Workstation Setup Guide

Setting up a workstation involves two phases:

1. Bootstrap – Install Nix on a Debian-based system along with base tools
2. Provision – Install APT/Flatpak packages and apply configurations via mise

Prerequisites

This setup requires the dennybaa/dotfiles repository. Install Git and clone the repository:

sudo apt install git -y

# Clone the repository
cd ~ && git clone git@github.com:dennybaa/dotfiles.git

# Alternative: clone via HTTPS
# cd ~ && git clone https://github.com/dennybaa/dotfiles.git

Provision a Workstation

The provision phase installs software and applies system configurations. This is orchestrated by mise and uses:

• nu/install-packages.nu – Handles package operations: updating APT sources, installing APT and Flatpak packages
• mise – Executes configuration hooks

Bootstrap

1. Run the bootstrap script to install Nix:

   cd ~/dotfiles && ./bootstrap.sh

   ✅ Action required: Before a relogin happens, the Nix bootstrap profile is not sourced. To continue setup in this case, running the command below is required:

   . /etc/profile.d/nix.sh

2. Run the post-Nix bootstrap tasks:

   mise run bootstrap

   📝 Note: The bootstrap process may prompt for local secret values, like the example below:

   Enter your GitHub Personal Access Token (for public repositories, CTRL+D to submit)
   >>>
   

   GitHub Personal Access Token for public repositories : Used by Nix and Mise to authenticate API requests when downloading from GitHub (increases rate limits and avoids anonymous access restrictions).

Configuration

View available mise tasks:

mise tasks

Provision a System Preset

Two system presets are available:

• minimal – Installs a basic set of packages (zsh, tmux, etc.)
• desktop – Full workstation with APT, Flatpak, and Nix packages

Run the appropriate command:

mise run provision:minimal
# OR
mise run provision:desktop

# Additionally
mise run 'setup:desktop:*'

📝 NOTE: Use --update (or -u) to refresh installed packages, including Flatpak and Nix.

Packages

System package configuration is defined in nu/packages.nu:

• AptSources – Files for /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ and optional GPG keys
• AptPackages and FlatpakPackages – Packages organized by type (base, desktop, etc.)

Install specific bundles:

mise r packages:apt default desktop

Nix Profile

A single profile approach is recommended: nix/desktop, nix/vps, nix/server, etc.

Install a profile:

mise run nix desktop

After installing the main profile, clean up the bootstrap profile to avoid overlap (recommended, but not necessary):

mise run nix:rm bootstrap

📝 Note: Use -u/--update to refresh flake versions.