Title
Nøughty Linux: Ubuntu’s Stability Meets Nixpkgs’ Freshness
Speaker(s)
Martin Wimpress
Date and time
2025-10-23T10:10:00Z
Session type
Talk - (25 minutes)
Abstract
Nøughty Linux explores a practical question: Can we combine Ubuntu Server’s stable foundation with Nixpkgs’ vast, always-current software library without the complexity of NixOS?
This Skunkworks project utilizes systemd and Home Manager to layer Nix on top of Ubuntu Server, providing enthusiasts with access to cutting-edge applications and desktop environments while leveraging Ubuntu’s hardware compatibility. Users start with a standard Ubuntu Server installation, run a bootstrap command, and reboot into a fully-themed Wayland desktop—all configured via a straightforward TOML file that requires no Nix knowledge.
In this talk, we’ll explore:
• The hybrid architecture: How we defined the Ubuntu system boundary handling hardware, drivers, and system services, while Nix provides desktop and applications.
• Practical trade-offs: What works well, what doesn’t, and the challenges we encountered.
• Unconventional choices: Why we moved graphical sessions to VT9 and gave VT1-8 to console workspaces.
• Dynamic theming: System-wide Catppuccin themes from GRUB to desktop shell.
• Abstraction layer: TOML configuration that hides Nix complexity while preserving its power.
Whether you’re frustrated by outdated packages in stable releases, curious about Nix without committing to NixOS, or just interested in alternative approaches to desktop Linux, this talk demonstrates one way to get the best of both worlds.
Live demo included
Speaker(s) bio
Long-time Linux user, developer, and community builder 
Flake wrangler 
Maker 
Aspiring game developer 
Linux Matters podcast presenter 
Questions about this session? Please reply to this topic, top questions may be featured during the live event!
