# Quick Start

This chapter is for impatient people who don't like reading documentation.
For more in-depth information you are kindly referred to subsequent chapters.

1. Install Nix:

   ```console
   $ curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh
   ```

   The install script will use `sudo`, so make sure you have sufficient rights.
   On Linux, `--daemon` can be omitted for a single-user install.

   For other installation methods, see the detailed [installation instructions](installation/index.md).

1. Run software without installing it permanently:

   ```console
   $ nix-shell --packages cowsay lolcat
   ```

   This downloads the specified packages with all their dependencies, and drops you into a Bash shell where the commands provided by those packages are present.
   This will not affect your normal environment:

   ```console
   [nix-shell:~]$ cowsay Hello, Nix! | lolcat
   ```

   Exiting the shell will make the programs disappear again:

   ```console
   [nix-shell:~]$ exit
   $ lolcat
   lolcat: command not found
   ```

1. Search for more packages on <search.nixos.org> to try them out.

1. Free up storage space:

   ```console
   $ nix-collect-garbage
   ```
