# Nix Distribution - Ready to Use! 🎉

## Current Status: ✅ WORKS NOW

Your Nix package is **already distributable**! Users can run it directly from GitHub without any additional setup on your end.

## How Users Will Use It

### Simple: Just Run From GitHub

```bash
nix run --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' github:RayLabsHQ/gitea-mirror
```

That's it! No releases, no CI, no infrastructure needed. It works right now.

---

## What Happens When They Run This?

1. **Nix fetches** your repo from GitHub
2. **Nix reads** `flake.nix` and `flake.lock`
3. **Nix builds** the package on their machine
4. **Nix runs** the application
5. **Result cached** in `/nix/store` for reuse

---

## Do You Need CI or Releases?

### For Basic Usage: **NO**
Users can already use it from GitHub. No CI or releases required.

### For Better UX: **Recommended**
Set up binary caching so users don't compile from source.

---

## Next Steps (Optional but Recommended)

### Option 1: Add Binary Cache (5 minutes)

**Why:** Users download pre-built binaries instead of compiling (much faster!)

**How:**
1. Create free account at https://cachix.org/
2. Create cache named `gitea-mirror`
3. Add GitHub secret: `CACHIX_AUTH_TOKEN`
4. GitHub Actions workflow already created at `.github/workflows/nix-build.yml`
5. Add to your docs:
   ```bash
   # Users run once
   cachix use gitea-mirror

   # Then they get fast binary downloads
   nix run github:RayLabsHQ/gitea-mirror
   ```

### Option 2: Release Versioning (2 minutes)

**Why:** Users can pin to specific versions

**How:**
```bash
# When ready to release
git tag v3.8.11
git push origin v3.8.11

# Users can then pin to this version
nix run github:RayLabsHQ/gitea-mirror/v3.8.11
```

No additional CI needed - tags work automatically with flakes!

### Option 3: Submit to nixpkgs (Long Term)

**Why:** Maximum discoverability and trust

**When:** After package is stable and well-tested

**How:** Submit PR to https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs

---

## Files Created

### Essential (Already Working)
- ✅ `flake.nix` - Package definition
- ✅ `flake.lock` - Dependency lock file
- ✅ `.envrc` - direnv integration

### Documentation
- ✅ `NIX.md` - Quick reference for users
- ✅ `docs/NIX_DEPLOYMENT.md` - Complete deployment guide
- ✅ `docs/NIX_DISTRIBUTION.md` - Distribution guide for you (maintainer)
- ✅ `README.md` - Updated with Nix instructions

### CI (Optional, Already Set Up)
- ✅ `.github/workflows/nix-build.yml` - Builds + caches to Cachix

### Updated
- ✅ `.gitignore` - Added Nix artifacts

---

## Comparison: Your Distribution Options

| Setup | Time | User Experience | What You Need |
|-------|------|----------------|---------------|
| **Direct GitHub** | 0 min ✅ | Slow (build from source) | Nothing! Works now |
| **+ Cachix** | 5 min | Fast (binary download) | Cachix account + token |
| **+ Git Tags** | 2 min | Versionable | Just push tags |
| **+ nixpkgs** | Hours | Official/Trusted | PR review process |

**Recommendation:** Start with Direct GitHub (already works!), add Cachix this week for better UX.

---

## Testing Your Distribution

You can test it right now:

```bash
# Test direct GitHub usage
nix run --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' github:RayLabsHQ/gitea-mirror

# Test with specific commit
nix run github:RayLabsHQ/gitea-mirror/$(git rev-parse HEAD)

# Validate flake
nix flake check
```

---

## User Documentation Locations

Users will find instructions in:
1. **README.md** - Installation section (already updated)
2. **NIX.md** - Quick reference
3. **docs/NIX_DEPLOYMENT.md** - Detailed guide

All docs include the correct commands with experimental features flags.

---

## When to Release New Versions

### For Git Tag Releases:
```bash
# 1. Update version in package.json
vim package.json

# 2. Update version in flake.nix (line 17)
vim flake.nix  # version = "3.8.12";

# 3. Commit and tag
git add package.json flake.nix
git commit -m "chore: bump version to v3.8.12"
git tag v3.8.12
git push origin main
git push origin v3.8.12
```

Users can then use: `nix run github:RayLabsHQ/gitea-mirror/v3.8.12`

### No Release Needed For:
- Bug fixes
- Small changes
- Continuous updates

Users can always use latest from main: `nix run github:RayLabsHQ/gitea-mirror`

---

## Summary

**✅ Ready to distribute RIGHT NOW**
- Just commit and push your `flake.nix`
- Users can run directly from GitHub
- No CI, releases, or infrastructure required

**🚀 Recommended next: Add Cachix (5 minutes)**
- Much better user experience
- Workflow already created
- Free for public projects

**📦 Optional later: Submit to nixpkgs**
- Maximum discoverability
- Official Nix repository
- Do this once package is stable

See `docs/NIX_DISTRIBUTION.md` for complete details!