diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'doc/manual')
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/manual/opt-common.xml | 6 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/manual/style.css | 17 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/manual/writing-nix-expressions.xml | 510 |
3 files changed, 502 insertions, 31 deletions
diff --git a/doc/manual/opt-common.xml b/doc/manual/opt-common.xml index 2c514cad2..fcfeca858 100644 --- a/doc/manual/opt-common.xml +++ b/doc/manual/opt-common.xml @@ -190,9 +190,9 @@ <varlistentry><term><literal>escapes</literal></term> <listitem><para>Indicate nesting using escape codes that can be - interpreted by the <command>log2xml</command> tool in the Nix - source distribution. The resulting XML file can be fed into the - <command>log2html.xsl</command> stylesheet to create an HTML + interpreted by the <command>nix-log2xml</command> tool in the + Nix source distribution. The resulting XML file can be fed into + the <command>log2html.xsl</command> stylesheet to create an HTML file that can be browsed interactively, using Javascript to expand and collapse parts of the output.</para></listitem> diff --git a/doc/manual/style.css b/doc/manual/style.css index 103086de1..93ab65c4d 100644 --- a/doc/manual/style.css +++ b/doc/manual/style.css @@ -41,30 +41,29 @@ div.section > div.titlepage h2 /* sections */ margin-top: 1.5em; } -div.refnamediv h2, div.refsynopsisdiv h2, div.refsection h2 /* refentry parts */ +h3 /* subsections */ { - margin-top: 1.4em; font-size: 125%; } -div.refsection h3 +div.appendix h3 { - font-size: 110%; + font-size: 150%; + margin-top: 1.5em; } -h3 /* subsections */ +div.refnamediv h2, div.refsynopsisdiv h2, div.refsection h2 /* refentry parts */ { + margin-top: 1.4em; font-size: 125%; } -div.appendix h3 +div.refsection h3 { - font-size: 150%; - margin-top: 1.5em; + font-size: 110%; } - /*************************************************************************** Program listings: ***************************************************************************/ diff --git a/doc/manual/writing-nix-expressions.xml b/doc/manual/writing-nix-expressions.xml index 74ef3a868..9f7fed8fd 100644 --- a/doc/manual/writing-nix-expressions.xml +++ b/doc/manual/writing-nix-expressions.xml @@ -586,14 +586,18 @@ components.</para> language.</para> +<section xml:id='ssec-values'><title>Values</title> + + <simplesect><title>Simple values</title> <para>Nix has the following basic datatypes: <itemizedlist> - <listitem><para><emphasis>Strings</emphasis>, enclosed between - double quotes, e.g., <literal>"foo bar"</literal>.</para></listitem> + <listitem><para><emphasis>Strings</emphasis>, + enclosed between double quotes, e.g., <literal>"foo bar"</literal>. + TODO: antiquotations, escaping.</para></listitem> <listitem><para><emphasis>Integers</emphasis>, e.g., <literal>123</literal>.</para></listitem> @@ -681,6 +685,12 @@ evaluates to <literal>"Foo"</literal>.</para> </simplesect> +</section> + + +<section><title>Language constructs</title> + + <simplesect><title>Recursive attribute sets</title> <para>Recursive attribute sets are just normal attribute sets, but the @@ -836,7 +846,7 @@ allows partial parameterisation (i.e., only filling some of the arguments of a function); e.g., <programlisting> -map (concat "foo") ["bar", "bla", "abc"]</programlisting> +map (concat "foo") ["bar" "bla" "abc"]</programlisting> evaluates to <literal>["foobar" "foobla" "fooabc"]</literal>.</para> @@ -977,7 +987,19 @@ locally in a <literal>rec</literal>-expression.</para> </simplesect> -<simplesect><title>Operators</title> +<simplesect><title>Comments</title> + +<para>Comments can be single-line, started with a <literal>#</literal> +character, or inline/multi-line, enclosed within <literal>/* +... */</literal>.</para> + +</simplesect> + + +</section> + + +<section><title>Operators</title> <para><xref linkend='table-operators' /> lists the operators in the Nix expression language, in order of precedence (from strongest to @@ -995,12 +1017,27 @@ weakest binding).</para> </thead> <tbody> <row> + <entry><replaceable>e</replaceable> . + <replaceable>id</replaceable></entry> + <entry>none</entry> + <entry>Select attribute named <replaceable>id</replaceable> + from attribute set <replaceable>e</replaceable>. Abort + evaluation if the attribute doesn’t exist.</entry> + </row> + <row> + <entry><replaceable>e1</replaceable> <replaceable>e2</replaceable></entry> + <entry>left</entry> + <entry>Call function <replaceable>e1</replaceable> with + argument <replaceable>e2</replaceable>.</entry> + </row> + <row> <entry><replaceable>e</replaceable> ? <replaceable>id</replaceable></entry> <entry>none</entry> <entry>Test whether attribute set <replaceable>e</replaceable> - contains an attribute named - <replaceable>id</replaceable>.</entry> + contains an attribute named <replaceable>id</replaceable>; + return <literal>true</literal> or + <literal>false</literal>.</entry> </row> <row> <entry><replaceable>e1</replaceable> ++ <replaceable>e2</replaceable></entry> @@ -1062,10 +1099,10 @@ weakest binding).</para> </tgroup> </table> -</simplesect> +</section> -<simplesect xml:id="ssec-derivation"><title>Derivations</title> +<section xml:id="ssec-derivation"><title>Derivations</title> <para>The most important built-in function is <function>derivation</function>, which is used to describe a @@ -1230,23 +1267,457 @@ command-line argument. See <xref linkend='sec-standard-environment' </para> -</simplesect> +</section> -<simplesect><title>Other built-in functions</title> +<section><title>Built-in functions</title> <para>TODO</para> -</simplesect> +<variablelist> + + <varlistentry><term><function>abort</function> <replaceable>s</replaceable></term> -<simplesect><title>Comments</title> + <listitem><para>Abort Nix expression evaluation, print error + message <replaceable>s</replaceable>.</para></listitem> -<para>Comments can be single-line, started with a <literal>#</literal> -character, or inline/multi-line, enclosed within <literal>/* -... */</literal>.</para> + </varlistentry> -</simplesect> + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.add</function> + <replaceable>e1</replaceable> <replaceable>e2</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Add integers <replaceable>e1</replaceable> and + <replaceable>e2</replaceable>..</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>baseNameOf</function> <replaceable>s</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return the <emphasis>base name</emphasis> of the + string <replaceable>s</replaceable>, that is, everything following + the final slash in the string. This is similar to the GNU + <command>basename</command> command.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><varname>builtins</varname></term> + + <listitem><para>The attribute set <varname>builtins</varname> + contains all the built-in functions and values. You can use + <varname>builtins</varname> to test for the availability of + features in the Nix installation, e.g., + +<programlisting> +if builtins ? getEnv then builtins.getEnv "PATH" else ""</programlisting> + + This allows a Nix expression to fall back gracefully on older Nix + installations that don’t have the desired built-in function. + However, in that case you should not write + +<programlisting> +if builtins ? getEnv then __getEnv "PATH" else ""</programlisting> + + This Nix expression will trigger an “undefined variable” error on + older Nix versions since <function>__getEnv</function> doesn’t + exist. <literal>builtins.getEnv</literal>, on the other hand, is + safe since <literal>builtins</literal> always exists and attribute + selection is lazy, so it’s only performed if the test + succeeds.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><varname>currentSystem</varname></term> + + <listitem><para>The built-in value <varname>currentSystem</varname> + evaluates to the Nix platform identifier for the Nix installation + on which the expression is being evaluated, such as + <literal>"i686-linux"</literal> or + <literal>"powerpc-darwin"</literal>.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <!-- + <varlistentry><term><function>currentTime</function></term> + + <listitem><para>The built-in value <varname>currentTime</varname> + returns the current system time in seconds since 00:00:00 1/1/1970 + UTC. Due to the evaluation model of Nix expressions + (<emphasis>maximal laziness</emphasis>), it always yields the same + value within an execution of Nix.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + --> + + + <!-- + <varlistentry><term><function>dependencyClosure</function></term> + + <listitem><para>TODO</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + --> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>derivation</function> + <replaceable>attrs</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para><function>derivation</function> is described in + <xref linkend='ssec-derivation' />.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>dirOf</function> <replaceable>s</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return the directory part of the string + <replaceable>s</replaceable>, that is, everything before the final + slash in the string. This is similar to the GNU + <command>dirname</command> command.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.getAttr</function> + <replaceable>s</replaceable> <replaceable>attrs</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para><function>getAttr</function> returns the attribute + named <replaceable>s</replaceable> from the attribute set + <replaceable>attrs</replaceable>. Evaluation aborts if the + attribute doesn’t exist. This is a dynamic version of the + <literal>.</literal> operator, since <replaceable>s</replaceable> + is an expression rather than an identifier.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.getEnv</function> + <replaceable>s</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para><function>getEnv</function> returns the value of + the environment variable <replaceable>s</replaceable>, or an empty + string if the variable doesn’t exist. This function should be + used with care, as it can introduce all sorts of nasty environment + dependencies in your Nix expression.</para> + + <para><function>getEnv</function> is used in Nix Packages to + locate the file <filename>~/.nixpkgs/config.nix</filename>, which + contains user-local settings for Nix Packages. (That is, it does + a <literal>getEnv "HOME"</literal> to locate the user’s home + directory.)</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.hasAttr</function> + <replaceable>s</replaceable> <replaceable>attrs</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para><function>hasAttr</function> returns + <literal>true</literal> if the attribute set + <replaceable>attrs</replaceable> has an attribute named + <replaceable>s</replaceable>, and <literal>false</literal> + otherwise. This is a dynamic version of the <literal>?</literal> + operator, since <replaceable>s</replaceable> is an expression + rather than an identifier.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.head</function> + <replaceable>list</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return the first element of a list; abort + evaluation if the argument isn’t a list or is an empty list. You + can test whether a list is empty by comparing it with + <literal>[]</literal>.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>import</function> + <replaceable>path</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Load, parse and return the Nix expression in the + file <replaceable>path</replaceable>. Evaluation aborts if the + file doesn’t exist or contains an incorrect Nix + expression. <function>import</function> implements Nix’s module + system: you can put any Nix expression (such as an attribute set + or a function) in a separate file, and use it from Nix expressions + in other files.</para> + + <para>A Nix expression loaded by <function>import</function> must + not contain any <emphasis>free variables</emphasis> (identifiers + that are not defined in the Nix expression itself and are not + built-in). Therefore, it cannot refer to variables that are in + scope at the call site. For instance, if you have a calling + expression + +<programlisting> +rec { + x = 123; + y = import ./foo.nix; +}</programlisting> + + then the following <filename>foo.nix</filename> will give an + error: + +<programlisting> +x + 456</programlisting> + + since <varname>x</varname> is not in scope in + <filename>foo.nix</filename>. If you want <varname>x</varname> + to be available in <filename>foo.nix</filename>, you should pass + it as a function argument: + +<programlisting> +rec { + x = 123; + y = import ./foo.nix x; +}</programlisting> + + and + +<programlisting> +x: x + 456</programlisting> + + (The function argument doesn’t have to be called + <varname>x</varname> in <filename>foo.nix</filename>; any name + would work.)</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.isList</function> + <replaceable>e</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return <literal>true</literal> if + <replaceable>e</replaceable> evaluates to a list, and + <literal>false</literal> otherwise.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>isNull</function> + <replaceable>e</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return <literal>true</literal> if + <replaceable>e</replaceable> evaluates to <literal>null</literal>, + and <literal>false</literal> otherwise.</para> + + <warning><para>This function is <emphasis>deprecated</emphasis>; + just write <literal>e == null</literal> instead.</para></warning> + + </listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.lessThan</function> + <replaceable>e1</replaceable> <replaceable>e2</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return <literal>true</literal> if the integer + <replaceable>e1</replaceable> is less than the integer + <replaceable>e2</replaceable>, and <literal>false</literal> + otherwise. Evaluation aborts if either + <replaceable>e1</replaceable> or <replaceable>e2</replaceable> + does not evaluate to an integer.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>map</function> + <replaceable>f</replaceable> <replaceable>list</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Apply the function <replaceable>f</replaceable> to + each element in the list <replaceable>list</replaceable>. For + example, + +<programlisting> +map (x: "foo" + x) ["bar" "bla" "abc"]</programlisting> + + evaluates to <literal>["foobar" "foobla" + "fooabc"]</literal>.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.pathExists</function> + <replaceable>path</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return <literal>true</literal> if the path + <replaceable>path</replaceable> exists, and + <literal>false</literal> otherwise. One application of this + function is to conditionally include a Nix expression containing + user configuration: + +<programlisting> +let + fileName = builtins.getEnv "CONFIG_FILE"; + config = + if fileName != "" && builtins.pathExists (builtins.toPath fileName) + then import (builtins.toPath fileName) + else { someSetting = false; }; <lineannotation># default configuration</lineannotation> +in config.someSetting</programlisting> + + (Note that <envar>CONFIG_FILE</envar> must be an absolute path for + this to work.)</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <!-- + <varlistentry><term><function>relativise</function></term> + + <listitem><para>TODO</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + --> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>removeAttrs</function> + <replaceable>attrs</replaceable> <replaceable>list</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Remove the attributes listed in + <replaceable>list</replaceable> from the attribute set + <replaceable>attrs</replaceable>. The attributes don’t have to + exist in <replaceable>attrs</replaceable>. For instance, + +<screen> +removeAttrs { x = 1; y = 2; z = 3; } ["a" "x" "z"]</screen> + + evaluates to <literal>{y = 2;}</literal>.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.tail</function> + <replaceable>list</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return the second to last elements of a list; + abort evaluation if the argument isn’t a list or is an empty + list.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.toFile</function> + <replaceable>name</replaceable> <replaceable>s</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Store the string <replaceable>s</replaceable> in a + file in the Nix store and return its path. The file has suffix + <replaceable>name</replaceable>. This file can be used as an + input to derivations. One application is to write builders + “inline”. For instance, the following Nix expression combines + <xref linkend='ex-hello-nix' /> and <xref + linkend='ex-hello-builder' /> into one file: + +<programlisting> +{stdenv, fetchurl, perl}: + +stdenv.mkDerivation { + name = "hello-2.1.1"; + + builder = builtins.toFile "builder.sh" " + source $stdenv/setup + + PATH=$perl/bin:$PATH + + tar xvfz $src + cd hello-* + ./configure --prefix=$out + make + make install + "; + + src = fetchurl { + url = http://nix.cs.uu.nl/dist/tarballs/hello-2.1.1.tar.gz; + md5 = "70c9ccf9fac07f762c24f2df2290784d"; + }; + inherit perl; +}</programlisting> + + </para> + + <para>It is even possible for one file to refer to another, e.g., + +<programlisting> + builder = let + configFile = builtins.toFile "foo.conf" " + # This is some dummy configuration file. + <replaceable>...</replaceable> + "; + in builtins.toFile "builder.sh" " + source $stdenv/setup + <replaceable>...</replaceable> + cp ${configFile} $out/etc/foo.conf + ";</programlisting> + + Note that <literal>${configFile}</literal> is an antiquotation + (see <xref linkend='ssec-values' />), so the result of the + expression <literal>configFile</literal> (i.e., a path like + <filename>/nix/store/m7p7jfny445k...-foo.conf</filename>) will be + spliced into the resulting string.</para> + + <para>It is however <emphasis>not</emphasis> allowed to have files + mutually referring to each other, like so: + +<programlisting> +let + foo = builtins.toFile "foo" "...${bar}..."; + bar = builtins.toFile "bar" "...${foo}..."; +in foo</programlisting> + + This is not allowed because it would cause a cyclic dependency in + the computation of the cryptographic hashes for + <varname>foo</varname> and <varname>bar</varname>.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.toPath</function> <replaceable>s</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Convert the string value + <replaceable>s</replaceable> into a path value. The string + <replaceable>s</replaceable> must represent an absolute path + (i.e., must start with <literal>/</literal>). The path need not + exist. The resulting path is canonicalised, e.g., + <literal>builtins.toPath "//foo/xyzzy/../bar/"</literal> returns + <literal>/foo/bar</literal>.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>toString</function> <replaceable>e</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Convert the expression + <replaceable>e</replaceable> to a string. + <replaceable>e</replaceable> can be a string (in which case + <function>toString</function> is a no-op) or a path (e.g., + <literal>toString /foo/bar</literal> yields + <literal>"/foo/bar"</literal>.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry><term><function>builtins.toXML</function> <replaceable>e</replaceable></term> + + <listitem><para>Return a string containing an XML representation + of <replaceable>e</replaceable>. The main application for + <function>toXML</function> is to communicate information with the + builder in a more structured format than plain environment + variables.</para></listitem> + + </varlistentry> + + +</variablelist> + +</section> </section> @@ -1294,9 +1765,10 @@ of the following components: <listitem><para>GNU Make. It has been patched to provide <quote>nested</quote> output that can be fed into the - <command>log2xml</command> command and <command>log2html</command> - stylesheet to create a structured, readable output of the build - steps performed by Make.</para></listitem> + <command>nix-log2xml</command> command and + <command>log2html</command> stylesheet to create a structured, + readable output of the build steps performed by + Make.</para></listitem> <listitem><para>Bash. This is the shell used for all builders in the Nix Packages collection. Not using <command>/bin/sh</command> |