nix-env manipulate or query Nix user environments nix-env &opt-common-syn; --file -f path operation options arguments The command nix-env is used to manipulate Nix user environments. User environments are sets of software components available to a user at some point in time. In other words, they are a synthesised view of the programs available in the Nix store. There may be many user environments: different users can have different environments, and individual users can switch between different environments. nix-env takes exactly one operation flag which indicates the subcommand to be performed. These are documented below. This section lists the options that are common to all operations. These options are allowed for every subcommand, though they may not always have an effect. &opt-common; --file / -f Specifies the Nix expression used by the --install, --upgrade, and --query --available operations to obtain derivations. The default is ~/.nix-defexpr. ~/.nix-defexpr The default Nix expression used by the --install, --upgrade, and --query --available operations to obtain derivations. It is generally a symbolic link to some other location set using the --import operation. The --file option may be used to override this default. ~/.nix-userenv A symbolic link to the user's current user environment. By default, it points to prefix/var/nix/links/current. The PATH environment variable should include ~/.nix-userenv for the user environment to be visible to the user. nix-env --install -i