that end up turning many people away.

[yeck]

There is definitely a learning investment in order to write good Nix expressions. But, if you write a good nix shell expression for your project, other devs should be able to jump in without really needing to understand those Nix expressions and still get a working environment.