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.

Install Nix. We recommend that macOS users use Determinate.pkg. For Linux and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) users:
```
$ curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf -L https://install.determinate.systems/nix | \
  sh -s -- install --determinate
```
The install script will use sudo, so make sure you have sufficient rights.

For other installation methods, see the detailed installation instructions.
Run software without installing it permanently:
```
$ 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:
```
[nix-shell:~]$ cowsay Hello, Nix! | lolcat
```
Exiting the shell will make the programs disappear again:
```
[nix-shell:~]$ exit
$ lolcat
lolcat: command not found
```
Search for more packages on search.nixos.org to try them out.
Free up storage space:
```
$ nix-collect-garbage
```

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Quick Start

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