[Backend] Nix Package Manager Implementation

[yashksaini-coder]

Goal

Support declarative Nix package management from TRX.

Description

Implement the PackageManager trait in src/managers/nix.rs for the Nix package manager.

Key challenges unique to Nix:

• Profiles: Packages can be in the system profile or user profile; handle both
• Package naming: Nix uses attribute paths (e.g., nixpkgs.git) rather than simple names
• Immutability: Nix doesn't "remove" packages traditionally — it updates the profile
• Search: Use nix search nixpkgs <query> (Nix 2.x) and parse JSON output (--json)

Required methods:

• search(query) → nix search nixpkgs <query> --json
• get_installed() → nix profile list or nix-env -q
• install() → nix profile install nixpkgs#<pkg>
• remove() → nix profile remove <pkg>
• system_upgrade() → nix profile upgrade '.*'

Tech

Rust, Nix CLI, JSON parsing

Difficulty

Level 3 – Advanced

[Vishvadharman]

Hi @yashksaini-coder,

I’m interested in working on this issue. Before implementation, I’d like to review the existing PackageManager trait and current manager implementations so I can follow the project’s command execution, error handling, and JSON parsing patterns.

I can work on the Nix manager with support for search, installed package listing, install, remove, and system upgrade behavior as described in the issue.

Please assign this to me if it’s available. Thank you!

[sanudking]

Hey! This looks like a great issue to work on. I'm a first-year CSE student at NIT Jalandhar participating in GSSoC 2026. I have knowledge in Javascript and would like to take this up. Can I get assigned? I'll submit a PR within a day or two. 🙏