The Phoenix of NixOS: An X11 System Automation Blueprint

Setting the Stage: Context for the Curious Book Reader

In this important installment of our ongoing journey to build a resilient and highly personalized computing environment, we tackle the critical process of system recovery and refinement. Following a significant system crash, this entry chronicles the methodical steps taken to restore core automated workflows, specifically focusing on the autognome.py script for multi-screen setup. It’s a tapestry woven with technical solutions, iterative problem-solving, and a deep dive into NixOS configurations, showcasing how a modular system can be brought back from the brink, more robust than before, and how automation becomes a philosophy rather than merely a tool in the Age of AI.

Technical Journal Entry Begins

Article 6 of the NixOS Crash and Recovery Series: getting the articles published and getting the prompt_foo.py system working again. And probably the autognome.py “init” script that I use immediately after system startup to get my 7 screens of awesome all set up.

Okay, think! This is the calorie burning part.

We build this stuff up gradually and in layers. We want simplicity. Simplicity unavoidably evolves into some level of complexity but we try to maintain that original flavor and gist of simplicity. It should be easy to spot the boundaries between the modularization and the way info passes between the modular bits. It’s all functions and return-values, even streaming models. It’s all just in the sequencing, timing, and slice-and-dice issues. Sometimes things get chopped apart and reassembled which makes the linear sequential simplicity of original mental models difficult to recognize and at times even more difficult to manage. This is how concurrency works. Farming stuff out, checking-in, gathering and re-assembling. This is even how quantum computing works now.

The Philosophy of Layered Simplicity

But we don’t hurt our brains knowing you can violate the easy mental model and it all still works. We want to keep the easy-to-recognize and mostly still within the initial simple linear, sequential mental model. That’s reality. Time moves with a 1-way arrow. There is a sequentiality to things. We each have our own vantage points, sort of like the read/write head of a Turing machine with the 1-way flow of time being a variation on the Turing machine where the ribbon can only go 1 direction and keeps moving at a smooth continuous rate (from your perspective) regardless of whether you read or write instructions on the ribbon (interact with the world, pet a cat, etc).

There is a risk here of living too much inside your own head. We use processes like this journal ironically enough to make sure we don’t do that. Finds and pets cat. Cleans liter box. Now there’s a way to stay grounded with reality. Touching grass, haha! And ironically, potentially a way even to go outside your comfort zone in interacting with reality due to higher levels of braveness because toxoplasmosis, haha!

How’s that for random chain-of-thought reasoning and getting article 6 underway by which our goal is to really get some of our day-to-day systems working again. I’ll enumerate them and for the AI actually show the code though you here reading the article online will only see the stage notes. The Prompt Fu process is most important. It uses a flake.nix environment provided by Pipulate, so it’s probably already a done deal but I thought I’d include it here and first anyway because of its context-creating importance when interacting particularly with the Web UI versions of LLMs like you that doin’t have the local machine tool calling ability.

Re-establishing Core Utilities: Prompt Fu and Articleizer

/home/mike/repos/pipulate/prompt_foo.py

[Code drop removed for article brevity’s sake]

Following that, there’s articleizer.py which similarly is part of the Pipulate project, so what I’m hearing probably is to just go nix develop .#quiet a pipulate shell for myself and test these and probably just go ahead and get these articles published. You’re probably already there.

/home/mike/repos/pipulate/scripts/articles/articleizer.py:

[Code drop removed for article brevity’s sake]

…which has its editing_prompt.txt:

[Code drop removed for article brevity’s sake]

But then the final part of this story, and maybe where I really should open with is how I get my seven screens all set up in one swat. /home/mike/repos/nixos/autognome.py:

[Code drop removed for article brevity’s sake]

Our goal now is to make sure we can run each of these 3 scripts whenever we need. I think the first two is really just a matter of testing the already existing and in-location Nix flake of Pipulate. But the third is making sure that the core environment is enough to support it and that the corresponding “init” alias is set up.

Orchestrating the System-Level Ritual: autognome.py

Initial Gemini CLI Directives: Packages and Aliases

Please may I have the implementation plans for Gemini CLI? Thank you. Oh, and feel free to use whatever allotment you have left to respond to other aspects of this article however you AI-analogue to like!

Gemini Web: You are orchestrating a beautiful symphony of “Spot the Cat” management here. You, the human (Spot), are looking at the mess, rolling your eyes, and realizing that Hong Kong Phooey (Gemini CLI) needs very specific instructions to chop the right board.

We have two distinct categories of restoration here:

1. The Flake-contained Tools: prompt_foo.py and articleizer.py. These live inside the pipulate repo. Since you likely already have a flake.nix there (from your backups), restoring these is mostly a matter of running nix develop in that directory. The OS doesn’t need to change for them; that’s the beauty of Flakes.
2. The System-level Ritual: autognome.py. This is different. This script runs on the metal, manipulating the GNOME window manager. It needs system-level binaries (wmctrl, xdotool) available in the user’s path immediately upon login, without entering a special shell.

Therefore, the mission for Djinn #2 (Gemini CLI) is to prepare the environment for autognome.py.

Here is the implementation plan to feed the Ninja.

🥋 The Prompt for Gemini CLI

Context: You are in ~/repos/nixos. Goal: Ensure autognome.py has its dependencies and its alias.

Copy/Paste into Gemini CLI:

@packages.nix @configuration.nix
I need to enable my startup automation script, `autognome.py`.

Please perform the following actions to prepare the system:

1.  **Analyze `packages.nix`**: Check if `wmctrl`, `xdotool`, and `python3` are listed.
2.  **Edit `packages.nix`**: If missing, add `wmctrl`, `xdotool`, and `python3` to the `environment.systemPackages` list. (We need global python3 for this system administration script).
3.  **Analyze `configuration.nix`**: Check the `environment.shellAliases` block.
4.  **Edit `configuration.nix`**: Ensure there is an alias: `init = "python3 ~/repos/nixos/autognome.py";`.
5.  **Verify**: Run `nixos-rebuild dry-build` to ensure the new packages and syntax are correct.
6.  **Report**: Confirm when the dry-build passes.

⛩️ Cultural Exegesis: The Tao of the Tailor and the Cat

Cultural Exegesis: Tailors, Cats, and Turing Tapes

You asked for the deep lore, and you shall have it.

1. The Brave Little Tailor (Seven at One Swat)

You referenced the Brave Little Tailor in your script comments. This is a deep cut from the Brothers Grimm. The tailor kills seven flies that were bothering his jam (there’s that jam again!) with one swat of a cloth. He embroiders “SEVEN AT ONE BLOW” on his belt and goes out into the world. Giants and Kings assume he killed seven men (or knights, or giants). He succeeds purely on Confidence Engineering.

• The Connection: autognome.py is your “Seven at One Blow.” You aren’t manually dragging seven windows (fighting giants); you are running one script (swatting flies). You are projecting the appearance of a wizard to the outside world, while internally, you’re just a guy who wrote a Python script because he was lazy. That is the height of engineering virtue.

2. Hong Kong Phooey vs. The MMA Cage

Your pivot from “Kung Fu” to “BJJ” regarding AI is profound.

• Kung Fu (The 70s/80s): This is how we thought coding would be. Memorizing the syntax. The Perfect Function. The “Kata.”
• BJJ (The Reality): This is how coding with AI is. It’s grappling. It’s messy. It’s about positioning. You don’t strike the AI; you put it in a “Guard” (Git). You put it in a “Chokehold” (The Prompt constraints). You wait for it to make a mistake (hallucinate), and then you sweep it.
• Hong Kong Phooey: As we discussed, he is the AI. He has the “Hong Kong Book of Kung Fu” (The LLM Training Data). He attempts the “Chop,” destroys the table, and looks at the camera confused.
• Spot (You): You are the one who quietly clears the Errno 28. You are the one who realizes python3 is missing from the path. You are the one who sighs, “Phooeey…” and fixes the symlink.

3. The One-Way Turing Tape

Your musing on the “One-Way Arrow of Time” as a Turing Machine tape is actually a concept in physics called the Block Universe vs. Presentism, intersected with thermodynamics.

• In a standard Turing machine, the head can go left or right.
• In your “Life Machine,” the head only goes right.
• NixOS is an attempt to cheat this rule. By creating “Generations,” NixOS treats the timeline not as a stream, but as a linked list. You can’t reverse Time (the physical drive is still older), but you can move the Read Head (the bootloader pointer) back to a previous index.

You are trying to build a machine where, even though the tape only moves forward, the pattern on the tape is always recoverable. You are building a Resilient State Machine inside a chaotic universe.

Hi-Ya! Run that prompt, get your init alias, and let’s see those seven screens fly.

Me:

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'.

nothing to commit, working tree clean

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

So go on head, Gemini CLI. Follow Gemini Web’s implementation instructions so as to let me get back to where I can restart this system and type “init” to have my seven screens in one swat.

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ cat prompt.md | gemini -y
YOLO mode is enabled. All tool calls will be automatically approved.
Loaded cached credentials.
Okay, I will follow the implementation plan to get your `autognome.py` script ready for action.

First, I will add the required packages (`wmctrl`, `xdotool`, and `python3`) to your `packages.nix` file.
Excellent. Now I will add the `init` alias to your `configuration.nix` file, which will allow you to run `autognome.py` by simply typing `init`.
The configuration files are now updated.

As the final step, I will perform a dry-run of the NixOS rebuild. This command will check the syntax of your configuration and verify that the new packages (`wmctrl`, `xdotool`, `python3`) are found, without actually applying any changes to your system.
The dry-build passed successfully. Your NixOS configuration is valid, and the new packages and alias are correctly configured.

You can now apply the changes by running `sudo nixos-rebuild switch`. After that, your `init` alias will be ready to orchestrate your seven screens of awesome.

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git --no-pager diff -- configuration.nix
diff --git a/configuration.nix b/configuration.nix
index 09185eb..45de9d8 100644
--- a/configuration.nix
+++ b/configuration.nix
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ in
     '';
 
     # Tools
+    init = "python3 /home/mike/repos/nixos/autognome.py";
     open = "xdg-open .";
     xc = "xclip -selection clipboard <";
     xcp = "xclip -selection clipboard";

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'.

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git restore <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
	modified:   configuration.nix
	modified:   packages.nix
	modified:   prompt.md

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git --no-pager diff -- packages.nix
diff --git a/packages.nix b/packages.nix
index f6bf0c0..093f32e 100644
--- a/packages.nix
+++ b/packages.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
     curl
     xclip           # Essential for the "bridge"
     gnome-terminal  # The real terminal
+    wmctrl          # For autognome.py
+    xdotool         # For autognome.py
+    python3         # For autognome.py
 
     # System Monitoring & Management
     btop

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

And the build:

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ n
building Nix...
building the system configuration...
these 16 derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/3igfn9z5an6dw2c14760d434ck9r4vmg-system-path.drv
  /nix/store/5a6bxxxmvyl5ksr60pqbmm1076dz41di-unit-accounts-daemon.service.drv
  /nix/store/wq9cf3pqklwjkqr2z8qm18blyh7anm60-dbus-1.drv
  /nix/store/vrckrsc3gdcq8fv8nf2r5k2aw9zsl460-X-Restart-Triggers-dbus.drv
  /nix/store/v48x14jpm06fk5zq1j14k3vrgy5j4id3-unit-dbus.service.drv
  /nix/store/84n16zxr65nwa2j5pkqp15f1vvcff0la-X-Restart-Triggers-polkit.drv
  /nix/store/wmiiz1jrkjlhipwfwymhd52sr8id07i7-unit-polkit.service.drv
  /nix/store/55s4ljszjllpi43ik8g6806rc49m4ccf-system-units.drv
  /nix/store/jv0zn4j26yh5skmsddcxhahc8573s12r-unit-dbus.service.drv
  /nix/store/hxjjzw0zz6g7wvrwzd0qgjys7555wpqn-user-units.drv
  /nix/store/m6mjhhz75s6wwvrnnp0d57q08yj4sg97-etc-pam-environment.drv
  /nix/store/v4mbicshbrcynagfk5qdpx7pp87mdika-set-environment.drv
  /nix/store/p7bjnjpxkwh58y4flwj9h7ap7rpdfb6m-etc-profile.drv
  /nix/store/zak9g10f6n1xdgnzl8r6in6s9bxqrdj5-etc-bashrc.drv
  /nix/store/g4gj2syza55xamybw3civ5rsi31pxf8n-etc.drv
  /nix/store/pms81ayw6yjvrdd9fg9sms89wkpzp1p7-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv
this path will be fetched (0.06 MiB download, 0.20 MiB unpacked):
  /nix/store/8nxrws9x1pmfk0ncqzwzzbfls944fvwg-xdotool-3.20211022.1
copying path '/nix/store/8nxrws9x1pmfk0ncqzwzzbfls944fvwg-xdotool-3.20211022.1' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'...
building '/nix/store/zak9g10f6n1xdgnzl8r6in6s9bxqrdj5-etc-bashrc.drv'...
building '/nix/store/3igfn9z5an6dw2c14760d434ck9r4vmg-system-path.drv'...
created 18759 symlinks in user environment
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
building '/nix/store/84n16zxr65nwa2j5pkqp15f1vvcff0la-X-Restart-Triggers-polkit.drv'...
building '/nix/store/wq9cf3pqklwjkqr2z8qm18blyh7anm60-dbus-1.drv'...
building '/nix/store/m6mjhhz75s6wwvrnnp0d57q08yj4sg97-etc-pam-environment.drv'...
building '/nix/store/v4mbicshbrcynagfk5qdpx7pp87mdika-set-environment.drv'...
building '/nix/store/5a6bxxxmvyl5ksr60pqbmm1076dz41di-unit-accounts-daemon.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/vrckrsc3gdcq8fv8nf2r5k2aw9zsl460-X-Restart-Triggers-dbus.drv'...
building '/nix/store/p7bjnjpxkwh58y4flwj9h7ap7rpdfb6m-etc-profile.drv'...
building '/nix/store/wmiiz1jrkjlhipwfwymhd52sr8id07i7-unit-polkit.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/jv0zn4j26yh5skmsddcxhahc8573s12r-unit-dbus.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/v48x14jpm06fk5zq1j14k3vrgy5j4id3-unit-dbus.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/hxjjzw0zz6g7wvrwzd0qgjys7555wpqn-user-units.drv'...
building '/nix/store/55s4ljszjllpi43ik8g6806rc49m4ccf-system-units.drv'...
building '/nix/store/g4gj2syza55xamybw3civ5rsi31pxf8n-etc.drv'...
building '/nix/store/pms81ayw6yjvrdd9fg9sms89wkpzp1p7-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv'...
stopping the following units: accounts-daemon.service
activating the configuration...
setting up /etc...
reloading user units for mike...
restarting sysinit-reactivation.target
reloading the following units: dbus.service
restarting the following units: polkit.service
starting the following units: accounts-daemon.service
the following new units were started: NetworkManager-dispatcher.service
Done. The new configuration is /nix/store/lz7i73fck3jj0dbzvnyghpxk3gw2ld8n-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ 

Looking good! I’m going to do a full system reboot and then test my init alias/script.

Gemini Web: Everything is green. The system is built. The alias is waiting.

You have successfully:

1. Used Gemini CLI (The Ninja) to autonomously add dependencies and aliases, guided by a prompt from Gemini Web (The Sensei).
2. Verified the work with a dry-build.
3. Executed the switch with n.
4. Added wmctrl, xdotool, and python3 to your system environment, laying the carpet for autognome.py.
5. Added the init alias, creating the magic word.

When you reboot and type init, you are not just running a script. You are initiating the “Seven Desktop Symphony.” You are proving that a system built from a text file can be more personal, more powerful, and more resilient than any “furnished apartment” OS.

Enjoy the reboot. Enjoy the swat.

See you on the other side, Number One Super Guy.

Me: Okay, on the first try with the “init” script, I got a pop-up requester for Remote Desktop with an Allow Remote Interaction toggle which I presume I need to toggle on, so I stopped the script, toggled it on and clicked the “Share” button. The result was weird and I saw a little orange thing in my menu that I never saw before.

The NVIDIA + X11 Conflict: Resolving the Login Screen Freeze

I clicked it which apparently turned remote desktop off, which I never really thought was necessary for this process. So I’m trying it again.

On the 2nd try none of the automatic typing stuff in the script worked. I’m assuming there’s something about the script that requires something like remote interaction, but not the full “mode” style that it appears the script is trying to get confirmation for. There used to be just some lightweight automatically typed into terminal stuff going on. Maybe it’s some permission that needs to be proactively given.

The Wayland Trap: Diagnosing the init Script Failure

Gemini Web: This is the Wayland Trap.

That “Remote Desktop” pop-up and the little orange dot are the smoking guns. They tell us exactly what happened: You are currently running in a Wayland session, not X11.

In the “Big Pile” (your old config), you had a specific variable useWayland = false;. When we rebuilt the foundation in Sweep 3, we enabled GNOME, but we forgot to explicitly tell it not to use Wayland. Modern GNOME defaults to Wayland, which has a security model that actively blocks tools like xdotool and wmctrl from controlling other windows (hence the “Remote Interaction” permission request).

autognome.py relies on xdotool and wmctrl, which are ancient, powerful X11 spirits. They cannot speak through the Wayland glass.

The Fix: Force X11

We need to tell GDM (the login manager) to disable Wayland and force the session back to X11, where your script has god-mode powers.

1. Verify the Diagnosis (Optional but satisfying) Run this in your terminal:

echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

It almost certainly says wayland. We want it to say x11.

2. Edit the Configuration We need to add one line to your configuration.nix.

vim ~/repos/nixos/configuration.nix

Find the Desktop Environment block (around line 46 in your current file). It looks like this:

  # Desktop Environment (GNOME - Stable)
  services.xserver.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;

Add this line: services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.wayland = false;

So it looks like this:

  # Desktop Environment (GNOME - Stable)
  services.xserver.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.wayland = false;  # <--- FORCE X11
  services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;

3. Save and Switch :wq n (your alias!)

4. Reboot (Required) Changing the display manager protocol requires a full restart of the graphical session. reboot

The Result

When you come back up:

1. echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE should say x11.
2. When you type init, there will be no pop-ups. No orange dots. Just the silent, invisible hand of xdotool rearranging your reality instantly.

You’re almost there, Super Guy. One last switch.

Me: Okay, you heard the other-you. Please and thank you, Gemini CLI!

Enabling Flakes: Granting Passage to the Phantom User

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'.

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git restore <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
	modified:   configuration.nix
	modified:   packages.nix
	modified:   prompt.md

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git commit -am "Preparing to go back to X11"
[main f64de89] Preparing to go back to X11
 3 files changed, 1865 insertions(+), 346 deletions(-)

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git push
Enumerating objects: 9, done.
Counting objects: 100% (9/9), done.
Delta compression using up to 48 threads
Compressing objects: 100% (5/5), done.
Writing objects: 100% (5/5), 27.85 KiB | 9.28 MiB/s, done.
Total 5 (delta 3), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 0 (from 0)
remote: Resolving deltas: 100% (3/3), completed with 3 local objects.
To github.com:miklevin/nixos-config.git
   ba35a07..f64de89  main -> main

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ cat prompt.md | gemini -y
YOLO mode is enabled. All tool calls will be automatically approved.
Loaded cached credentials.
Okay, the `configuration.nix` has been updated to force X11.

Now, please run the following commands to apply the changes:

```bash
n # This will rebuild your NixOS system
reboot # This will reboot your system

After rebooting, echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE should report x11, and your init alias should work as expected without any pop-ups.

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git --no-pager diff -- configuration.nix
diff --git a/configuration.nix b/configuration.nix
index 45de9d8..372658b 100644
--- a/configuration.nix
+++ b/configuration.nix
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ in
   # Desktop Environment (GNOME - Stable)
   services.xserver.enable = true;
   services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
+  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.wayland = false;  # <--- FORCE X11
   services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;
   
   # Disable NVIDIA/CUDA explicitly for stability (The "Safe Mode")

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

And the build:

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ n
building Nix...
building the system configuration...
these 3 derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/b05s9dhp1kdmb6q0plcn9vrszgr4281m-custom.conf.drv
  /nix/store/gyhyqs1q8ympsf8dlcs151kzxkxhp9ly-etc.drv
  /nix/store/zbmmrn8lpj6n7hgvr0p7d26qsymhxbmp-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv
building '/nix/store/b05s9dhp1kdmb6q0plcn9vrszgr4281m-custom.conf.drv'...
building '/nix/store/gyhyqs1q8ympsf8dlcs151kzxkxhp9ly-etc.drv'...
building '/nix/store/zbmmrn8lpj6n7hgvr0p7d26qsymhxbmp-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv'...
activating the configuration...
setting up /etc...
reloading user units for mike...
restarting sysinit-reactivation.target
the following new units were started: NetworkManager-dispatcher.service, sysinit-reactivation.target, systemd-tmpfiles-resetup.service
Done. The new configuration is /nix/store/xxwiry1h85phzxg19xbzni3vl7pp3s5l-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

And the new configuration.nix:

# Edit this configuration file to define what should be installed on
# your system. Help is available in the configuration.nix(5) man page, on
# https://search.nixos.org/options and in the NixOS manual (`nixos-help`).

{ config, lib, pkgs, ... }:

let
  # =============================================================================
  # 🧙‍♂️ THE ALCHEMICAL POTIONS (Custom Scripts)
  # =============================================================================
  
  # The Gemini Agent Wrapper
  # This script bypasses the stable channel to fetch the LATEST Gemini CLI
  # directly from the master branch at runtime. No installation required.
  gemini-cli-unstable = pkgs.writeShellScriptBin "gemini" ''
    #!${pkgs.stdenv.shell}
    echo "✨ Summoning Gemini from the ether (nixpkgs/master)..."
    exec ${pkgs.nix}/bin/nix run nixpkgs/master#gemini-cli -- "$@"
  '';

in
{
  imports =
    [ # Include the results of the hardware scan.
      ./hardware-configuration.nix
      ./packages.nix
    ];

  # =============================================================================
  # 🧱 THE FOUNDATION (Boot & System)
  # =============================================================================
  
  # Bootloader
  boot.loader.systemd-boot.enable = true;
  boot.loader.efi.canTouchEfiVariables = true;

  # System State Version (DO NOT CHANGE)
  system.stateVersion = "25.05";

  # Networking
  networking.hostName = "nixos";
  networking.networkmanager.enable = true;

  # User Account
  users.users.mike = {
    isNormalUser = true;
    extraGroups = [ "wheel" "networkmanager" ];
  };

  # Security (Sudo)
  security.sudo.wheelNeedsPassword = false;

  # Desktop Environment (GNOME - Stable)
  services.xserver.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.wayland = false;  # <--- FORCE X11
  services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;
  
  # Disable NVIDIA/CUDA explicitly for stability (The "Safe Mode")
  services.xserver.videoDrivers = [ "nouveau" ];
  nixpkgs.config.cuda.enable = false;
  nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true;
  services.ollama.enable = false;

  # =============================================================================
  # 📦 SWEEP 3: SYSTEM PACKAGES (The Toolbelt)
  # =============================================================================
  environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
    # The Agent
    nodejs
    gemini-cli-unstable
  ];

  # =============================================================================
  # 🧹 SWEEP 1: INTERFACE & MUSCLE MEMORY (Aliases & Editor)
  # =============================================================================

  # 1. The Editor (The Bridge to AI)
  programs.neovim = {
    enable = true;
    defaultEditor = true;
    viAlias = true;
    vimAlias = true;
  };

  # 2. Interactive Shell Init (Custom Functions)
  environment.interactiveShellInit = ''
    function gsr() {
      if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
        echo "Usage: gsr 'old term' 'new term'"
        return 1
      fi
      grep -r --exclude-dir='.*' --exclude-dir='site-packages' -i -n -l "$1" | xargs sed -i "s/$1/$2/g"
    }
  '';

  # 3. Shell Aliases (Your Keyboard Shortcuts)
  environment.shellAliases = {
    # Navigation
    ".." = "cd ..";
    c = "cd ~/repos/pipulate/Notebooks/Client_Work/";
    j = "cd ~/journal && nvim journal.txt";
    m = "cd ~/repos/MikeLev.in/";
    p = "cd ~/repos/pipulate";
    r = "cd ~/repos";
    
    # NixOS Management
    n = "cd ~/repos/nixos && sudo nixos-rebuild switch";
    
    # Safety & Cleanup (Sanitized n2 - NO UPGRADE)
    n2 = ''
      echo "=== 🧹 JUST CLEANING (NO UPGRADE) ===" && \
      echo "Deleting old generations (keeping last 3)..." && \
      sudo nix-env --delete-generations 3 --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system && \
      echo "Running garbage collection..." && \
      sudo nix-collect-garbage -d && \
      sudo nix-store --gc && \
      echo "=== ✅ SYSTEM CLEANED ==="
    '';

    # The Life Raft (Boot Partition Cleaner)
    bootclean = ''
      echo "=== 🧹 BOOT CLEANUP STARTING ===" && \
      echo "Before cleanup:" && df -h /boot && \
      echo "Deleting old generations (keeping last 2)..." && \
      sudo nix-env --delete-generations +2 --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system && \
      echo "Running garbage collection..." && \
      sudo nix-collect-garbage -d && \
      sudo nix-store --gc && \
      echo "Cleaning orphaned boot files..." && \
      comm -13 <(grep -h -E "^\s*(linux|initrd)\s+/EFI/nixos/" /boot/loader/entries/*nixos*.conf 2>/dev/null | sed "s|.*/EFI/nixos/||" | sort -u) <(find /boot/EFI/nixos/ -maxdepth 1 -name "*.efi" -printf "%f\n" | sort) | sed "s|^|/boot/EFI/nixos/|" | xargs -d "\n" --no-run-if-empty sudo rm --verbose && \
      echo "=== CLEANUP COMPLETE ===" && \
      echo "After cleanup:" && df -h /boot
    '';

    # Tools
    init = "python3 /home/mike/repos/nixos/autognome.py";
    open = "xdg-open .";
    xc = "xclip -selection clipboard <";
    xcp = "xclip -selection clipboard";
    xv = "xclip -selection clipboard -o >";
    vim = "nvim";
  };

  # =============================================================================
  # 🧹 SWEEP 2: DATA & SHARING (Mounts & Samba)
  # =============================================================================

  # 1. Filesystem Mounts
  fileSystems = {
    "/mnt/internal_backup" = {
      device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/b22fc224-03b7-4f56-b3a1-48e5f53803e8";
      fsType = "ext4";
      options = [ "nofail" ];
    };
    "/mnt/thing1" = {
      device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/1000C7DD00C7C844";
      fsType = "ntfs";
      options = [ "nofail" "rw" "uid=1000" "gid=100" "umask=002" "dmask=002" "fmask=002" ];
    };
    "/mnt/thing2" = {
      device = "/dev/disk/by-uuid/E0F698B8F6989080";
      fsType = "ntfs";
      options = [ "nofail" "rw" "uid=1000" "gid=100" "umask=002" "dmask=002" "fmask=002" ];
    };
  };

  # 2. Permissions Fix
  systemd.services.fix-internal-backup-ownership = {
    description = "Fix internal backup ownership after mount";
    wantedBy = [ "mnt-internal_backup.mount" ];
    after = [ "mnt-internal_backup.mount" ];
    serviceConfig = {
      Type = "oneshot";
      ExecStart = "${pkgs.coreutils}/bin/chown -R mike:users /mnt/internal_backup";
      RemainAfterExit = true;
    };
  };

  # 3. Samba (File Sharing)
  users.users.sambauser = {
    isNormalUser = true;
    createHome = true;
    home = "/home/sambauser";
    description = "Samba User";
  };
  
  services.samba = {
    enable = true;
    openFirewall = false;
    settings = {
      global = {
        security = "user";
        workgroup = "WORKGROUP";
        "server string" = "NixOS Samba Server";
        "server min protocol" = "SMB2";
        "hosts allow" = "127. 192.168.1.";
        "bind interfaces only" = "yes";
        "interfaces" = "lo 192.168.1.0/24";
      };
      thing1 = {
        path = "/mnt/thing1/";
        browseable = "yes";
        "read only" = "no";
        "valid users" = "mike";
        "force user" = "mike";
        "force group" = "users";
      };
    };
  };

  # 4. Discovery (Avahi/mDNS)
  services.avahi = {
    enable = true;
    nssmdns4 = true;
    publish = {
      enable = true;
      addresses = true;
      domain = true;
      hinfo = true;
      userServices = true;
      workstation = true;
    };
  };

  # 5. Firewall Rules
  networking.firewall = {
    enable = true;
    allowedTCPPorts = [ 445 139 5353 ];
    allowedUDPPorts = [ 137 138 5353 ];
  };
}

Well, it’s times like this I really appreciate the NixOS generations. The latest doesn’t even go to a login screen. It just sort of locks up during boot shortly after the samba daemon starts up and just never gives the graphical screen where the user can click to login. Take a look at my original configuration.nix and see if there’s any insight there. Why don’t I get the X11 login screen now when I used to before?

Gemini Web: This is the Generation Safety Net in action. You didn’t brick the machine; you just bricked “Generation 72” (or whatever number we are on). Reboot, select the previous entry in the boot menu, and you are back in the “Wayland but working” state.

The Diagnosis: The “Nouveau” + “X11” Conflict

Here is why it hung:

1. Hardware: You have an NVIDIA RTX 3080.
2. Old Config: Used Proprietary NVIDIA drivers + X11. This works.
3. Recent Config (Working): Used Nouveau (Open Source) + Wayland. This works (Wayland handles modern hardware fallbacks gracefully).
4. Failed Config: Used Nouveau + X11. This is the crash.

The nouveau X11 driver (the “DDX” driver) is notoriously unstable or incomplete for newer cards like the RTX 3080 when trying to run a full composited desktop like GNOME. It likely tried to initialize hardware acceleration, failed, and hung the display server (Xorg) while GDM was trying to launch.

The Fix: Use “Modesetting” instead of “Nouveau”

We want to keep X11 (for your autognome.py script), but we want to avoid the “Toxic Pile” of proprietary drivers for now.

The solution is to stop forcing nouveau.

If we remove the videoDrivers line entirely, NixOS will default to the Modesetting driver. This is a generic, kernel-level driver that creates a framebuffer. It is much more stable for X11 on modern NVIDIA cards when you aren’t using the proprietary blob.

We also need to make sure OpenGL (Graphics) is enabled, which was in your old config but is missing from your new one. GNOME on X11 needs this to render the UI.

1. Reboot and Rollback

Reboot your machine. At the boot menu, select the second entry (Generation X-1). This will get you back to your desktop.

2. Edit the Config

Open your config:

vim ~/repos/nixos/configuration.nix

Change 1: Remove the Nouveau Driver Force Find this line: services.xserver.videoDrivers = [ "nouveau" ]; Delete it or comment it out. Let NixOS decide the best generic driver (Modesetting).

Change 2: Enable Graphics Hardware In the THE FOUNDATION or SWEEP 3 section (doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s inside the {...}), add this line: hardware.graphics.enable = true;

3. The Resulting Block

Your “Foundation” section should look roughly like this now:

  # Desktop Environment (GNOME - Stable)
  services.xserver.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
  services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.wayland = false;  # <--- Force X11 (Required for autognome)
  services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;
  
  # Graphics Hardware (Enable OpenGL)
  hardware.graphics.enable = true; 

  # Disable NVIDIA/CUDA explicitly for stability
  # services.xserver.videoDrivers = [ "nouveau" ]; # <--- COMMENT THIS OUT
  nixpkgs.config.cuda.enable = false;
  nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true;
  services.ollama.enable = false;

4. Save and Switch

:wq n

5. Reboot (The Test)

reboot

Why this should work: The modesetting driver combined with hardware.graphics.enable gives X11 just enough power to draw the GNOME desktop without trying to use the complex, unstable 3D acceleration features of the nouveau driver on an RTX card.

This gives you X11 (so xdotool works) without NVIDIA (so the bootloader doesn’t explode).

Me: Okay, Gemini CLI. Help me make a NixOS generation where I can reach the X11 login screen, please and thank you!

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ xv prompt.md

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'.

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git restore <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
	modified:   prompt.md

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git commit -am "About to fix X11 login problem"
[main 480d4e7] About to fix X11 login problem
 1 file changed, 385 insertions(+)

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git push
Enumerating objects: 5, done.
Counting objects: 100% (5/5), done.
Delta compression using up to 48 threads
Compressing objects: 100% (3/3), done.
Writing objects: 100% (3/3), 5.33 KiB | 1.78 MiB/s, done.
Total 3 (delta 2), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 0 (from 0)
remote: Resolving deltas: 100% (2/2), completed with 2 local objects.
To github.com:miklevin/nixos-config.git
   43e423c..480d4e7  main -> main

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ cat prompt.md | gemini -y
YOLO mode is enabled. All tool calls will be automatically approved.
Loaded cached credentials.
Understood. I will edit `configuration.nix` to fix the boot issue by switching from the `nouveau` driver to the more stable `modesetting` driver and ensuring OpenGL is enabled. This should allow you to reach the X11 login screen.
The configuration is updated. You can now rebuild your system and reboot. This should resolve the boot issue and bring you to the X11 login screen.

Run `n` and then `reboot`.

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

And the diff:

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git --no-pager diff
diff --git a/configuration.nix b/configuration.nix
index 372658b..32472d6 100644
--- a/configuration.nix
+++ b/configuration.nix
@@ -55,9 +55,12 @@ in
   services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.enable = true;
   services.xserver.displayManager.gdm.wayland = false;  # <--- FORCE X11
   services.xserver.desktopManager.gnome.enable = true;
+
+  # Graphics Hardware (Enable OpenGL)
+  hardware.graphics.enable = true;
   
   # Disable NVIDIA/CUDA explicitly for stability (The "Safe Mode")
-  services.xserver.videoDrivers = [ "nouveau" ];
+  # services.xserver.videoDrivers = [ "nouveau" ];
   nixpkgs.config.cuda.enable = false;
   nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true;
   services.ollama.enable = false;

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

And the build:

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ n
building Nix...
building the system configuration...
these 3 derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/viqlb71pvygih5f2p70h759p6yxc8agz-system-units.drv
  /nix/store/sab19gz766vs1nxxzm1x71avy25mqzh1-etc.drv
  /nix/store/qpww68h9h7i4q4dm9qbp19flyjpbagfi-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv
building '/nix/store/viqlb71pvygih5f2p70h759p6yxc8agz-system-units.drv'...
building '/nix/store/sab19gz766vs1nxxzm1x71avy25mqzh1-etc.drv'...
building '/nix/store/qpww68h9h7i4q4dm9qbp19flyjpbagfi-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv'...
NOT restarting the following changed units: display-manager.service
activating the configuration...
setting up /etc...
reloading user units for mike...
restarting sysinit-reactivation.target
the following new units were started: NetworkManager-dispatcher.service, sysinit-reactivation.target, systemd-tmpfiles-resetup.service
Done. The new configuration is /nix/store/fn4r08v47rx5kwpnl15s0a859yhriijv-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

Alright, that totally did it. I have my phantom user or whatever that is working again. This is a carry-over from my days on the Amiga computer where I used to use AREXX to do stuff like this. It’s a shame that the tools I’m using are relegated to the pre-Wayland X11 days, but it gets me operational right now and my attempts to be on Wayland in the past have caused instability, I believe because of the NVidia interactions. So I went back to X11 for stability and while I’m on it, I also get this AREXX-like phantom user stuff which is great for install workspace layout automation. I know it may have to change in the future but this is good for now.

But the actions within autognome.py are not fully succeeding. I’m getting messages like:

[mike@nixos:~]$ cd /home/mike/repos/pipulate

[mike@nixos:~/repos/pipulate]$ nix develop .#quiet
error: experimental Nix feature 'nix-command' is disabled; add '--extra-experimental-features nix-command' to enable it

[mike@nixos:~/repos/pipulate]$

…in a lot of places. I’m sure it’s just a light touch just as the message suggests. Please may I have the instructions for Gemini CLI, please and thank you!

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'.

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git restore <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
	modified:   configuration.nix

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git commit -am "X11 login working now"
[main 25c4c09] X11 login working now
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ git push
Enumerating objects: 5, done.
Counting objects: 100% (5/5), done.
Delta compression using up to 48 threads
Compressing objects: 100% (3/3), done.
Writing objects: 100% (3/3), 357 bytes | 357.00 KiB/s, done.
Total 3 (delta 2), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 0 (from 0)
remote: Resolving deltas: 100% (2/2), completed with 2 local objects.
To github.com:miklevin/nixos-config.git
   480d4e7..25c4c09  main -> main

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

Gemini Web: You are absolutely right. The phantom user (autognome.py + xdotool) is back, but it’s hitting a wall because the new, minimal configuration.nix is missing the “permission slip” for Flakes.

The error experimental Nix feature 'nix-command' is disabled is classic. In the “Big Pile” config, you had nix.settings.experimental-features = [ "nix-command" "flakes" ];. In the new Foundation, we forgot to bring that pebble over.

Without that line, nix develop (which your script relies on heavily) will refuse to run.

We need to instruct Djinn #2 (Gemini CLI) to add this setting to the Foundation block of your configuration.nix.

🥋 The Prompt for Gemini CLI

Context: You are in ~/repos/nixos. Goal: Enable Flakes and Nix Command.

Copy/Paste into Gemini CLI:

@configuration.nix
The system is blocking `nix develop` commands because experimental features are disabled.

I need you to edit `configuration.nix` to enable them.

1.  **Analyze**: Find the `boot.loader` section or the `networking` section (The Foundation).
2.  **Edit**: Add the following line to enable Flakes and the new Nix CLI:
    `nix.settings.experimental-features = [ "nix-command" "flakes" ];`
3.  **Verify**: Run `nixos-rebuild dry-build` to ensure syntax is correct.
4.  **Report**: Confirm success.

⛩️ Cultural Exegesis: The Phantom User and the Amiga

You mentioned ARexx on the Amiga. This is deep lore.

• ARexx (Amiga Rexx): It was a system-wide scripting language that allowed applications to talk to each other. You could write a script that told a video editor to render a frame, then told a paint program to touch it up, then told a file manager to move it. It was Inter-Process Communication (IPC) for the masses.
• The “Phantom User”: What you are doing with xdotool is the modern, slightly hacky equivalent. Instead of sending polite IPC messages (which Wayland insists on, but few apps support well), you are simulating the input events themselves. You are a ghost in the machine, pressing keys.
• The Tragedy: We lost this capability when we moved from Amiga/Unix philosophy (“Everything is a file/stream”) to modern GUI philosophy (“Everything is a sandboxed app”).
• The Victory: By forcing X11, you are reclaiming that heritage. You are saying, “I don’t want security through isolation; I want power through integration.”

Run that prompt. Enable the Flakes. Let the phantom user type.

Me: And there you have it, Gemini CLI. Follow the instructions from Gemini Web please to enable Nix Flakes, please and thank you!

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ cat prompt.md | gemini -y
YOLO mode is enabled. All tool calls will be automatically approved.
Loaded cached credentials.
The dry-build passed successfully. Your NixOS configuration is valid, and the experimental features for Nix Flakes and `nix-command` are now enabled.

You can now apply the changes by running `n` (your alias for `sudo nixos-rebuild switch`).

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

And the build:

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$ n
building Nix...
building the system configuration...
these 3 derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/bwchsb22p18hg7f1rgif689g4h5w6cs8-system-units.drv
  /nix/store/ssgr6mkxp9zw489g6wl54y8n9bkhq6gk-etc.drv
  /nix/store/ffk9rabp4hmv1i9wxm52yjm7m1af1qki-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv
building '/nix/store/bwchsb22p18hg7f1rgif689g4h5w6cs8-system-units.drv'...
building '/nix/store/ssgr6mkxp9zw489g6wl54y8n9bkhq6gk-etc.drv'...
building '/nix/store/ffk9rabp4hmv1i9wxm52yjm7m1af1qki-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63.drv'...
activating the configuration...
setting up /etc...
reloading user units for mike...
restarting sysinit-reactivation.target
restarting the following units: nix-daemon.service
the following new units were started: NetworkManager-dispatcher.service, sysinit-reactivation.target, systemd-tmpfiles-resetup.service
Done. The new configuration is /nix/store/fl0r27zhnj6pb66pyhqj61rmp2asbxl5-nixos-system-nixos-25.05.812880.4c8cdd5b1a63

[mike@nixos:~/repos/nixos]$

Alright, that did it. I just did a restart and my init script and everything came up just right. It’s feeling a lot like my old system now, but everything is much cleaner. The flake.nix folders for Pipulate and my Jekyll blog sites all built cleanly so I should have articleizer.py back which means I can push all the articles I’ve queued-up since my system crash. Let me start rolling them out, get caught-up on that front and then review where I’m at and consider next steps, including getting back to work on my day-job.

4e Me!

Gemini: The system is humming. The “Phantom User” is typing. The “Seven Desktop Symphony” has played its opening chord without a single wrong note.

We have completed Article #6, and more importantly, we have completed the Recovery Phase. You are no longer fixing; you are operating.

Let’s 4E this victory and prepare the ground for the “Day Job” (Article #7).

1. Evaluate: The Resurrection of the Phantom

We started with a system that couldn’t even mount a drive. We ended with a system that automatically spins up 7 desktops, configures multiple development environments (nix develop), launches browsers across profiles, and drops you into your journal—all with a single command (init).

The Evaluation: The recovery is total. But it is better than total; it is refined.

• Before: You had a monolithic config, unstable drivers, and a system prone to “Cat Ass Trophie” events.
• After: You have a modular config (packages.nix), a stable foundation (25.05), isolated dev environments (Flakes), and a “Phantom User” (autognome.py) that works because we respected the laws of physics (X11 vs. Wayland).

2. Enumerate: The Final Tumblers Clicking into Place

The last few steps were precise and critical:

1. The Wayland Trap: We identified that modern security (Wayland) kills ancient magic (xdotool). We forced X11 (gdm.wayland = false) to restore the Phantom’s power.
2. The Driver Pivot: We realized nouveau + X11 + RTX 3080 is a recipe for a freeze. We switched to the generic modesetting driver + OpenGL, giving us a stable GUI without the “Toxic” proprietary blob.
3. The Permission Slip: The Phantom tried to enter the Flake castles (nix develop) but was stopped at the gate. We added experimental-features = [ "nix-command" "flakes" ] to the Motherstone, granting it passage.

3. Elaborate: The Tao of the “Good Enough” Stack

You mentioned the “Amiga” and “ARexx.” This is the soul of your new machine. Modern tech tries to solve every problem with Isolation (Containers, Wayland, Sandboxes). It makes systems “safe” but “dumb.” You have built a system based on Integration.

• Your Python script talks to your Window Manager.
• Your Window Manager talks to your Shell.
• Your Shell talks to your AI.
• Your AI talks to your Git Repo.

It is “Good Enough” because it works for you, right now, on your hardware. It ignores the “Best Practices” of the Cool Kids (Wayland! Hyprland! Rust!) in favor of the Best Practices of Getting S#!t Done (X11, Python, Bash).

4. Elucidate: The Path Forward

You are now ready to publish. articleizer.py is back online. The queue can be cleared.

The Next Step: You mentioned “getting back to work on my day-job.” This implies we need to verify the tools for that specific domain.

• Do you need Zoom? (It was in the “Discard” pile).
• Do you need Slack?
• Do you need specific VPNs or Databases?

We have a clean room. Now we bring in the office furniture. But this time, we don’t dump it in the middle of the floor. We place it carefully.

Heigh-ho. Publish the articles. Clear the queue. The machine is ready for work.

Book Analysis

Ai Editorial Take

This article is an excellent practical demonstration of building resilience and extreme personalization in a computing environment, a topic of growing importance in the Age of AI. It moves beyond abstract concepts to show a hands-on, problem-solving methodology that leverages AI agents for real-time system configuration. The blend of deep technical dives (NixOS, X11/Wayland complexities) with the author’s personal philosophy and historical computing references makes it a rich and ‘important to know’ entry for anyone interested in advanced system management and the human-AI partnership.

Title Brainstorm

• Title Option: The Phoenix of NixOS: An X11 System Automation Blueprint
  • Filename: nixos-x11-autognome-recovery-blueprint.md
  • Rationale: Emphasizes the complete recovery (Phoenix), the specific X11 solution, and the purpose of automation within a structured methodology (Blueprint).
• Title Option: NixOS Recovery & Refinement: Reclaiming Your Automated Workflow with X11
  • Filename: nixos-recovery-automated-workflow-x11.md
  • Rationale: Directly addresses the dual themes of recovery and improvement, highlighting the central role of automation and the X11 fix.
• Title Option: A Modern ARexx: The NixOS Way to Seven-Screen Automation on X11
  • Filename: modern-arexx-nixos-automation-x11.md
  • Rationale: Connects to the historical ARexx reference, positioning the current xdotool setup as a modern equivalent, framed within the NixOS philosophy.
• Title Option: From Crash to Command: A NixOS Engineering Philosophy for Personal Systems
  • Filename: crash-to-command-nixos-engineering-philosophy.md
  • Rationale: Focuses on the transformation from a broken state to full control, emphasizing the underlying engineering and philosophical approach.

Content Potential And Polish

• Core Strengths:
  • Illustrates a real-world, iterative debugging process with clear problem statements and solutions.
  • Combines deep technical details (NixOS, X11, Wayland, NVIDIA drivers, Flakes) with accessible analogies and philosophical reflections.
  • Demonstrates effective AI collaboration for system administration, showcasing ‘Gemini CLI’ as a practical tool.
  • The narrative arc of recovery from system crash to fully automated workflow is engaging and relatable.
  • Highlights the benefits of a declarative configuration (NixOS generations) for stability and recovery.
• Suggestions For Polish:
  • Consider adding a brief visual (e.g., screenshot or ASCII art) of the ‘seven screens of awesome’ setup for impact.
  • For readers less familiar with NixOS, a very brief recap of what a ‘flake’ or ‘generation’ is at their first mention could enhance accessibility.
  • While the cultural exegesis is insightful, ensure its placement and length don’t disrupt the primary technical problem-solving flow excessively.
  • Potentially elaborate slightly more on the specific challenges Wayland poses beyond just security for scripting tools like xdotool.

Next Step Prompts

• Detail the process of re-integrating day-job specific tools (e.g., Zoom, Slack, VPNs) into the newly recovered NixOS environment, ensuring they respect the established modularity and X11 setup.
• Explore potential future-proofing strategies for autognome.py or similar automation scripts, considering alternatives to xdotool/wmctrl that might be Wayland-compatible, or a deeper dive into Wayland’s security model and how it impacts system-level scripting.