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nix store gc deletes drv files of profile entries even with keep-env-derivations #1095

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opened 2026-01-05 18:40:38 +00:00 by neobrain · 0 comments
neobrain commented 2026-01-05 18:40:38 +00:00
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Describe the bug

keep-env-derivations should prevent garbage-collection of .drv files corresponding to profile entries. Currently, Lix deletes such files even when that setting is enabled.

Notably this breaks vulnix, which reads the .drv file for each profile entry to discover dependencies.

Steps To Reproduce

  1. Add keep-env-derivations = true to your /etc/nix/nix.conf and reload the nix-daemon
  2. nix profile install ghostty
  3. Observe that nix derivation show /nix/store/<path-to-installed>-ghostty-1.2.3 successfully prints the derivation
  4. nix store gc -v (observe that it includes ghostty-1.2.3.drv)
  5. Observe that nix derivation show /nix/store/<path-to-installed>-ghostty-1.2.3 will now print error: '/nix/store/...-ghostty-1.2.3' does not have a known deriver

Expected behavior

The .drv file should survive garbage collection.

nix --version output

nix (Lix, like Nix) 2.94.0

## Describe the bug `keep-env-derivations` should prevent garbage-collection of `.drv` files corresponding to profile entries. Currently, Lix deletes such files even when that setting is enabled. Notably this breaks vulnix, which reads the `.drv` file for each profile entry to discover dependencies. ## Steps To Reproduce 0. Add `keep-env-derivations = true` to your /etc/nix/nix.conf and reload the nix-daemon 1. `nix profile install ghostty` 2. Observe that `nix derivation show /nix/store/<path-to-installed>-ghostty-1.2.3` successfully prints the derivation 3. `nix store gc -v` (observe that it includes ghostty-1.2.3.drv) 4. Observe that `nix derivation show /nix/store/<path-to-installed>-ghostty-1.2.3` will now print `error: '/nix/store/...-ghostty-1.2.3' does not have a known deriver` ## Expected behavior The `.drv` file should survive garbage collection. ## `nix --version` output `nix (Lix, like Nix) 2.94.0`
raito added this to the 2.95 milestone 2026-01-05 18:51:38 +00:00
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Probably affects CppNix. This is a best-effort tag for troubles in old code; it exists to inform the CppNix team about problems they might care about also.

  
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Found in Lix nightly.

  
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make lix go faster

  
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Large scale installations of Lix, e.g. NixOS Hydra, Lix CI, big corporate installations etc.

  
ux

makes the user experience better :)

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lix-project/lix#1095
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