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+# Quick Start
+
+This chapter is for impatient people who don't like reading
+documentation.  For more in-depth information you are kindly referred
+to subsequent chapters.
+
+1. Install single-user Nix by running the following:
+
+   ```console
+   $ bash <(curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install)
+   ```
+
+   This will install Nix in `/nix`. The install script will create
+   `/nix` using `sudo`, so make sure you have sufficient rights.  (For
+   other installation methods, see
+   [here](installation/installation.md).)
+
+1. See what installable packages are currently available in the
+   channel:
+
+   ```console
+   $ nix-env -qa
+   docbook-xml-4.3
+   docbook-xml-4.5
+   firefox-33.0.2
+   hello-2.9
+   libxslt-1.1.28
+   …
+   ```
+
+1. Install some packages from the channel:
+
+   ```console
+   $ nix-env -i hello
+   ```
+
+   This should download pre-built packages; it should not build them
+   locally (if it does, something went wrong).
+
+1. Test that they work:
+
+   ```console
+   $ which hello
+   /home/eelco/.nix-profile/bin/hello
+   $ hello
+   Hello, world!
+   ```
+
+1. Uninstall a package:
+
+   ```console
+   $ nix-env -e hello
+   ```
+
+1. You can also test a package without installing it:
+
+   ```console
+   $ nix-shell -p hello
+   ```
+
+   This builds or downloads GNU Hello and its dependencies, then drops
+   you into a Bash shell where the `hello` command is present, all
+   without affecting your normal environment:
+
+   ```console
+   [nix-shell:~]$ hello
+   Hello, world!
+
+   [nix-shell:~]$ exit
+
+   $ hello
+   hello: command not found
+   ```
+
+1. To keep up-to-date with the channel, do:
+
+   ```console
+   $ nix-channel --update nixpkgs
+   $ nix-env -u '*'
+   ```
+
+   The latter command will upgrade each installed package for which
+   there is a “newer” version (as determined by comparing the version
+   numbers).
+
+1. If you're unhappy with the result of a `nix-env` action (e.g., an
+   upgraded package turned out not to work properly), you can go back:
+
+   ```console
+   $ nix-env --rollback
+   ```
+
+1. You should periodically run the Nix garbage collector to get rid of
+   unused packages, since uninstalls or upgrades don't actually delete
+   them:
+
+   ```console
+   $ nix-collect-garbage -d
+   ```