nix-alien
Run unpatched binaries on Nix/NixOS by automatically resolving and providing their shared library dependencies.
What is nix-alien?
nix-alien is a command-line tool that allows users to run unpatched, pre-compiled binaries on Nix and NixOS systems. It solves the "No such file or directory" error by automatically detecting the binary's shared library dependencies, fetching them from nixpkgs, and creating an environment where the binary can execute successfully.
Nix and NixOS users who need to run pre-compiled binaries (e.g., proprietary software, games, or tools) that aren't available as Nix packages and would otherwise fail due to missing libraries.
Developers choose nix-alien because it automates the tedious process of manually resolving library dependencies, offers multiple integration methods (FHS, nix-ld), and provides an interactive interface for handling conflicts, making it the most user-friendly solution for running foreign binaries on Nix.
Overview
Run unpatched binaries on Nix/NixOS
Use Cases
Best For
- Running proprietary software or games on NixOS without patching
Related Projects
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