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only use generic build system terminology

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we will use a translation table to introduce nix-specific terms
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Valentin Gagarin 2022-04-21 15:06:05 +02:00
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8
doc/manual/src/design/overview.md
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@ -5,18 +5,18 @@ Nix consists of layers that operate fairly independently.
At the top is the *command line interface*, translating from invocations of Nix executables to interactions with the underlying layers. At the top is the *command line interface*, translating from invocations of Nix executables to interactions with the underlying layers.
Below that is the *Nix language*, a [purely functional programming](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purely_functional_programming) language. Below that is the *Nix language*, a [purely functional programming](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purely_functional_programming) language.
It is used to compose expressions which ultimately evaluate to *derivations* — self-contained *build plans* to derive new data from referenced input data. It is used to compose expressions which ultimately evaluate to self-contained *build plans*, used to derive *build results* from referenced *build inputs*.
::: {.note} ::: {.note}
The Nix language itself does not have a notion of *packages* or *configurations*. The Nix language itself does not have a notion of *packages* or *configurations*.
As far as we are concerned here, the result of a derivation is just data. As far as we are concerned here, the inputs and results of a derivation are just data.
In practice this amounts to a set of files in a file system. In practice this amounts to a set of files in a file system.
::: :::
The command line and Nix language are what users interact with most. The command line and Nix language are what users interact with most.
Underlying everything is the *Nix store*, a mechanism to keep track of derivations, data, and references between them. Underlying everything is the *Nix store*, a mechanism to keep track of build plans, data, and references between them.
It can also *realise derivations*, that is, *execute build instructions* to produce new data. It can also execute *build instructions* captured in the build plans, to produce new data.
It uses the file system as a persistence layer, and a database to keep track of references. It uses the file system as a persistence layer, and a database to keep track of references.
This chapter describes Nix starting at the bottom with the store layer, working its way up to the user-facing components described in the rest of the manual. This chapter describes Nix starting at the bottom with the store layer, working its way up to the user-facing components described in the rest of the manual.