What is Nix written in?
The Nix runtime is written in C++.
Nix is a cross-platform package manager, first released in 2003.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C++ | The Nix evaluator is implemented in C++. |
Runtime model
The Nix runtime, written in C++, manages the execution of Nix programs. Runtime-based languages rely on a host process to interpret or compile code at runtime rather than compiling entirely ahead-of-time to native machine code. This means running Nix programs requires the runtime to be present on the target system.
The choice of C++ for the runtime gives Nix access to native performance, established platform abstractions, and existing ecosystem libraries.
Explore in the Graph
See Nix's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the Nix language page for the complete record.