lix/src/nix
Maximilian Bosch bfdd908f7d structured attrs: improve support / usage of NIX_ATTRS_{SH,JSON}_FILE
In #4770 I implemented proper `nix-shell(1)` support for derivations
using `__structuredAttrs = true;`. Back then we decided to introduce two
new environment variables, `NIX_ATTRS_SH_FILE` for `.attrs.sh` and
`NIX_ATTRS_JSON_FILE` for `.attrs.json`. This was to avoid having to
copy these files to `$NIX_BUILD_TOP` in a `nix-shell(1)` session which
effectively meant copying these files to the project dir without
cleaning up afterwords[1].

On last NixCon I resumed hacking on `__structuredAttrs = true;` by
default for `nixpkgs` with a few other folks and getting back to it,
I identified a few problems with the how it's used in `nixpkgs`:

* A lot of builders in `nixpkgs` don't care about the env vars and
  assume that `.attrs.sh` and `.attrs.json` are in `$NIX_BUILD_TOP`.
  The sole reason why this works is that `nix-shell(1)` sources
  the contents of `.attrs.sh` and then sources `$stdenv/setup` if it
  exists. This may not be pretty, but it mostly works. One notable
  difference when using nixpkgs' stdenv as of now is however that
  `$__structuredAttrs` is set to `1` on regular builds, but set to
  an empty string in a shell session.

  Also, `.attrs.json` cannot be used in shell sessions because
  it can only be accessed by `$NIX_ATTRS_JSON_FILE` and not by
  `$NIX_BUILD_TOP/.attrs.json`.

  I considered changing Nix to be compatible with what nixpkgs
  effectively does, but then we'd have to either move $NIX_BUILD_TOP for
  shell sessions to a temporary location (and thus breaking a lot of
  assumptions) or we'd reintroduce all the problems we solved back then
  by using these two env vars.

  This is partly because I didn't document these variables back
  then (mea culpa), so I decided to drop all mentions of
  `.attrs.{json,sh}` in the  manual and only refer to `$NIX_ATTRS_SH_FILE`
  and `$NIX_ATTRS_JSON_FILE`. The same applies to all our integration tests.
  Theoretically we could deprecated using `"$NIX_BUILD_TOP"/.attrs.sh` in
  the future now.

* `nix develop` and `nix print-dev-env` don't support this environment
  variable at all even though they're supposed to be part of the replacement
  for `nix-shell` - for the drv debugging part to be precise.

  This isn't a big deal for the vast majority of derivations, i.e.
  derivations relying on nixpkgs' `stdenv` wiring things together
  properly. This is because `nix develop` effectively "clones" the
  derivation and replaces the builder with a script that dumps all of
  the environment, shell variables, functions etc, so the state of
  structured attrs being "sourced" is transmitted into the dev shell and
  most of the time you don't need to worry about `.attrs.sh` not
  existing because the shell is correctly configured and the

      if [ -e .attrs.sh ]; then source .attrs.sh; fi

  is simply omitted.

  However, this will break when having a derivation that reads e.g. from
  `.attrs.json` like

      with import <nixpkgs> {};
      runCommand "foo" { __structuredAttrs = true; foo.bar = 23; } ''
        cat $NIX_ATTRS_JSON_FILE # doesn't work because it points to /build/.attrs.json
      ''

  To work around this I employed a similar approach as it exists for
  `nix-shell`: the `NIX_ATTRS_{JSON,SH}_FILE` vars are replaced with
  temporary locations.

  The contents of `.attrs.sh` and `.attrs.json` are now written into the
  JSON by `get-env.sh`, the builder that `nix develop` injects into the
  derivation it's debugging. So finally the exact file contents are
  present and exported by `nix develop`.

  I also made `.attrs.json` a JSON string in the JSON printed by
  `get-env.sh` on purpose because then it's not necessary to serialize
  the object structure again. `nix develop` only needs the JSON
  as string because it's only written into the temporary file.

  I'm not entirely sure if it makes sense to also use a temporary
  location for `nix print-dev-env` (rather than just skipping the
  rewrite in there), but this would probably break certain cases where
  it's relied upon `$NIX_ATTRS_SH_FILE` to exist (prime example are the
  `nix print-dev-env` test-cases I wrote in this patch using
  `tests/shell.nix`, these would fail because the env var exists, but it
  cannot read from it).

[1] https://github.com/NixOS/nix/pull/4770#issuecomment-836799719
2023-10-01 13:22:48 +01:00
..
realisation fix spelling mistakes reported by Debian's lintian tool 2022-01-30 10:51:39 +02:00
add-file.md Split 'nix store add-to-store' into 'add-path' and 'add-file' 2020-12-04 00:59:24 +01:00
add-path.md Split 'nix store add-to-store' into 'add-path' and 'add-file' 2020-12-04 00:59:24 +01:00
add-to-store.cc Simplify ContentAddress 2023-07-07 07:30:01 -04:00
app.cc Allow dynamic derivation deps in inputDrvs 2023-09-07 10:39:37 -04:00
build.cc Make the Derived Path family of types inductive for dynamic derivations 2023-08-10 00:08:32 -04:00
build.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
bundle.cc Fixing #7479 2023-08-18 11:44:00 -04:00
bundle.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
cat.cc nix store cat: Use writeFull() 2023-03-02 14:51:14 +01:00
copy.cc Make command infra less stateful and more regular 2023-03-15 16:29:07 -04:00
copy.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
daemon.cc Port the flags of nix-daemon to nix daemon (#8788) 2023-08-28 13:43:34 +00:00
daemon.md Port the flags of nix-daemon to nix daemon (#8788) 2023-08-28 13:43:34 +00:00
derivation-add.cc Create nix derivation add command 2023-04-07 08:34:58 -04:00
derivation-add.md Create nix derivation add command 2023-04-07 08:34:58 -04:00
derivation-show.cc Rename files to reflect new nix derivation show name 2023-04-07 08:34:58 -04:00
derivation-show.md Create nix derivation add command 2023-04-07 08:34:58 -04:00
derivation.cc nix show-derivation -> nix derivation show 2023-04-07 08:34:58 -04:00
develop.cc structured attrs: improve support / usage of NIX_ATTRS_{SH,JSON}_FILE 2023-10-01 13:22:48 +01:00
develop.md docs: make the nix develop --command example unambiguous (#8952) 2023-09-12 17:15:36 +02:00
diff-closures.cc Get rid of some unchecked calls to std::cout 2023-03-02 15:02:24 +01:00
diff-closures.md Add 'nix store diff-closures' manpage 2020-12-21 13:32:29 +01:00
doctor.cc Add Store::isTrustedClient() 2023-04-06 19:59:57 -04:00
dump-path.cc Add 'nix store' NAR-related manpages 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00
edit.cc Move value-only methods to InstallableValue 2023-03-16 20:06:46 -04:00
edit.md nix edit: support kakoune 2022-03-22 23:18:02 +09:00
eval.cc refactor: use string accessors 2023-09-27 00:33:01 -04:00
eval.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
flake-archive.md Add 'nix flake' manpages 2020-12-23 18:26:40 +01:00
flake-check.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
flake-clone.md Add 'nix flake' manpages 2020-12-23 18:26:40 +01:00
flake-init.md Update docs 2022-02-22 14:32:56 +01:00
flake-lock.md nix flake update: Recreate the lock file 2021-02-26 14:55:54 +01:00
flake-metadata.md Merge 'nix flake {info,list-inputs}' into 'nix flake metadata' 2021-03-16 17:19:04 +01:00
flake-new.md Add 'nix flake' manpages 2020-12-23 18:26:40 +01:00
flake-prefetch.md nix store prefetch-tarball -> nix flake prefetch 2021-01-11 12:36:39 +01:00
flake-show.md Update docs 2022-02-22 14:32:56 +01:00
flake-update.md Trivial changes from the lazy-trees branch 2022-12-07 14:06:34 +01:00
flake.cc Include "original" and "locked" in nix flake prefetch --json 2023-09-28 12:34:06 -04:00
flake.md Apply suggestions from code review 2023-09-25 09:56:49 +02:00
fmt.cc Move value-only methods to InstallableValue 2023-03-16 20:06:46 -04:00
fmt.md nix-fmt: add command 2022-03-11 10:00:19 -05:00
get-env.sh structured attrs: improve support / usage of NIX_ATTRS_{SH,JSON}_FILE 2023-10-01 13:22:48 +01:00
hash.cc Merge pull request #7750 from obsidiansystems/no-args-prepare 2023-03-15 17:23:40 -04:00
help-stores.md Tweaks 2023-03-23 15:32:59 +01:00
help.md Add 'nix help' manpage 2020-12-21 13:32:29 +01:00
key-convert-secret-to-public.md Add commands for generating secret/public keys 2021-01-06 17:49:31 +01:00
key-generate-secret.md Fix missing ` in key manual 2022-06-08 11:46:50 +02:00
local.mk Dedup some markdown -> C++ big literal stuff in build system 2023-05-15 10:38:11 -04:00
log.cc Make the Derived Path family of types inductive for dynamic derivations 2023-08-10 00:08:32 -04:00
log.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
ls.cc Get rid of some unchecked calls to std::cout 2023-03-02 15:02:24 +01:00
main.cc Create outputOf primop. 2023-08-14 09:37:37 -04:00
make-content-addressed.cc Make command infra less stateful and more regular 2023-03-15 16:29:07 -04:00
make-content-addressed.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
nar-cat.md Add 'nix nar' manpages 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00
nar-dump-path.md Add 'nix nar' manpages 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00
nar-ls.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
nar.cc Make command infra less stateful and more regular 2023-03-15 16:29:07 -04:00
nar.md Add 'nix nar' manpages 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00
nix.md doc: explain the . attrPath prefix notation 2023-08-19 17:19:52 -04:00
optimise-store.cc Add 'nix store optimise' manpage 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00
optimise-store.md Add 'nix store optimise' manpage 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00
path-from-hash-part.cc Add command 'nix store path-from-hash-part' 2022-10-18 16:51:12 +02:00
path-from-hash-part.md Add command 'nix store path-from-hash-part' 2022-10-18 16:51:12 +02:00
path-info.cc Replace src/libutil/json.cc with nlohmann json generation 2022-11-16 16:50:50 +01:00
path-info.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
ping-store.cc Add Store::isTrustedClient() 2023-04-06 19:59:57 -04:00
ping-store.md Tweak 2021-01-17 19:49:28 +01:00
prefetch.cc Simplify ContentAddress 2023-07-07 07:30:01 -04:00
print-dev-env.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
profile-diff-closures.md Add 'nix profile' manpage 2020-12-21 13:32:29 +01:00
profile-history.md nix profile history: Show profile date 2021-09-14 20:47:33 +02:00
profile-install.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
profile-list.md nix profile list: Improve readability of the output 2023-07-02 16:17:09 +02:00
profile-remove.md man: fix formatting of nix3-profile-remove 2021-06-28 16:27:03 +02:00
profile-rollback.md Generations -> profile versions 2021-09-14 19:57:45 +02:00
profile-upgrade.md Trivial changes from the lazy-trees branch 2022-12-07 14:06:34 +01:00
profile-wipe-history.md Add 'nix profile wipe-history' command 2021-09-14 20:35:41 +02:00
profile.cc Simplify ContentAddress 2023-07-07 07:30:01 -04:00
profile.md Dedup some markdown -> C++ big literal stuff in build system 2023-05-15 10:38:11 -04:00
realisation.cc Move enabled experimental feature to libutil struct 2023-03-20 11:05:22 -04:00
registry-add.md nix registry: add --registry flag 2021-06-30 22:13:32 +03:00
registry-list.md Add 'nix registry' manpages 2020-12-21 13:32:27 +01:00
registry-pin.md Style tweaks 2021-07-07 10:02:55 +02:00
registry-remove.md nix registry: add --registry flag 2021-06-30 22:13:32 +03:00
registry.cc Move enabled experimental feature to libutil struct 2023-03-20 11:05:22 -04:00
registry.md doc: Fix typo 2022-06-28 22:43:37 -04:00
repl.cc flakes: adopt repl-flake behavior as default 2023-09-27 20:47:10 -04:00
repl.md flakes: adopt repl-flake behavior as default 2023-09-27 20:47:10 -04:00
run.cc Move value-only methods to InstallableValue 2023-03-16 20:06:46 -04:00
run.hh Ensure all headers have #pragma once and are in API docs 2023-03-31 23:19:44 -04:00
run.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
search.cc Move evaluator settings (type and global) to separate file/header 2023-07-31 10:14:15 -04:00
search.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
shell.md fix: nix shell multiple commands example (#8950) 2023-09-07 22:25:32 +00:00
show-config.cc nix/show-config: allow getting the value of a specific setting 2023-01-12 13:56:35 -08:00
sigs.cc Make command infra less stateful and more regular 2023-03-15 16:29:07 -04:00
store-cat.md Add 'nix store' NAR-related manpages 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00
store-copy-log.cc Fix misrendering of 'nix store --help' 2023-03-21 12:02:19 +01:00
store-copy-log.md link "store derivation" to glossary definition 2022-12-21 11:42:50 +01:00
store-delete.cc Make command infra less stateful and more regular 2023-03-15 16:29:07 -04:00
store-delete.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
store-dump-path.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
store-gc.cc Deduplicate the Store downcasting with a template 2022-03-11 13:32:33 +00:00
store-gc.md Add 'nix store gc' command 2021-01-10 23:29:14 +01:00
store-ls.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
store-prefetch-file.md Fix some typos 2021-03-26 16:14:38 +01:00
store-repair.cc Make command infra less stateful and more regular 2023-03-15 16:29:07 -04:00
store-repair.md clarify definition of "installable" 2023-03-05 01:46:17 +01:00
store.cc Move store docs to 'nix help-stores' 2023-03-21 14:37:09 +01:00
upgrade-nix.cc Move evaluator settings (type and global) to separate file/header 2023-07-31 10:14:15 -04:00
upgrade-nix.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
verify.cc Avoid some StorePath <-> Path round trips 2023-01-30 09:37:57 -05:00
verify.md Also use long options in src/nix/*.md 2023-05-17 08:10:30 +01:00
why-depends.cc nix/why-depends: fix output of --precise 2023-08-04 23:11:08 +02:00
why-depends.md Add 'nix why-depends' manpage 2020-12-21 13:32:28 +01:00