No, you don't need NixOS on the desktop, but for certain people--like me!--it sure is nice. For example, I have this preoccupation with remembering how I configured something. I'd developed note-taking systems to remember how I'd set something up for the inevitable reinstallation (say a new computer)? Now? Download a few text files from github, type a command, and 10 minutes later I'm back in business.
It was a tough road to get comfortable, though I tell people that's because NixOS should be treated like an entirely different OS rather than as a distribution. But now? It's great. It solves a real problem for me. I definitely don't think it's for everyone, but this post draws an overly general conclusion.
No, you don't need NixOS on the desktop, but for certain people--like me!--it sure is nice. For example, I have this preoccupation with remembering how I configured something. I'd developed note-taking systems to remember how I'd set something up for the inevitable reinstallation (say a new computer)? Now? Download a few text files from github, type a command, and 10 minutes later I'm back in business.
It was a tough road to get comfortable, though I tell people that's because NixOS should be treated like an entirely different OS rather than as a distribution. But now? It's great. It solves a real problem for me. I definitely don't think it's for everyone, but this post draws an overly general conclusion.