I'm new to Den
Walk through a complete setup from scratch.
From Zero to Den | From Flake to Den
Documentation Overview
Den is an aspect-oriented Nix framework: you write features, not host files. A pure algebraic effects pipeline resolves aspects into NixOS, Darwin, and home-manager configurations automatically. Read more about why Den exists.
Where to start
Section titled “Where to start”I'm coming from NixOS / HM / flake-parts
See how Den maps to patterns you already know.
Coming from…
I want to understand the architecture
Start with principles, then work through the four concerns.
Core Principles | Four Concerns
I learn by example
Runnable templates covering common setups.
Templates Overview | CI Tests as Examples
Understand
Section titled “Understand”The Four Concerns
Den separates configuration into four orthogonal concerns.
Entities | Aspects | Policies | Quirks & Pipes
Core Principles Features over hosts, aspects over modules, composition over duplication.
Resolution Pipeline How entities resolve into NixOS/Darwin/HM configurations.
Fleets & Multi-Host Cross-host data flow and fleet topology.
Deep Dives Algebraic effects, diagrams, scope partitioning.
Guides
Task-oriented guides for working with Den day to day.
Declare Hosts & Users den.hosts, den.homes, users, and schema options.
Configure Aspects Owned configs, includes, provides, and defaults.
Homes Integration Home Manager, hjem, and nix-maid setup.
Use Batteries den.provides.* built-in aspects.
Host/User Mutual Config Bidirectional config between hosts and users.
Share with Namespaces Publish and consume aspect libraries across flakes.
Custom Nix Classes Create new classes via den.provides.forward.
Angle Brackets Syntax shorthand via __findFile.
Troubleshooting REPL inspection, tracing, and common pitfalls.
Reference
Section titled “Reference”API Documentation
Option namespaces and library functions.
den.schema Host, user, and home schema options.
den.aspects Aspect type, resolution, class configs.
den.provides Built-in batteries reference.
den.quirks Quirk declarations and pipe builder API.
den.policies Policy effects, combinators, and built-in policies.
den.ctx (compat) Legacy compatibility shim.
den.lib Core library: parametric dispatch, __findFile.
den.lib.diag Diagram generation and graph introspection.
flake.* Output generation and instantiation.
Glossary Definitions for Den-specific terms.
Community
Section titled “Community”Get Involved
Questions, ideas, or real-world examples — find other Den users and contributors.
Community | Contributors Guide