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nix:tldr:a9cc5
The command nix repl
is used to start a Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL) for the Nix programming language.
Nix is a purely functional package manager and a programming language designed for declaratively describing and managing software dependencies. The nix repl
command allows you to interactively work with the Nix language and evaluate expressions in real-time.
When you run nix repl
in your terminal, it will start a new session where you can enter Nix expressions and see the results of their evaluation. This can be useful for experimenting with Nix, debugging expressions, or understanding how certain functions or packages work.
Once the REPL is started, you can enter any valid Nix expression, and it will be evaluated and displayed in the console. You can define variables, functions, or import Nix modules directly in the REPL session.
For example, if you enter 2 + 2
in the Nix REPL, it will evaluate the expression and print 4
as the result. Similarly, you can evaluate more complex expressions like let x = 10; in x * x
and it will output 100
.
The nix repl
command provides a convenient way to explore and experiment with the Nix programming language without having to build or install packages. It can be a valuable tool for learning, development, and troubleshooting within the Nix ecosystem.