Bootstrapping

The Bootstrap Command

You can create a flake.nix from scratch — without running inside an existing flake — using a one-shot bootstrap command:

# Write a minimal bootstrap module
echo '{ flake-file.inputs.flake-file.url = "github:vic/flake-file"; }' > bootstrap.nix

# Generate flake.nix
nix-shell https://github.com/vic/flake-file/archive/refs/heads/main.zip \
  -A flake-file.sh \
  --run write-flake \
  --arg modules ./bootstrap.nix

Replace write-flake with write-inputs, write-unflake, or write-npins to target a different backend.

Using a modules directory

bootstrap.nix can also be a directory. All .nix files in it will be auto-imported:

nix-shell https://github.com/vic/flake-file/archive/refs/heads/main.zip \
  -A flake-file.sh \
  --run write-flake \
  --arg modules ./modules

This is useful when you already have module files and just need the initial flake.nix to be generated before Nix can evaluate the flake itself.

Next Steps

After generating flake.nix, continue with the standard Quick Start flow.