Nix app vms

Simple application VM's based on Nix package manager.

Uses one read-only /nix directory for all appvms. So creating a new appvm (but not first) is just about one minute.

Designed primarily for full screen usage (but remote-viewer has ability to resize window dynamically without change resolution) without guest additions (because of less attack surface).

It's a proof-of-concept, but you can still use it. Also there is a lot of strange things inside, don't afraid of :)

Install Nix package manager

$ su -c 'mkdir -m 0755 /nix && chown user /nix'
$ curl https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh

Dependencies

$ su -c 'USE="spice virtfs" emerge qemu virt-manager'

Add appvm to PATH

$ echo 'PATH=$PATH:$HOME/appvm/bin' >> ~/.bashrc

(if you clone appvm to home directory)

Generate resolution

By default uses 3840x2160. If you need to regenerate appvm/nix/monitor.nix:

$ appvm/appvm.sh generate-resolution 1920 1080 > appvm/nix/monitor.nix

Autodetection is a bash-spaghetti, so you need to check results. BTW it's just a X.org monitor section.

Create VM

$ $HOME/appvm/appvm.sh build chromium

You can customize local settings in nix/local.nix.

Run application

$ appvm.chromium

Default hotkey to release cursor: ctrl+alt.

Shared directory

$ ls appvm/share/chromium
foo.tar.gz
bar.tar.gz

Close VM

$ pkill.... :)

App description

$ cat nix/chromium.nix
{pkgs, ...}:
{
  imports = [
    <nixpkgs/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix>
    <nix/base.nix>
  ];

  environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.chromium ];
  services.xserver.displayManager.sessionCommands = "while [ 1 ]; do ${pkgs.chromium}/bin/chromium; done &";
}

For create new app you should add package name (search at https://nixos.org/nixos/packages.html) and path to binary (typically same as package name).

Defined applications (pull requests are welcome!)

• chromium
• thunderbird
• tdesktop
• evince