macsetup

Declarative macOS setup with Nix. One command to go from bare Mac to fully configured development environment.

Quick Start

Fresh Mac (bootstrap):

git clone git@github.com:irLinja/macsetup.git ~/macsetup
cd ~/macsetup
./macsetup bootstrap

Existing Mac (capture current setup):

./macsetup capture

Daily Usage

Command	Description
macsetup bootstrap	First-time setup (install Nix + nix-darwin)
macsetup rebuild	Apply configuration changes
macsetup update	Update all Nix inputs and rebuild
macsetup list	Show generation history
macsetup rollback	Revert to previous generation
macsetup switch N	Switch to generation N
macsetup capture	Audit Mac and import unmanaged items
macsetup --help	Show usage summary

Generation cleanup is automatic -- the last 3 generations are kept after every mutating operation.

Architecture

flake.nix                  Entry point, inputs, darwinConfigurations
hosts/
  shared.nix               Per-machine config (imports all modules)
modules/
  darwin/                   System-level: packages, defaults, services, security, fonts, homebrew
  home/                     User-level: shell, git, programs, dotfiles
macsetup                   CLI wrapper (rebuild, update, rollback, etc.)
scripts/
  bootstrap.sh             Bare Mac -> first successful build

Responsibility boundary:

• nix-darwin -- system packages, macOS defaults, launchd services, security, fonts, Nix daemon
• Home Manager -- dotfiles, shell config, user packages, program configs, git, XDG dirs

Adding Packages

CLI tools (stable): Add to modules/home/packages.nix under home.packages

CLI tools (fast-moving): Add to modules/darwin/homebrew.nix under brews

GUI apps (NixCasks): Add to modules/home/packages.nix under NixCasks section

GUI apps (Homebrew cask): Add to modules/darwin/homebrew.nix under casks

App Store apps: Add to modules/darwin/homebrew.nix under masApps as "Name" = ID;

Fonts: Add to modules/darwin/fonts.nix

Then run macsetup rebuild to apply.

Rollback & Generations

macsetup list                    # Show all generations
macsetup rollback                # Revert to previous generation
macsetup switch 12               # Jump to generation 12

Compare generations:

nix store diff-closures \
  /nix/var/nix/profiles/system-{N-1}-link \
  /nix/var/nix/profiles/system-{N}-link

GC is automatic after rebuild, update, rollback, and switch (keeps last 3).

Manual Commands

For users who prefer direct commands without the wrapper:

sudo darwin-rebuild switch --flake .#macsetup    # Apply config
nix flake update                                 # Update inputs
sudo darwin-rebuild --list-generations           # List generations
sudo darwin-rebuild --rollback                   # Rollback
sudo darwin-rebuild --switch-generation N        # Switch generation

Requirements

• macOS (Apple Silicon)
• Internet connection
• Nix is installed automatically by macsetup bootstrap

License

MIT