Packages

In the world of Nix, you have a choice between Imperative (doing things now) and Declarative (defining what should exist).

Imperative way

This is for users who want to install a package and use it immediately without touching a configuration file. It feels like apt, pacman, or brew.

• Install: Press $SUPER + U to launch prism-install.
• Remove: Press $SUPER + CTRL + U to launch prism-delete.
• Search: Use prism-sync to update the local database, then search via the installer TUI.

Declarative way

This is for users who want their system to be a mirror of their configuration file. You define your software in your Flake, and Prism ensures the system matches that definition.

How to install packages declaratively

To add software to your system permanently, edit your flake located at /etc/prism/flake.nix (or $SUPER + Z -> Edit system configuration).

You can add an environment.systemPackages block within your module definition:

{
  # ... inside your outputs/nixosConfigurations ...
  modules = [
    ./hardware-configuration.nix
    ./users.nix
    prism.nixosModules.default
    (
      { pkgs, ... }:
      {
        # --- ADD YOUR PACKAGES HERE ---
        environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
          vscode
          discord
          vlc
          obsidian
        ];

        # Existing hardware config
        prism.hardware.boot.mode = "uefi";
        prism.hardware.gpu = "nvidia";
      }
    )
  ];
}

After saving the file, apply the changes by running:

$SUPER + SHIFT + CTRL + U (or sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /etc/prism#prism).

Pros and cons

Choosing a path depends on whether you value speed or stability.