From cab52660922e96a54780a87b4a7511eee2598d2a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Mike (stew) O'Connor" Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2023 10:50:34 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] add a definition of the nix database to the glossary Co-authored-by: Valentin Gagarin --- doc/manual/src/glossary.md | 19 +++++++++++++------ 1 file changed, 13 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/manual/src/glossary.md b/doc/manual/src/glossary.md index 0888954f9..fe5920746 100644 --- a/doc/manual/src/glossary.md +++ b/doc/manual/src/glossary.md @@ -73,10 +73,9 @@ - [binary cache]{#gloss-binary-cache}\ A *binary cache* is a Nix store which uses a different format: its metadata and signatures are kept in `.narinfo` files rather than in a - Nix database. This different format simplifies serving store objects - over the network, but cannot host builds. Examples of binary caches - include S3 buckets and the [NixOS binary - cache](https://cache.nixos.org). + [Nix database]. This different format simplifies serving store objects + over the network, but cannot host builds. Examples of binary caches + include S3 buckets and the [NixOS binary cache](https://cache.nixos.org). - [store path]{#gloss-store-path}\ The location of a [store object] in the file system, i.e., an @@ -109,7 +108,7 @@ [fixed-output derivations](#gloss-fixed-output-derivation). - [substitute]{#gloss-substitute}\ - A substitute is a command invocation stored in the Nix database that + A substitute is a command invocation stored in the [Nix database] that describes how to build a store object, bypassing the normal build mechanism (i.e., derivations). Typically, the substitute builds the store object by downloading a pre-built version of the store object @@ -128,6 +127,14 @@ builder can rely on external inputs such as the network or the system time) but the Nix model assumes it. + - Nix database{#gloss-nix-database}\ + An SQlite database to track [reference]s between [store object]s. + This is an implementation detail of the [local store]. + + Default location: `/nix/var/nix/db`. + + [Nix database]: #gloss-nix-database + - [Nix expression]{#gloss-nix-expression}\ A high-level description of software packages and compositions thereof. Deploying software using Nix entails writing Nix @@ -178,7 +185,7 @@ For a [local store], this means: - The store path leads to an existing [store object] in that [store]. - - The store path is listed in the Nix database as being valid. + - The store path is listed in the [Nix database] as being valid. - All paths in the store path's [closure] are valid. [validity]: #gloss-validity