The distribution NIXOS 25.05, based on the package manager NIX, has been released, featuring its own developments to simplify system settings and support. In NIXOS, system configuration is done through a single file, configuration.nix, allowing for quick system rollbacks and state switching. Individual package installations, support for multiple program versions, and pre-built images for X86_64 and ARM64 architectures are provided.
When using NIX, packages are stored in separate subcatalogs in /NIX/Store. The assembly result for a package, like Firefox, is saved in a directory with symbolic links to the system, based on dependencies and assembly instructions. NIXOS project’s assembly service, Hydra, helps with collected packages. A similar approach is seen in the GNU GUIX package manager, based on NIX, with package collections available in the nixpkgs repository.
The major innovations in NIXOS 25.05 include:
- Added 7840 packages, removed 1694, and updated 28054 packets. 137 new modules and 1930 configuration options were introduced, with 2857 developers contributing over 57054 changes.
- Production of GNOME 48 desktop, with DeCibels music player by default, and no default installation of Gnome Shell add-ons.
- Updates to user environments like Cinnamon 6.4, Pantheon 8, and XFCE 4.20, along with the addition of Cosmic user environment.
- Introduction of new programs like Anubis, Amneziavpn, Cursor, Kismet, and more. Updates to existing programs such as Linux 6.12 kernel, GCC 14, LLVM 19, and Openssh 10.0P2.
- Support for creating containers with Podman in non-root mode and implementation of the “Nixos-Rebuild Build-Image” command for assembly.