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+Title: nix-instantiate
+
+# Name
+
+`nix-instantiate` - instantiate store derivations from Nix expressions
+
+# Synopsis
+
+`nix-instantiate`
+  [`--parse` | `--eval` [`--strict`] [`--json`] [`--xml`] ]
+  [`--read-write-mode`]
+  [`--arg` *name* *value*]
+  [{`--attr`| `-A`} *attrPath*]
+  [`--add-root` *path*]
+  [`--indirect`]
+  [`--expr` | `-E`]
+  *files…*
+
+`nix-instantiate` `--find-file` *files…*
+
+# Description
+
+The command `nix-instantiate` generates [store
+derivations](../glossary.md) from (high-level) Nix expressions. It
+evaluates the Nix expressions in each of *files* (which defaults to
+*./default.nix*). Each top-level expression should evaluate to a
+derivation, a list of derivations, or a set of derivations. The paths
+of the resulting store derivations are printed on standard output.
+
+If *files* is the character `-`, then a Nix expression will be read from
+standard input.
+
+# Options
+
+  - `--add-root` *path*; `--indirect`  
+    See the [corresponding options](nix-store.md) in `nix-store`.
+
+  - `--parse`  
+    Just parse the input files, and print their abstract syntax trees on
+    standard output in ATerm format.
+
+  - `--eval`  
+    Just parse and evaluate the input files, and print the resulting
+    values on standard output. No instantiation of store derivations
+    takes place.
+
+  - `--find-file`  
+    Look up the given files in Nix’s search path (as specified by the
+    `NIX_PATH` environment variable). If found, print the corresponding
+    absolute paths on standard output. For instance, if `NIX_PATH` is
+    `nixpkgs=/home/alice/nixpkgs`, then `nix-instantiate --find-file
+    nixpkgs/default.nix` will print `/home/alice/nixpkgs/default.nix`.
+
+  - `--strict`  
+    When used with `--eval`, recursively evaluate list elements and
+    attributes. Normally, such sub-expressions are left unevaluated
+    (since the Nix expression language is lazy).
+
+    > **Warning**
+    >
+    > This option can cause non-termination, because lazy data
+    > structures can be infinitely large.
+
+  - `--json`  
+    When used with `--eval`, print the resulting value as an JSON
+    representation of the abstract syntax tree rather than as an ATerm.
+
+  - `--xml`  
+    When used with `--eval`, print the resulting value as an XML
+    representation of the abstract syntax tree rather than as an ATerm.
+    The schema is the same as that used by the [`toXML`
+    built-in](../expressions/builtins.md).
+
+  - `--read-write-mode`  
+    When used with `--eval`, perform evaluation in read/write mode so
+    nix language features that require it will still work (at the cost
+    of needing to do instantiation of every evaluated derivation). If
+    this option is not enabled, there may be uninstantiated store paths
+    in the final output.
+
+<!-- end list -->
+
+# Examples
+
+Instantiating store derivations from a Nix expression, and building them
+using `nix-store`:
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate test.nix (instantiate)
+/nix/store/cigxbmvy6dzix98dxxh9b6shg7ar5bvs-perl-BerkeleyDB-0.26.drv
+
+$ nix-store -r $(nix-instantiate test.nix) (build)
+...
+/nix/store/qhqk4n8ci095g3sdp93x7rgwyh9rdvgk-perl-BerkeleyDB-0.26 (output path)
+
+$ ls -l /nix/store/qhqk4n8ci095g3sdp93x7rgwyh9rdvgk-perl-BerkeleyDB-0.26
+dr-xr-xr-x    2 eelco    users        4096 1970-01-01 01:00 lib
+...
+```
+
+You can also give a Nix expression on the command line:
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate -E 'with import <nixpkgs> { }; hello'
+/nix/store/j8s4zyv75a724q38cb0r87rlczaiag4y-hello-2.8.drv
+```
+
+This is equivalent to:
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate '<nixpkgs>' -A hello
+```
+
+Parsing and evaluating Nix expressions:
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate --parse -E '1 + 2'
+1 + 2
+```
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate --eval -E '1 + 2'
+3
+```
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate --eval --xml -E '1 + 2'
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
+<expr>
+  <int value="3" />
+</expr>
+```
+
+The difference between non-strict and strict evaluation:
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate --eval --xml -E 'rec { x = "foo"; y = x; }'
+...
+  <attr name="x">
+    <string value="foo" />
+  </attr>
+  <attr name="y">
+    <unevaluated />
+  </attr>
+...
+```
+
+Note that `y` is left unevaluated (the XML representation doesn’t
+attempt to show non-normal forms).
+
+```console
+$ nix-instantiate --eval --xml --strict -E 'rec { x = "foo"; y = x; }'
+...
+  <attr name="x">
+    <string value="foo" />
+  </attr>
+  <attr name="y">
+    <string value="foo" />
+  </attr>
+...
+```