nix-for-php-developers/book/index.adoc

[separator=::]
= Nix for PHP Developers
:author: Oliver Davies (opdavies)
:copyright: 2025 {author}
:creator: {author}
:description: How to use Nix as a PHP Developer.
:doctype: book
:email: oliver@oliverdavies.uk
:front-cover-image: image:cover.png[fit=fill]
:icons: font
:keywords: php software-development nix linux
:leveloffset: +1
:pygments-linenums-mode: table
:pygments-style: vs
:revdate: {docdatetime}
:revnumber: 0.0.1
:revremark: Under development
:sectlinks:
:sectnums!:
:source-highlighter: pygments
:toc-title: Table of Contents
:toc: left
:toclevels: 2
:xrefstyle: short

_How PHP Developers can create robust and reproducible applications with Nix._

[cols="^.^1,1,1",options="autowidth"]
|===
| https://www.oliverdavies.uk | link:./opdavies-nix-for-php-developers.pdf[Download PDF] | link:./opdavies-nix-for-php-developers.epub[Download EPUB]
|===

include::introduction/index.adoc[]

[[installing_php]]
= Other ways to install PHP

////
apt, yum, pacman, etc. System package managers.
Homebrew on macOS and Linux.
Docker, podman, DDEV (containers).
Valet/Herd?
Symfony CLI.
Is there an "official" way on php.net? https://www.php.net/manual/en/install.php
////

[[different_versions]]
= Different versions of PHP for different projects

////
Virtual machines.
Vagrant.
Containers.
Valet/Herd. Symfony CLI.
IAC - Ansible, etc.
nvm for PHP?
"virtual" environments, aka. ruby, python.

Why do you need a full operating system?
Why use something specific to a particular framework?
////

[[what_nix]]
= What is Nix?

[[nix_language]]
== The language

[[nix_package_manager]]
== The package manager

[[nix_build_tool]]
== The build tool

[[nixos]]
== The operating system (NixOS)

[[nix_benefits]]
= What are the benefits of using Nix?

////
Lightweight.
Simpler - no need for Makefiles or helper scripts.
More native feel.
One tool to work with everything.
Different languages and frameworks.
Agnostic package manager, works on different Linux distros as well as macOS.
Lots of available packages and operating system options.
Ecosystem of tools - e.g. Home Manager.
////

== Reproducible software, not just repeatable

== Imperative vs. declarative

[[dev_shells]]
= What are dev shells?

[,nix]
----
# shell.nix

include::../shell.nix[]
----

[[direnv]]
= dev shells and direnv

Using a local flake:

[,bash]
----
use flake .
----

== Remote dev shells

Using a remote flake:

You can use a `flake.nix` flake in any Git repository, not just the directory you're in.

It can be in a different local directory or a remote Git repository.

For example, you can add this to use the `php84` dev shell within my dev-shells repository:

[source,bash]
----
use flake "git+https://code.oliverdavies.uk/opdavies/dev-shells#php84"
----

This will install PHP 8.4, Composer and Phpactor without needing to create a bespoke `flake.nix`.

[NOTE]
====
If you're referencing a GitHub repository, you can use the shorter `github:username/repo` format instead of the full repository URL.
====

[[what_flakes]]
= What are Flakes?

[[flake_templates]]
== Flake templates

////
flake-utils
flake-parts
////

[[configuring_php]]
= Configuring PHP with Nix

[[managing_services]]
= Managing services without NixOS

[[building_derivations]]
= Building derivations of PHP applications

[[nix_composer]]
= Nix vs. Composer

////
composer2nix
////

= Other usages for Nix

////
Homelab/Server
////

= Organising Nix configurations