As a NixOS user…yeah don’t recommend it. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely adore NixOS but suggesting people switch to it when their current distro works perfectly fine for them is a disservice.

NixOS makes the hard things easy, and the easy things hard. It’s incredibly frustrating trying to get something that should be insanely easy to work on NixOS. A good example of which is Neovim with Lazyvim. on every other distro it’s not a big deal, it should be easy to install right? on NixOS you’ll be pulling your hair out trying to get the meson tree-sitter crap to work correctly. Or you’ll find stuff that has been specifically re-packaged or put into a flake to work for NixOS. ok that’s fine, that’ll work on SOME peoples configurations but if yours is ever so slightly more unique it won’t. And then you start to wonder and question if your configuration is wrong but the thing is with NixOS there’s no right or wrong with the configuration. Some people will suggest you use flakes, some people will say don’t bother. Some will say you should put every single thing in modules, some will say don’t bother.

So the problem is with NixOS is that when you start using it and understanding it going to another distro feels like you’re somehow reverting. BUT there’s the potential issue of getting stuck in the rabbit hole that is constant NixOS configuration adjustments to try and get that most perfect and smooth config out of your system. Currently I’m on Arch because I’m taking a “vacation” from NixOS. I have some important projects that are due soon and I just needed to get into a distro that will allow me to focus on them. In a couple weeks time however I know I’ll be back on NixOS.