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callPackage is a complex function (reasons include the Nix language being lazy, usage of fixed-point evaluation, overrides, etc.), and this complexity steals the spotlight from what this function a...
#3: Post edited
by
toraritte
·
2024-08-12T15:17:45Z (4 months ago)
There are a plethora of online resources about this topic (see below), but I need this one explained to me like I'm 5 every time a I take at least a month off working with Nix.The aforementioned resources:- + \[`nix.dev`] [Package parameters and overrides with callPackage — nix.dev documentation](https://nix.dev/tutorials/callpackage)
- + \[`Nix Pills`] [13. Callpackage Design Pattern](https://nixos.org/guides/nix-pills/13-callpackage-design-pattern)
- + \[`Nix-Book`] [Imports and callPackage - Nix-Book](https://book.divnix.com/ch05-03-imports-and-callpackage.html)
- + [Nixpkgs commit][1] and [email][2] introducing `callPackage`
- + \[`stackoverflow`] [Where is `callPackage` defined in the Nixpkgs repo (or how to find Nix lambda definitions in general)?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56121361/where-is-callpackage-defined-in-the-nixpkgs-repo-or-how-to-find-nix-lambda-de)
- + \[`NixOS Discourse`] [Where is `callPackage` defined exactly? (part 2) - Help - NixOS Discourse](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/where-is-callpackage-defined-exactly-part-2/12524)
- + \[`Nixpkgs repo`] [Issue #36354 - Document what callPackage does and its preconditions](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/36354)
- + \[`Summer of Nix`] [`callPackage`, a tool for the lazy](https://summer.nixos.org/blog/callpackage-a-tool-for-the-lazy/)
- + \[`NixOS & Flakes Book`] [`pkgs.callPackage`](https://nixos-and-flakes.thiscute.world/nixpkgs/callpackage)
- [1]: https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/commit/d17f0f9cbca38fabb71624f069cd4c0d6feace92
- [2]: https://www.mail-archive.com/nix-dev@cs.uu.nl/msg02624.html
- `callPackage` is a complex function (reasons include the Nix language being lazy, usage of fixed-point evaluation, overrides, etc.), and this complexity steals the spotlight from what this function actually does and why is it so useful.
- There are a plethora of online resources about this topic (see below), but I couldn't find a simple, concise summary.
- + \[`nix.dev`] [Package parameters and overrides with callPackage — nix.dev documentation](https://nix.dev/tutorials/callpackage)
- + \[`Nix Pills`] [13. Callpackage Design Pattern](https://nixos.org/guides/nix-pills/13-callpackage-design-pattern)
- + \[`Nix-Book`] [Imports and callPackage - Nix-Book](https://book.divnix.com/ch05-03-imports-and-callpackage.html)
- + [Nixpkgs commit][1] and [email][2] introducing `callPackage`
- + \[`stackoverflow`] [Where is `callPackage` defined in the Nixpkgs repo (or how to find Nix lambda definitions in general)?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56121361/where-is-callpackage-defined-in-the-nixpkgs-repo-or-how-to-find-nix-lambda-de)
- + \[`NixOS Discourse`] [Where is `callPackage` defined exactly? (part 2) - Help - NixOS Discourse](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/where-is-callpackage-defined-exactly-part-2/12524)
- + \[`Nixpkgs repo`] [Issue #36354 - Document what callPackage does and its preconditions](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/36354)
- + \[`Summer of Nix`] [`callPackage`, a tool for the lazy](https://summer.nixos.org/blog/callpackage-a-tool-for-the-lazy/)
- + \[`NixOS & Flakes Book`] [`pkgs.callPackage`](https://nixos-and-flakes.thiscute.world/nixpkgs/callpackage)
- [1]: https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/commit/d17f0f9cbca38fabb71624f069cd4c0d6feace92
- [2]: https://www.mail-archive.com/nix-dev@cs.uu.nl/msg02624.html
#2: Post edited
by
toraritte
·
2024-08-12T01:34:28Z (4 months ago)
- There are a plethora of online resources about this topic (see below), but I need this one explained to me like I'm 5 every time a I take at least a month off working with Nix.
- The aforementioned resources:
- + \[`nix.dev`] [Package parameters and overrides with callPackage — nix.dev documentation](https://nix.dev/tutorials/callpackage)
- + \[`Nix Pills`] [13. Callpackage Design Pattern](https://nixos.org/guides/nix-pills/13-callpackage-design-pattern)
- + \[`Nix-Book`] [Imports and callPackage - Nix-Book](https://book.divnix.com/ch05-03-imports-and-callpackage.html)
- + [Nixpkgs commit][1] and [email][2] introducing `callPackage`
- + \[`stackoverflow`] [Where is `callPackage` defined in the Nixpkgs repo (or how to find Nix lambda definitions in general)?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56121361/where-is-callpackage-defined-in-the-nixpkgs-repo-or-how-to-find-nix-lambda-de)
- + \[`NixOS Discourse`] [Where is `callPackage` defined exactly? (part 2) - Help - NixOS Discourse](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/where-is-callpackage-defined-exactly-part-2/12524)
- + \[`Nixpkgs repo`] [Issue #36354 - Document what callPackage does and its preconditions](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/36354)
- + \[`Summer of Nix`] [`callPackage`, a tool for the lazy](https://summer.nixos.org/blog/callpackage-a-tool-for-the-lazy/)
- [1]: https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/commit/d17f0f9cbca38fabb71624f069cd4c0d6feace92
- [2]: https://www.mail-archive.com/nix-dev@cs.uu.nl/msg02624.html
- There are a plethora of online resources about this topic (see below), but I need this one explained to me like I'm 5 every time a I take at least a month off working with Nix.
- The aforementioned resources:
- + \[`nix.dev`] [Package parameters and overrides with callPackage — nix.dev documentation](https://nix.dev/tutorials/callpackage)
- + \[`Nix Pills`] [13. Callpackage Design Pattern](https://nixos.org/guides/nix-pills/13-callpackage-design-pattern)
- + \[`Nix-Book`] [Imports and callPackage - Nix-Book](https://book.divnix.com/ch05-03-imports-and-callpackage.html)
- + [Nixpkgs commit][1] and [email][2] introducing `callPackage`
- + \[`stackoverflow`] [Where is `callPackage` defined in the Nixpkgs repo (or how to find Nix lambda definitions in general)?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56121361/where-is-callpackage-defined-in-the-nixpkgs-repo-or-how-to-find-nix-lambda-de)
- + \[`NixOS Discourse`] [Where is `callPackage` defined exactly? (part 2) - Help - NixOS Discourse](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/where-is-callpackage-defined-exactly-part-2/12524)
- + \[`Nixpkgs repo`] [Issue #36354 - Document what callPackage does and its preconditions](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/36354)
- + \[`Summer of Nix`] [`callPackage`, a tool for the lazy](https://summer.nixos.org/blog/callpackage-a-tool-for-the-lazy/)
- + \[`NixOS & Flakes Book`] [`pkgs.callPackage`](https://nixos-and-flakes.thiscute.world/nixpkgs/callpackage)
- [1]: https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/commit/d17f0f9cbca38fabb71624f069cd4c0d6feace92
- [2]: https://www.mail-archive.com/nix-dev@cs.uu.nl/msg02624.html
#1: Initial revision
by
toraritte
·
2024-08-12T00:22:47Z (4 months ago)
What does Nixpkgs' `callPackage` do?
There are a plethora of online resources about this topic (see below), but I need this one explained to me like I'm 5 every time a I take at least a month off working with Nix. The aforementioned resources: + \[`nix.dev`] [Package parameters and overrides with callPackage — nix.dev documentation](https://nix.dev/tutorials/callpackage) + \[`Nix Pills`] [13. Callpackage Design Pattern](https://nixos.org/guides/nix-pills/13-callpackage-design-pattern) + \[`Nix-Book`] [Imports and callPackage - Nix-Book](https://book.divnix.com/ch05-03-imports-and-callpackage.html) + [Nixpkgs commit][1] and [email][2] introducing `callPackage` + \[`stackoverflow`] [Where is `callPackage` defined in the Nixpkgs repo (or how to find Nix lambda definitions in general)?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56121361/where-is-callpackage-defined-in-the-nixpkgs-repo-or-how-to-find-nix-lambda-de) + \[`NixOS Discourse`] [Where is `callPackage` defined exactly? (part 2) - Help - NixOS Discourse](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/where-is-callpackage-defined-exactly-part-2/12524) + \[`Nixpkgs repo`] [Issue #36354 - Document what callPackage does and its preconditions](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/36354) + \[`Summer of Nix`] [`callPackage`, a tool for the lazy](https://summer.nixos.org/blog/callpackage-a-tool-for-the-lazy/) [1]: https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/commit/d17f0f9cbca38fabb71624f069cd4c0d6feace92 [2]: https://www.mail-archive.com/nix-dev@cs.uu.nl/msg02624.html