Modular Nix Flake Configuration for Development Environment
Summary
Restructured the Nix flake configuration into modular components for better maintainability and separation of concerns, with dedicated modules for core development tools, language-specific setups, and editor configurations.
Why Care
- Assures reproducible builds and that any contributor may choose to use the same development environment
- Streamlines a lot of "setup" choices and tasks.
- Improved maintainability through modular design
- Better separation of development environment components
- Easier to add or modify specific tooling without affecting other parts
Technical Details
Module Structure
- Core Development Tools (
devshell.nix)- Essential CLI tools (git, ripgrep, fd, etc.)
- Shell and terminal emulator support
- Core utility replacements (bat, exa, tree)
- Language Support
- Rust (
rust.nix): Toolchain, cargo extensions, build tools - Node.js (
nodejs-devshell.nix): Runtime, pnpm, TypeScript support
- Editor Support
- Base Editors (
editors.nix): Helix, Neovim, Windsurf - VSCode (
vscode.nix): Extensions, language servers, snippets
Key Features
- Consistent language server protocol (LSP) support across editors
- Integrated formatter and linter configurations
- Shared development tools and utilities
- Environment-specific variables and paths
Implementation Notes
- Uses flake-parts for modular configuration
- Leverages overlays for Rust and Neovim nightly
- Maintains compatibility with existing .vscode setup
- Supports cross-platform development (Linux and macOS)
Impact and Usage
- Developers: Single command to set up complete development environment
- Project: Consistent tooling and formatting across codebase
- Maintenance: Easier updates and modifications through modularity
Future Considerations
- Monitor tool versions and update as needed
- Consider adding more language-specific modules
- Evaluate additional editor integrations
- Keep VSCode snippets and templates in sync with development practices