[NTG-context] Re: Has anyone packages the ConTeXt standalone distributon for nixpkgs/NixOS?

On 15 Aug 2024, at 18:31, Mica via ntg-context wrote:

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone has packaged the ConTeXt standalone for nixpkgs/NixOS and if yes, can you share your derivation?

Thanks!

Hi Mica, Short answer: no. Longer answer: I’ve not myself previously compiled the various components that go into ConTeXt so producing a package definition is going to be a lot of work from scratch. If you have a specific target machine in mind (e.g. an x64) then producing a simple nix-shell that mimics a manual install of the pre-built binary might be simpler. Also, ConTeXt changes frequently. That introduces quite a burden on keeping the Nix package up-to-date unless it can be automated, which in turn is yet more work. If I used Nixos as my daily driver I might consider it, but I don’t. — Bruce Horrocks Hampshire, UK