diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 11c461896..c50ecf00a 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -204,6 +204,11 @@
         # Binary package for various platforms.
         build = forAllSystems (system: self.packages.${system}.nix);
 
+        # FIXME(Qyriad): remove this when the migration to Meson has been completed.
+        mesonBuild = forAllSystems (system: self.packages.${system}.nix.override {
+          buildWithMeson = true;
+        });
+
         # Perl bindings for various platforms.
         perlBindings = forAllSystems (system: nixpkgsFor.${system}.native.nix.perl-bindings);
 
@@ -262,6 +267,8 @@
       };
 
       checks = forAllSystems (system: {
+        # FIXME(Qyriad): remove this when the migration to Meson has been completed.
+        mesonBuild = self.hydraJobs.mesonBuild.${system};
         binaryTarball = self.hydraJobs.binaryTarball.${system};
         perlBindings = self.hydraJobs.perlBindings.${system};
         nixpkgsLibTests = self.hydraJobs.tests.nixpkgsLibTests.${system};
@@ -321,7 +328,12 @@
                 ++ lib.optional (stdenv.cc.isClang && !stdenv.buildPlatform.isDarwin) pkgs.buildPackages.bear
                 ++ lib.optional
                   (stdenv.cc.isClang && stdenv.hostPlatform == stdenv.buildPlatform)
-                  pkgs.buildPackages.clang-tools;
+                  pkgs.buildPackages.clang-tools
+                ++ [
+                  # FIXME(Qyriad): remove once the migration to Meson is complete.
+                  pkgs.buildPackages.meson
+                  pkgs.buildPackages.ninja
+                ];
 
               src = null;
 
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fc8ca112
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,294 @@
+#
+# OUTLINE:
+#
+# The top-level meson.build file (this file) handles general logic for build options,
+# generation of config.h (which is put in the build directory, not the source root
+# like the previous, autoconf-based build system did), the mechanism for header
+# generation, and the few global C++ compiler arguments that are added to all targets in Lix.
+#
+# src/meson.build coordinates each of Lix's subcomponents (the lib dirs in ./src),
+# which each have their own meson.build. Lix's components depend on each other,
+# so each of `src/lib{util,store,fetchers,expr,main,cmd}/meson.build` rely on variables
+# set in earlier `meson.build` files. Each of these also defines the install targets for
+# their headers.
+#
+# src/meson.build also collects the miscellaneous source files that are in further subdirectories
+# that become part of the final Nix command (things like `src/nix-build/*.cc`).
+#
+# Finally, src/nix/meson.build defines the Nix command itself, relying on all prior meson files.
+
+project('lix', 'cpp',
+  version : run_command('bash', '-c', 'echo -n $(cat ./.version)$VERSION_SUFFIX', check : true).stdout().strip(),
+  default_options : [
+    'cpp_std=c++20',
+    # TODO(Qyriad): increase the warning level
+    'warning_level=1',
+    'debug=true',
+    'optimization=2',
+  ],
+)
+
+fs = import('fs')
+
+prefix = get_option('prefix')
+# For each of these paths, assume that it is relative to the prefix unless
+# it is already an absolute path (which is the default for store-dir, state-dir, and log-dir).
+path_opts = [
+  # Meson built-ins.
+  'datadir',
+  'sysconfdir',
+  'bindir',
+  'mandir',
+  'libdir',
+  'includedir',
+  # Homecooked Lix directories.
+  'store-dir',
+  'state-dir',
+  'log-dir',
+]
+foreach optname : path_opts
+  varname = optname.replace('-', '_')
+  path = get_option(optname)
+  if fs.is_absolute(path)
+    set_variable(varname, path)
+  else
+    set_variable(varname, prefix / path)
+  endif
+endforeach
+
+cxx = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
+
+host_system = host_machine.cpu_family() + '-' + host_machine.system()
+message('canonical Nix system name:', host_system)
+
+deps = [ ]
+configdata = { }
+
+#
+# Dependencies
+#
+
+boehm = dependency('bdw-gc', required : get_option('gc'))
+if boehm.found()
+  deps += boehm
+endif
+configdata += {
+  'HAVE_BOEHMGC': boehm.found().to_int(),
+}
+
+boost = dependency('boost', required : true, modules : ['context', 'coroutine', 'container'])
+deps += boost
+
+cpuid = dependency('libcpuid', 'cpuid', required : get_option('cpuid'))
+configdata += {
+  'HAVE_LIBCPUID': cpuid.found().to_int(),
+  }
+deps += cpuid
+
+seccomp = dependency('libseccomp', 'seccomp', required : get_option('seccomp-sandboxing'))
+configdata += {
+  'HAVE_SECCOMP': seccomp.found().to_int(),
+  }
+
+libarchive = dependency('libarchive', required : true)
+deps += libarchive
+
+brotli = [
+  dependency('libbrotlicommon', required : true),
+  dependency('libbrotlidec', required : true),
+  dependency('libbrotlienc', required : true),
+  ]
+deps += brotli
+
+openssl = dependency('libcrypto', 'openssl', required : true)
+deps += openssl
+
+aws_sdk = dependency('aws-cpp-sdk-core', required : true)
+if aws_sdk.found()
+  # The AWS pkg-config adds -std=c++11.
+  aws_sdk = aws_sdk.partial_dependency(
+    compile_args : false,
+    includes : true,
+    link_args : true,
+    links : true,
+    sources : true,
+  )
+  deps += aws_sdk
+  s = aws_sdk.version().split('.')
+  configdata += {
+    'AWS_VERSION_MAJOR': s[0].to_int(),
+    'AWS_VERSION_MINOR': s[1].to_int(),
+    'AWS_VERSION_PATCH': s[2].to_int(),
+  }
+  aws_sdk_transfer = dependency('aws-cpp-sdk-transfer', required : true).partial_dependency(
+    compile_args : false,
+    includes : true,
+    link_args : true,
+    links : true,
+    sources : true,
+  )
+endif
+
+aws_s3 = dependency('aws-cpp-sdk-s3', required : true)
+if aws_s3.found()
+  # The AWS pkg-config adds -std=c++11.
+  aws_s3 = aws_s3.partial_dependency(
+    compile_args : false,
+    includes : true,
+    link_args : true,
+    links : true,
+    sources : true,
+  )
+  deps += aws_s3
+endif
+
+configdata += {
+  'ENABLE_S3': aws_s3.found().to_int(),
+}
+
+sqlite = dependency('sqlite3', 'sqlite', version : '>=3.6.19', required : true)
+deps += sqlite
+
+sodium = dependency('libsodium', 'sodium', required : true)
+deps += sodium
+
+curl = dependency('libcurl', 'curl', required : true)
+deps += curl
+
+editline = dependency('libeditline', 'editline', version : '>=1.14', required : true)
+deps += editline
+
+lowdown = dependency('lowdown', version : '>=0.9.0', required : true)
+deps += lowdown
+
+rapidcheck = dependency('rapidcheck', required : false)
+deps += rapidcheck
+
+gtest = dependency('gtest', required : false)
+deps += gtest
+
+#
+# Build-time tools
+#
+bash = find_program('bash')
+
+# Used to workaround https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/2320 in src/nix/meson.build.
+installcmd = find_program('install')
+
+sandbox_shell = get_option('sandbox-shell')
+# Consider it required if we're on Linux and the user explicitly specified a non-default value.
+sandbox_shell_required = sandbox_shell != 'busybox' and host_machine.system() == 'linux'
+# NOTE(Qyriad): package.nix puts busybox in buildInputs for Linux.
+# Most builds should not require setting this.
+busybox = find_program(sandbox_shell, required : sandbox_shell_required, native : false)
+if not busybox.found() and host_machine.system() == 'linux' and sandbox_shell_required
+  warning('busybox not found and other sandbox shell was specified')
+  warning('a sandbox shell is recommended on Linux -- configure with -Dsandbox-shell=/path/to/shell to set')
+endif
+# FIXME(Qyriad): the autoconf system checks that busybox has the "standalone" feature, indicating
+# that busybox sh won't run busybox applets as builtins (which would break our sandbox).
+
+lsof = find_program('lsof')
+bison = find_program('bison')
+flex = find_program('flex')
+
+# This is how Nix does generated headers...
+# FIXME(Qyriad): do we really need to use the shell for this?
+gen_header = generator(
+  bash,
+  arguments : [
+    '-c',
+    'echo \'R"__NIX_STR(\' | cat - @INPUT@ && echo \')__NIX_STR"\'',
+  ],
+  capture : true,
+  output : '@PLAINNAME@.gen.hh',
+)
+
+#
+# Configuration
+#
+
+run_command('ln', '-s',
+  meson.project_build_root() / '__nothing_link_target',
+  meson.project_build_root() / '__nothing_symlink',
+  check : true,
+)
+can_link_symlink = run_command('ln',
+  meson.project_build_root() / '__nothing_symlink',
+  meson.project_build_root() / '__nothing_hardlink',
+  check : false,
+).returncode() == 0
+run_command('rm', '-f',
+  meson.project_build_root() / '__nothing_symlink',
+  meson.project_build_root() / '__nothing_hardlink',
+  check : true,
+)
+summary('can hardlink to symlink', can_link_symlink, bool_yn : true)
+configdata += { 'CAN_LINK_SYMLINK': can_link_symlink.to_int() }
+
+
+# Check for each of these functions, and create a define like `#define HAVE_LCHOWN 1`.
+check_funcs = [
+  'lchown',
+  'lutimes',
+  'pipe2',
+  'posix_fallocate',
+  'statvfs',
+  'strsignal',
+  'sysconf',
+]
+foreach funcspec : check_funcs
+  define_name = 'HAVE_' + funcspec.underscorify().to_upper()
+  define_value = cxx.has_function(funcspec).to_int()
+  configdata += {
+    define_name: define_value,
+  }
+endforeach
+
+# extern "C++" functions can't be checked with the normal mechanism (much less member functions),
+# so we have to do this one ourselves.
+has_pubsetbuf = cxx.compiles('''
+  #include <iostream>
+  using namespace std;
+  static char buf[1024];
+  decltype(cerr.rdbuf()->pubsetbuf(buf, sizeof(buf))) _;
+''')
+summary('have std::basic_streambuf::pubsetbuf', has_pubsetbuf, bool_yn : true)
+configdata += {
+  'HAVE_PUBSETBUF': has_pubsetbuf.to_int(),
+}
+
+config_h = configure_file(
+  configuration : {
+    'PACKAGE_NAME': '"' + meson.project_name() + '"',
+    'PACKAGE_VERSION': '"' + meson.project_version() + '"',
+    'PACKAGE_TARNAME': '"' + meson.project_name() + '"',
+    'PACKAGE_STRING': '"' + meson.project_name() + ' ' + meson.project_version() + '"',
+    'HAVE_STRUCT_DIRENT_D_TYPE': 1, # FIXME: actually check this for solaris
+    'SYSTEM': '"' + host_system + '"',
+  } + configdata,
+  output : 'config.h',
+)
+
+install_headers(config_h, subdir : 'nix')
+
+add_project_arguments(
+  # TODO(Qyriad): Yes this is how the autoconf+Make system did it.
+  # It would be nice for our headers to be idempotent instead.
+  '-include', 'config.h',
+  '-Wno-deprecated-declarations',
+  '-Wimplicit-fallthrough',
+  '-Werror=switch',
+  '-Werror=switch-enum',
+  language : 'cpp',
+)
+
+add_project_link_arguments(
+  '-pthread',
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): autoconf did this only if not Darwin, Solaris, or FreeBSD
+  # (...so only if Linux?)
+  '-Wl,--no-copy-dt-needed-entries',
+  language : 'cpp',
+)
+
+subdir('src')
diff --git a/meson.options b/meson.options
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..59412a1af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson.options
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# vim: filetype=meson
+option('gc', type : 'feature',
+  description : 'enable garbage collection in the Nix expression evaluator (requires Boehm GC)',
+)
+# TODO(Qyriad): is this feature maintained?
+option('embedded-sandbox-shell', type : 'feature',
+  description : 'include the sandbox shell in the Nix bindary',
+)
+
+option('cpuid', type : 'feature',
+  description : 'determine microarchitecture levels with libcpuid (only relevant on x86_64)',
+)
+
+option('seccomp-sandboxing', type : 'feature',
+  description : 'build support for seccomp sandboxing (recommended unless your arch doesn\'t support libseccomp, only relevant on Linux)',
+)
+
+option('sandbox-shell', type : 'string', value : 'busybox',
+  description : 'path to a statically-linked shell to use as /bin/sh in sandboxes (usually busybox)',
+)
+
+option('store-dir', type : 'string', value : '/nix/store',
+  description : 'path of the Nix store',
+)
+
+option('state-dir', type : 'string', value : '/nix/var/nix',
+  description : 'path to store state in for Nix',
+)
+
+option('log-dir', type : 'string', value : '/nix/var/log',
+  description : 'path to store logs in for Nix',
+)
diff --git a/meson/cleanup-install.bash b/meson/cleanup-install.bash
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..a07928b7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson/cleanup-install.bash
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Meson will call this with an absolute path to Bash.
+# The shebang is just for convenience.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+echo "cleanup-install: removing Meson-placed C++ sources from dest includedir"
+
+if [[ "${1/--help/}" != "$1" ]]; then
+	echo "cleanup-install: this script should only be called from the Meson build system"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# Ensure the includedir was passed as the first argument
+# (set -u will make this fail otherwise).
+includedir="$1"
+# And then ensure that first argument is a directory that exists.
+if ! [[ -d "$1" ]]; then
+	echo "cleanup-install: this script should only be called from the Meson build system"
+	echo "argv[1] (${1@Q}) is not a directory"
+	exit 2
+fi
+
+# If DESTDIR environment variable is set, prepend it to the include dir.
+# Unfortunately, we cannot do this on the Meson side. We do have an environment variable
+# `MESON_INSTALL_DESTDIR_PREFIX`, but that will not refer to the include directory if
+# includedir has been set separately, which Lix's split-output derivation does.
+# We also cannot simply do an inline bash conditional like "${DESTDIR:=}" or similar,
+# because we need to specifically *join* DESTDIR and includedir with a slash, and *not*
+# have a slash if DESTDIR isn't set at all, since $includedir could be a relative directory.
+# Finally, DESTDIR is only available to us as an environment variable in these install scripts,
+# not in Meson logic.
+# Therefore, our best option is to have Meson pass this script the configured includedir,
+# and perform this dance with it and $DESTDIR.
+if [[ -n "${DESTDIR:-}" ]]; then
+	includedir="$DESTDIR/$includedir"
+fi
+
+# Intentionally not using -f.
+# If these files don't exist then our assumptions have been violated and we should fail.
+rm -v "$includedir/nix/parser-tab.cc" "$includedir/nix/lexer-tab.cc"
diff --git a/package.nix b/package.nix
index 8d33759b7..cf1a6cdaf 100644
--- a/package.nix
+++ b/package.nix
@@ -24,10 +24,13 @@
   libcpuid,
   libseccomp,
   libsodium,
+  lsof,
   lowdown,
   mdbook,
   mdbook-linkcheck,
   mercurial,
+  meson,
+  ninja,
   openssl,
   pkg-config,
   rapidcheck,
@@ -47,6 +50,10 @@
   # Avoid setting things that would interfere with a functioning devShell
   forDevShell ? false,
 
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): build Lix using Meson instead of autoconf and make.
+  # This flag will be removed when the migration to Meson is complete.
+  buildWithMeson ? false,
+
   # Not a real argument, just the only way to approximate let-binding some
   # stuff for argument defaults.
   __forDefaults ? {
@@ -86,12 +93,16 @@
     ./README.md
   ];
 
-  topLevelBuildFiles = fileset.unions [
+  topLevelBuildFiles = fileset.unions ([
     ./local.mk
     ./Makefile
     ./Makefile.config.in
     ./mk
-  ];
+  ] ++ lib.optionals buildWithMeson [
+    ./meson.build
+    ./meson.options
+    ./meson/cleanup-install.bash
+  ]);
 
  functionalTestFiles = fileset.unions [
     ./tests/functional
@@ -126,6 +137,11 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
 
   dontBuild = false;
 
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): see if this is still needed once the migration to Meson is completed.
+  mesonFlags = lib.optionals (buildWithMeson && stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux) [
+    "-Dsandbox-shell=${lib.getBin busybox-sandbox-shell}/bin/busybox"
+  ];
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     bison
     flex
@@ -134,17 +150,21 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     mdbook
     mdbook-linkcheck
     autoconf-archive
-    autoreconfHook
+  ] ++ lib.optional (!buildWithMeson) autoreconfHook ++ [
     pkg-config
 
     # Tests
     git
     mercurial
     jq
+    lsof
   ] ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux util-linuxMinimal
     ++ lib.optional (!officialRelease && buildUnreleasedNotes) changelog-d
     ++ lib.optional internalApiDocs doxygen
-  ;
+    ++ lib.optionals buildWithMeson [
+      meson
+      ninja
+  ];
 
   buildInputs = [
     curl
@@ -159,7 +179,7 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     lowdown
     libsodium
   ]
-    ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isLinux [ libseccomp ]
+    ++ lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux [ libseccomp busybox-sandbox-shell ]
     ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isx86_64 libcpuid
     # There have been issues building these dependencies
     ++ lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform == stdenv.buildPlatform) aws-sdk-cpp-nix
@@ -177,6 +197,13 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     boost
   ];
 
+  # Needed for Meson to find Boost.
+  # https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/86131.
+  env = lib.optionalAttrs (buildWithMeson || forDevShell) {
+    BOOST_INCLUDEDIR = "${lib.getDev boost}/include";
+    BOOST_LIBRARYDIR = "${lib.getLib boost}/lib";
+  };
+
   preConfigure = lib.optionalString (!finalAttrs.dontBuild && !stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic) ''
     # Copy libboost_context so we don't get all of Boost in our closure.
     # https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/45462
diff --git a/src/libcmd/meson.build b/src/libcmd/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e033bb1cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libcmd/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+libcmd_sources = files(
+  'built-path.cc',
+  'command-installable-value.cc',
+  'command.cc',
+  'common-eval-args.cc',
+  'editor-for.cc',
+  'installable-attr-path.cc',
+  'installable-derived-path.cc',
+  'installable-flake.cc',
+  'installable-value.cc',
+  'installables.cc',
+  'legacy.cc',
+  'markdown.cc',
+  'repl.cc',
+  'repl-interacter.cc',
+)
+
+libcmd_headers = files(
+  'built-path.hh',
+  'command-installable-value.hh',
+  'command.hh',
+  'common-eval-args.hh',
+  'editor-for.hh',
+  'installable-attr-path.hh',
+  'installable-derived-path.hh',
+  'installable-flake.hh',
+  'installable-value.hh',
+  'installables.hh',
+  'legacy.hh',
+  'markdown.hh',
+  'repl-interacter.hh',
+  'repl.hh',
+)
+
+libcmd = library(
+  'nixcmd',
+  libcmd_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    liblixutil,
+    liblixstore,
+    liblixexpr,
+    liblixfetchers,
+    liblixmain,
+    boehm,
+    editline,
+    lowdown,
+  ],
+  install : true,
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
+  install_rpath : libdir,
+)
+
+install_headers(libcmd_headers, subdir : 'nix', preserve_path : true)
+
+liblixcmd = declare_dependency(
+  include_directories : '.',
+  link_with : libcmd,
+)
diff --git a/src/libexpr/meson.build b/src/libexpr/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96cdf3fc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libexpr/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+parser_tab = custom_target(
+  input : 'parser.y',
+  output : [
+    'parser-tab.cc',
+    'parser-tab.hh',
+  ],
+  command : [
+    'bison',
+    '-v',
+    '-o',
+    '@OUTPUT0@',
+    '@INPUT@',
+    '-d',
+  ],
+  # NOTE(Qyriad): Meson doesn't support installing only part of a custom target, so we add
+  # an install script below which removes parser-tab.cc.
+  install : true,
+  install_dir : includedir / 'nix',
+)
+
+lexer_tab = custom_target(
+  input : [
+    'lexer.l',
+    parser_tab,
+  ],
+  output : [
+    'lexer-tab.cc',
+    'lexer-tab.hh',
+  ],
+  command : [
+    'flex',
+    '--outfile',
+    '@OUTPUT0@',
+    '--header-file=' + '@OUTPUT1@',
+    '@INPUT0@',
+  ],
+  # NOTE(Qyriad): Meson doesn't support installing only part of a custom target, so we add
+  # an install script below which removes lexer-tab.cc.
+  install : true,
+  install_dir : includedir / 'nix',
+)
+
+# TODO(Qyriad): When the parser and lexer are rewritten this should be removed.
+# NOTE(Qyriad): We do this this way instead of an inline bash or rm command
+# due to subtleties in Meson. Check the comments in cleanup-install.bash for details.
+meson.add_install_script(
+  bash,
+  meson.project_source_root() / 'meson/cleanup-install.bash',
+  '@0@'.format(includedir),
+)
+
+imported_drv_to_derivation_gen = gen_header.process('imported-drv-to-derivation.nix')
+fetchurl_gen = gen_header.process('fetchurl.nix')
+derivation_gen = gen_header.process('primops/derivation.nix', preserve_path_from : meson.current_source_dir())
+call_flake_gen = gen_header.process('flake/call-flake.nix')
+
+libexpr_sources = files(
+  'attr-path.cc',
+  'attr-set.cc',
+  'eval-cache.cc',
+  'eval-error.cc',
+  'eval-settings.cc',
+  'eval.cc',
+  'function-trace.cc',
+  'get-drvs.cc',
+  'json-to-value.cc',
+  'nixexpr.cc',
+  'paths.cc',
+  'primops.cc',
+  'print-ambiguous.cc',
+  'print.cc',
+  'search-path.cc',
+  'value-to-json.cc',
+  'value-to-xml.cc',
+  'flake/config.cc',
+  'flake/flake.cc',
+  'flake/flakeref.cc',
+  'flake/lockfile.cc',
+  'primops/context.cc',
+  'primops/fetchClosure.cc',
+  'primops/fetchMercurial.cc',
+  'primops/fetchTree.cc',
+  'primops/fromTOML.cc',
+  'value/context.cc',
+)
+
+libexpr_headers = files(
+  'attr-path.hh',
+  'attr-set.hh',
+  'eval-cache.hh',
+  'eval-error.hh',
+  'eval-inline.hh',
+  'eval-settings.hh',
+  'eval.hh',
+  'flake/flake.hh',
+  'flake/flakeref.hh',
+  'flake/lockfile.hh',
+  'function-trace.hh',
+  'gc-small-vector.hh',
+  'get-drvs.hh',
+  'json-to-value.hh',
+  'nixexpr.hh',
+  'parser-state.hh',
+  'pos-idx.hh',
+  'pos-table.hh',
+  'primops.hh',
+  'print-ambiguous.hh',
+  'print-options.hh',
+  'print.hh',
+  'repl-exit-status.hh',
+  'search-path.hh',
+  'symbol-table.hh',
+  'value/context.hh',
+  'value-to-json.hh',
+  'value-to-xml.hh',
+  'value.hh',
+)
+
+libexpr = library(
+  'nixexpr',
+  libexpr_sources,
+  parser_tab,
+  lexer_tab,
+  imported_drv_to_derivation_gen,
+  fetchurl_gen,
+  derivation_gen,
+  call_flake_gen,
+  dependencies : [
+    liblixutil,
+    liblixstore,
+    liblixfetchers,
+    boehm,
+    boost,
+  ],
+  # for shared.hh
+  include_directories : '../libmain',
+  cpp_args : [
+    # FIXME(Qyriad): can we please fix this. toml11 pls.
+    # Technically this only applies to fromTOML.cc, but, well
+    # https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/1367
+    '-Wno-error=switch-enum',
+  ],
+  install : true,
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
+  install_rpath : libdir,
+)
+
+install_headers(
+  libexpr_headers,
+  subdir : 'nix',
+  preserve_path : true
+)
+
+liblixexpr = declare_dependency(
+  include_directories : include_directories('.'),
+  link_with : libexpr,
+)
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/meson.build b/src/libfetchers/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5eacfd5c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libfetchers/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+libfetchers_sources = files(
+  'attrs.cc',
+  'cache.cc',
+  'fetch-settings.cc',
+  'fetch-to-store.cc',
+  'fetchers.cc',
+  'git.cc',
+  'github.cc',
+  'indirect.cc',
+  'mercurial.cc',
+  'path.cc',
+  'registry.cc',
+  'tarball.cc',
+)
+
+libfetchers_headers = files(
+  'attrs.hh',
+  'cache.hh',
+  'fetch-settings.hh',
+  'fetch-to-store.hh',
+  'fetchers.hh',
+  'registry.hh',
+)
+
+libfetchers = library(
+  'nixfetchers',
+  libfetchers_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    liblixstore,
+    liblixutil,
+  ],
+  install : true,
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
+  install_rpath : libdir,
+)
+
+install_headers(libfetchers_headers, subdir : 'nix', preserve_path : true)
+
+liblixfetchers = declare_dependency(
+  include_directories : include_directories('.'),
+  link_with : libfetchers,
+)
diff --git a/src/libmain/meson.build b/src/libmain/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54326c305
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libmain/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+libmain_sources = files(
+  'common-args.cc',
+  'loggers.cc',
+  'progress-bar.cc',
+  'shared.cc',
+  'stack.cc',
+)
+
+libmain_headers = files(
+  'common-args.hh',
+  'loggers.hh',
+  'progress-bar.hh',
+  'shared.hh',
+)
+
+libmain = library(
+  'nixmain',
+  libmain_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    liblixutil,
+    liblixstore,
+  ],
+  install : true,
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
+  install_rpath : libdir,
+)
+
+install_headers(libmain_headers, subdir : 'nix', preserve_path : true)
+
+liblixmain = declare_dependency(
+  include_directories : include_directories('.'),
+  link_with : libmain,
+)
diff --git a/src/libstore/meson.build b/src/libstore/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..33e475f70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+schema_sql_gen = gen_header.process('schema.sql')
+ca_specific_schema_gen = gen_header.process('ca-specific-schema.sql')
+
+libstore_sources = files(
+  'binary-cache-store.cc',
+  'build-result.cc',
+  'common-protocol.cc',
+  'content-address.cc',
+  'crypto.cc',
+  'daemon.cc',
+  'derivations.cc',
+  'derived-path-map.cc',
+  'derived-path.cc',
+  'downstream-placeholder.cc',
+  'dummy-store.cc',
+  'export-import.cc',
+  'filetransfer.cc',
+  'gc.cc',
+  'globals.cc',
+  'http-binary-cache-store.cc',
+  'legacy-ssh-store.cc',
+  'local-binary-cache-store.cc',
+  'local-fs-store.cc',
+  'local-store.cc',
+  'lock.cc',
+  'log-store.cc',
+  'machines.cc',
+  'make-content-addressed.cc',
+  'misc.cc',
+  'names.cc',
+  'nar-accessor.cc',
+  'nar-info-disk-cache.cc',
+  'nar-info.cc',
+  'optimise-store.cc',
+  'outputs-spec.cc',
+  'parsed-derivations.cc',
+  'path-info.cc',
+  'path-references.cc',
+  'path-with-outputs.cc',
+  'path.cc',
+  'pathlocks.cc',
+  'profiles.cc',
+  'realisation.cc',
+  'remote-fs-accessor.cc',
+  'remote-store.cc',
+  's3-binary-cache-store.cc',
+  'serve-protocol.cc',
+  'sqlite.cc',
+  'ssh-store.cc',
+  'ssh.cc',
+  'store-api.cc',
+  'uds-remote-store.cc',
+  'worker-protocol.cc',
+  'build/derivation-goal.cc',
+  'build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc',
+  'build/entry-points.cc',
+  'build/goal.cc',
+  'build/hook-instance.cc',
+  'build/local-derivation-goal.cc',
+  'build/personality.cc',
+  'build/substitution-goal.cc',
+  'build/worker.cc',
+  'builtins/buildenv.cc',
+  'builtins/fetchurl.cc',
+  'builtins/unpack-channel.cc',
+)
+
+
+libstore_headers = files(
+  'binary-cache-store.hh',
+  'build/derivation-goal.hh',
+  'build/drv-output-substitution-goal.hh',
+  'build/goal.hh',
+  'build/hook-instance.hh',
+  'build/local-derivation-goal.hh',
+  'build/personality.hh',
+  'build/substitution-goal.hh',
+  'build/worker.hh',
+  'build-result.hh',
+  'builtins/buildenv.hh',
+  'builtins.hh',
+  'common-protocol-impl.hh',
+  'common-protocol.hh',
+  'content-address.hh',
+  'crypto.hh',
+  'daemon.hh',
+  'derivations.hh',
+  'derived-path-map.hh',
+  'derived-path.hh',
+  'downstream-placeholder.hh',
+  'filetransfer.hh',
+  'fs-accessor.hh',
+  'gc-store.hh',
+  'globals.hh',
+  'indirect-root-store.hh',
+  'length-prefixed-protocol-helper.hh',
+  'local-fs-store.hh',
+  'local-store.hh',
+  'lock.hh',
+  'log-store.hh',
+  'machines.hh',
+  'make-content-addressed.hh',
+  'names.hh',
+  'nar-accessor.hh',
+  'nar-info-disk-cache.hh',
+  'nar-info.hh',
+  'outputs-spec.hh',
+  'parsed-derivations.hh',
+  'path-info.hh',
+  'path-references.hh',
+  'path-regex.hh',
+  'path-with-outputs.hh',
+  'path.hh',
+  'pathlocks.hh',
+  'profiles.hh',
+  'realisation.hh',
+  'remote-fs-accessor.hh',
+  'remote-store-connection.hh',
+  'remote-store.hh',
+  's3-binary-cache-store.hh',
+  's3.hh',
+  'serve-protocol-impl.hh',
+  'serve-protocol.hh',
+  'sqlite.hh',
+  'ssh-store-config.hh',
+  'ssh.hh',
+  'store-api.hh',
+  'store-cast.hh',
+  'uds-remote-store.hh',
+  'worker-protocol-impl.hh',
+  'worker-protocol.hh',
+)
+
+# These variables (aside from LSOF) are created pseudo-dynamically, near the beginning of
+# the top-level meson.build. Aside from prefix itself, each of these was
+# made into an absolute path by joining it with prefix, unless it was already
+# an absolute path (which is the default for store-dir, state-dir, and log-dir).
+cpp_str_defines = {
+  'LSOF': lsof.full_path(),
+  'NIX_PREFIX':    prefix,
+  'NIX_STORE_DIR': store_dir,
+  'NIX_DATA_DIR':  datadir,
+  'NIX_STATE_DIR': state_dir,
+  'NIX_LOG_DIR':   log_dir,
+  'NIX_CONF_DIR':  sysconfdir,
+  'NIX_BIN_DIR':   bindir,
+  'NIX_MAN_DIR':   mandir,
+}
+
+cpp_args = []
+
+foreach name, value : cpp_str_defines
+  cpp_args += [
+    '-D' + name + '=' + '"' + value + '"'
+  ]
+endforeach
+
+libstore = library(
+  'nixstore',
+  schema_sql_gen,
+  ca_specific_schema_gen,
+  libstore_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    libarchive,
+    liblixutil, # Internal.
+    seccomp,
+    sqlite,
+    sodium,
+    seccomp,
+    curl,
+    openssl,
+    aws_sdk,
+    aws_s3,
+    aws_sdk_transfer,
+  ],
+  cpp_args : cpp_args,
+  install : true,
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
+  install_rpath : libdir,
+)
+
+install_headers(libstore_headers, subdir : 'nix', preserve_path : true)
+
+# Used by libfetchers.
+liblixstore = declare_dependency(
+  include_directories : include_directories('.'),
+  link_with : libstore,
+)
diff --git a/src/libutil/meson.build b/src/libutil/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..084d7ed11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libutil/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+libutil_sources = files(
+  'archive.cc',
+  'args.cc',
+  'canon-path.cc',
+  'cgroup.cc',
+  'compression.cc',
+  'compute-levels.cc',
+  'config.cc',
+  'english.cc',
+  'error.cc',
+  'exit.cc',
+  'experimental-features.cc',
+  'filesystem.cc',
+  'git.cc',
+  'hash.cc',
+  'hilite.cc',
+  'json-utils.cc',
+  'logging.cc',
+  'namespaces.cc',
+  'position.cc',
+  'references.cc',
+  'serialise.cc',
+  'signals.cc',
+  'source-path.cc',
+  'suggestions.cc',
+  'tarfile.cc',
+  'thread-pool.cc',
+  'url.cc',
+  'util.cc',
+  'xml-writer.cc',
+)
+
+libutil_headers = files(
+  'abstract-setting-to-json.hh',
+  'ansicolor.hh',
+  'archive.hh',
+  'args.hh',
+  'box_ptr.hh',
+  'callback.hh',
+  'canon-path.hh',
+  'cgroup.hh',
+  'chunked-vector.hh',
+  'closure.hh',
+  'comparator.hh',
+  'compression.hh',
+  'compute-levels.hh',
+  'config-impl.hh',
+  'config.hh',
+  'english.hh',
+  'error.hh',
+  'exit.hh',
+  'experimental-features.hh',
+  'finally.hh',
+  'fmt.hh',
+  'git.hh',
+  'hash.hh',
+  'hilite.hh',
+  'input-accessor.hh',
+  'json-impls.hh',
+  'json-utils.hh',
+  'logging.hh',
+  'lru-cache.hh',
+  'monitor-fd.hh',
+  'namespaces.hh',
+  'pool.hh',
+  'position.hh',
+  'ref.hh',
+  'references.hh',
+  'regex-combinators.hh',
+  'repair-flag.hh',
+  'serialise.hh',
+  'signals.hh',
+  'source-path.hh',
+  'split.hh',
+  'suggestions.hh',
+  'sync.hh',
+  'tarfile.hh',
+  'thread-pool.hh',
+  'topo-sort.hh',
+  'types.hh',
+  'url-parts.hh',
+  'url.hh',
+  'util.hh',
+  'variant-wrapper.hh',
+  'xml-writer.hh',
+)
+
+libutil = library(
+  'nixutil',
+  libutil_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    aws_sdk,
+    aws_s3,
+    boehm,
+    boost,
+    cpuid,
+    seccomp,
+    libarchive,
+    brotli,
+    openssl,
+  ],
+  implicit_include_directories : true,
+  install : true,
+)
+
+install_headers(libutil_headers, subdir : 'nix', preserve_path : true)
+
+# Used by libstore and libfetchers.
+liblixutil = declare_dependency(
+  include_directories : include_directories('.'),
+  link_with : libutil
+)
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f97b66252
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# Subcomponents: these link into artifacts themselves, and have interdependencies.
+
+subdir('libutil')
+# Load-bearing order. libstore depends on libutil.
+subdir('libstore')
+# libfetchers depends on libstore
+subdir('libfetchers')
+# libexpr depends on all of the above
+subdir('libexpr')
+# libmain depends on libutil and libstore
+subdir('libmain')
+# libcmd depends on everything
+subdir('libcmd')
+
+
+# The rest of the subdirectories aren't separate components,
+# just source files in another directory, so we process them here.
+
+build_remote_sources = files(
+  'build-remote/build-remote.cc',
+)
+nix_build_sources = files(
+  'nix-build/nix-build.cc',
+)
+nix_channel_sources = files(
+  'nix-channel/nix-channel.cc',
+)
+unpack_channel_gen = gen_header.process('nix-channel/unpack-channel.nix')
+nix_collect_garbage_sources = files(
+  'nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc',
+)
+nix_copy_closure_sources = files(
+  'nix-copy-closure/nix-copy-closure.cc',
+)
+nix_env_buildenv_gen = gen_header.process('nix-env/buildenv.nix')
+nix_env_sources = files(
+  'nix-env/nix-env.cc',
+  'nix-env/user-env.cc',
+)
+nix_instantiate_sources = files(
+  'nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate.cc',
+)
+nix_store_sources = files(
+  'nix-store/dotgraph.cc',
+  'nix-store/graphml.cc',
+  'nix-store/nix-store.cc',
+)
+
+# Hurray for Meson list flattening!
+nix2_commands_sources = [
+  build_remote_sources,
+  nix_build_sources,
+  nix_channel_sources,
+  unpack_channel_gen,
+  nix_collect_garbage_sources,
+  nix_copy_closure_sources,
+  nix_env_buildenv_gen,
+  nix_env_sources,
+  nix_instantiate_sources,
+  nix_store_sources,
+]
+
+# Finally, the nix command itself, which all of the other commands are implmented in terms of
+# as a multicall binary.
+subdir('nix')
diff --git a/src/nix/meson.build b/src/nix/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2585ba3c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+generate_manpage_gen = gen_header.process(meson.project_source_root() / 'doc/manual/generate-manpage.nix')
+
+utils_gen = gen_header.process(meson.project_source_root() / 'doc/manual/utils.nix')
+
+get_env_gen = gen_header.process('get-env.sh')
+
+# src/nix/profile.cc includes src/nix/profile.md, which includes "doc/files/profiles.md.gen.hh".
+# Unfortunately, https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/2320.
+# "docs/files" isn't a directory hierarchy that already exists somewhere in this source tree,
+# and Meson refuses to create targets with specific directory paths.
+# So run_command() it is.
+# NOTE(Qyriad): This corresponds to the previous buildsystem's `src/nix/doc/files/%.md` rule,
+# which as far as I can tell was only used for this file.
+run_command(
+  installcmd,
+  '-D',
+  meson.project_source_root() / 'doc/manual/src/command-ref/files/profiles.md',
+  meson.current_build_dir() / 'doc/files/profiles.md',
+  check : true,
+)
+profiles_md_gen = gen_header.process(
+  meson.current_build_dir() / 'doc/files/profiles.md',
+  preserve_path_from : meson.current_build_dir(),
+)
+
+nix_sources = files(
+  'add-to-store.cc',
+  'app.cc',
+  'build.cc',
+  'bundle.cc',
+  'cat.cc',
+  'copy.cc',
+  'daemon.cc',
+  'derivation-add.cc',
+  'derivation-show.cc',
+  'derivation.cc',
+  'develop.cc',
+  'diff-closures.cc',
+  'doctor.cc',
+  'dump-path.cc',
+  'edit.cc',
+  'eval.cc',
+  'flake.cc',
+  'fmt.cc',
+  'hash.cc',
+  'log.cc',
+  'ls.cc',
+  'main.cc',
+  'make-content-addressed.cc',
+  'nar.cc',
+  'optimise-store.cc',
+  'path-from-hash-part.cc',
+  'path-info.cc',
+  'ping-store.cc',
+  'prefetch.cc',
+  'profile.cc',
+  'realisation.cc',
+  'registry.cc',
+  'repl.cc',
+  'run.cc',
+  'search.cc',
+  'show-config.cc',
+  'sigs.cc',
+  'store-copy-log.cc',
+  'store-delete.cc',
+  'store-gc.cc',
+  'store-repair.cc',
+  'store.cc',
+  'upgrade-nix.cc',
+  'verify.cc',
+  'why-depends.cc',
+)
+
+nix = executable(
+  'nix',
+  nix_sources,
+  generate_manpage_gen,
+  utils_gen,
+  get_env_gen,
+  profiles_md_gen,
+  nix2_commands_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    liblixcmd,
+    liblixutil,
+    liblixstore,
+    liblixexpr,
+    liblixfetchers,
+    liblixmain,
+    boehm,
+  ],
+  install : true,
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
+  install_rpath : libdir,
+)
+
+nix_symlinks = [
+  'nix-build',
+  'nix-channel',
+  'nix-collect-garbage',
+  'nix-copy-closure',
+  'nix-daemon',
+  'nix-env',
+  'nix-hash',
+  'nix-instantiate',
+  'nix-prefetch-url',
+  'nix-shell',
+  'nix-store',
+]
+
+foreach linkname : nix_symlinks
+  install_symlink(
+    linkname,
+    # TODO(Qyriad): should these continue to be relative symlinks?
+    pointing_to : 'nix',
+    install_dir : bindir,
+    # The 'runtime' tag is what executables default to, which we want to emulate here.
+    install_tag : 'runtime'
+  )
+endforeach