nix-env --dry-run -v, --verbose -u|--upgrade [*] upgrade (all packages if argument is not specified or just specified package[s]) https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/#operation-upgrade # nix-channel --update nixpkgs --dry-run dry run -i|--install args... !!! https://nixos.wiki/wiki/FAQ#Why_not_use_nix-env_-i_hello.3F -f -E -f https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs-channels/archive/nixos-14.12.tar.gz -iA firefox A|--attr install attribute [nixpgks.] ... Alternatively, like for nix-build, one can use [-A] to specify an attribute name instead of a derivation name: $ nix-env -f '' -i -A graphviz -e|--uninstall drvnames... https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/#operation-uninstall -e '*' for uninstall everyting from the user environment --list-generations -G, --switch-generation https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/#operation-switch-generation --delete-generations generations... https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/#operation-delete-generations --rollback https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/#operation-rollback -q|--query [--installed] list installed derivations -qa [package] search for a package on a channel -qaf /path/to/nixpkgs ... at the custom path -qas status of available packages I - installed in your current user env P - present on your system S - substitute for the package (prebuilt package) https://cache.nixos.org - cache of binary packages -qaP ... nixos. -> pkgs. at configuration.nix ???? ? list stuff -f In order to specify an alternative to ~/.nix-defexpr it's possible to use the [-f] option: