Composing using imports

You can compose environments either locally or by referencing inputs.

Imagine you're building a typical web application, with separate frontend and backend components that live in separate folders.

devenv.yaml

inputs:
  nixpkgs:
    url: github:cachix/devenv-nixpkgs/rolling
  devenv:
    url: github:cachix/devenv
imports:
- ./frontend
- ./backend
- devenv/examples/supported-languages
- devenv/examples/scripts

If you enter the frontend directory, the environment will activate based on what's in the frontend/devenv.nix file.

If you enter the top-level project, the environment is combined with what's defined in backend/devenv.nix and frontend/devenv.nix. For example, devenv up will start both the frontend and backend processes.

Note

While composing devenv.nix is a key feature, composing devenv.yaml hasn't been implemented yet.

See devenv.yaml reference for all supported imports.