nix-env and nix-build not found after installation (debian buster)

Question

after the installation following the instructions with

curl https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh

and logout/login, nix-env and nix-build are not found. I had the problem with debian stretch and now with buster. What am I doing wrong?

you can try after running: /bin/bash --login on ubuntu – Ravi Kumar SIngh Mar 18 '19 at 11:37 — Ravi Kumar SIngh, Mar 18 '19 at 11:37

score 9 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 20 '22 at 15:42

9

The nix manual instructs to execute

source ~/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh

but the instructions printed after the execution say to do (I do not remember exactly)

./~/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh

and the same command is inserted into ~/.profile. The cause of the problem is the difference between . and source (see this superuser question). The script is setting up the $PATH variable in the environment and has the desired effect wtih source but no effect with . (which operates in its own shell and closes it at the end).

Cure: change the line in .profile (or better move it to .bashrc) to

if [ -e /home/xxx/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh ]; then source /home/xxx/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh; fi

(xxx is your user name),

edited Dec 20 '22 at 15:42

sb813322

129
9

answered Jan 08 '19 at 08:03

user855443

2,596
3
25
37

There is no difference between `source` and `.`; they are synonyms for the same command. – chepner Jan 24 '19 at 21:05
2

There is, however, a big difference between `./~/...` and `. ~/...`; the former is just a path (likely invalid, as you probably don't have a directory named `~` in the current working directory) starting with the current working directory. – chepner Jan 24 '19 at 21:18
I assume that my memory was not perfect and i left out the space between `.` and `~`. The discussion I quoted above is clearly stating the subtle difference between `source` and `.` - they synonymous on the same command but have different effects on teh environment. Read the discussion! – user855443 Jan 26 '19 at 09:03
The discussion you quoted talks about the difference between a *path* that starts with `.` (resulting in *executing* the script) versus sourcing it (whether with `.` or `source`). – chepner Jan 26 '19 at 14:44

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 22 '22 at 05:29

2

For me only setting $PATH like this worked (in .profile)

export PATH="$PATH:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin"

edited Dec 22 '22 at 05:29

sb813322

129
9

answered Sep 21 '22 at 10:38

E.Fulassofu

51
1
2
7

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 21 '22 at 15:50

0

You need to add this recommended script.

edited Dec 21 '22 at 15:50

sb813322

129
9

answered Jan 08 '19 at 07:48

Roby

2,011
4
28
55

This is done automatically (and was done), the issue is the difference between ``` and `source`. The script automatically inserted uses `.`. – user855443 Jan 08 '19 at 08:04
@user you mean between `.` and `source`? – sb813322 Dec 20 '22 at 13:20

nix-env and nix-build not found after installation (debian buster)

3 Answers3