epics-extensions / EPNix

Build, package, deploy IOCs and EPICS-related software using the Nix package manager

EPNix

EPNix (pronunciation: like you are high on mushrooms) packages EPICS-related software by using the Nix package manager.

It's made of three parts:

• the EPICS IOC framework
• other EPICS-related packages
• NixOS modules

The EPICS IOC framework lets you package, deploy, and test EPICS IOCs by using the Nix package manager, which provides several benefits. For more information, see the EPICS IOCs introduction.

EPNix also packages other EPICS-related tools, such as procServ, Phoebus, and so on. You can build them by using Nix, while having a strong guarantee that they work as-is. For a list of all supported EPICS-related packages, see the Packages list.

Note: providing a cache server that enables you to download dependencies pre-compiled is anticipated.

EPNix also provides NixOS modules, which are instructions on how to configure various EPICS-related services on NixOS machines (for example the Phoebus alarm server). EPNix strives to have integration tests for each of those module. For more information, see the NixOS modules introduction.

Getting started building IOCs

See over there in the documentation book.

Packaging policy

In its package repository, EPNix officially supports the latest upstream version.

This doesn't cause much issues: since EPNix is a Git repository, you use a fixed version of EPNix, without being forced to upgrade your dependencies.

The epics-base package

The epics-base package has no significant modification compared to the upstream version at Launchpad. One goal of EPNix is to have as little modification as possible, and upstream what's possible.

Quick example of an EPNix configuration

epnix = {
  meta.name = "my-top";

  # You can choose the version of EPICS-base here:
  # ---
  epics-base.releaseBranch = "3"; # Defaults to "7"

  # Add one of the supported modules here:
  # ---
  support.modules = with pkgs.epnix.support; [ StreamDevice ];

  # You can specify environment variables for your development shell like this:
  # ---
  devShell.environment.variables."EPICS_CA_ADDR_LIST" = "localhost";
};