[keltor]

Arch is something a fairly non DIY user can easily conquer and use for many years and it will just work. As long as they don't choose to do anything exotic, they can use it basically forever.

NixOS is nothing like that, there's limited docs, the docs are sometimes just RTFM that links to another RTFM and oh yeah don't be afraid of breaking userspace because userspace is doing something wrong. It's fine for some of us who can of course get shit done.

Ultimately, I think some subset of Arch users who really wanted to be Gentoo users but weren't because "drama" and then NixOS scratches that itch.

[fullsend]

As always in Linux at home, “something exotic” here means using Bluetooth at all.

[OuterVale]

Bluetooth isn't too bad. Biometric auth is where it gets fun.

[Teknomancer]

Daily drive NixOS (Hyprland) with totally seamless biometric (face/fingerprint) lock/suspend and Bluetooth.

If one takes the time to learn the Nix language (and set up a working LSP), it's a totally painless experience, and if you are a fan of systems that just work, it's life affirming. It's stability is unparalleled.

I would never go back to any other distro.

[wasted_intel]

I also think NixOS is more targeted towards developers. It’s one thing to learn the syntax, APIs, and abstractions of Nix/NixOS. It’s another to stack all of that on top of learning programming in general.