Simple application VMs (hypervisor-based sandbox) based on Nix package manager.
Go to file
2018-07-12 06:26:46 +00:00
nix Rewrite in go, use libvirt 2018-07-11 23:34:36 +00:00
screenshots Add screenshot 2018-07-05 07:46:31 +00:00
appvm.go Add available vm's to 'appvm list' 2018-07-12 00:06:43 +00:00
generate-resolution.sh Rewrite in go, use libvirt 2018-07-11 23:34:36 +00:00
LICENSE Add LICENSE 2018-06-30 22:15:11 +00:00
README.md Remove unnecessary quotes 2018-07-12 06:26:46 +00:00

Nix app vms

Simple application VM's based on Nix package manager.

Uses one read-only /nix directory for all appvms. So creating a new appvm (but not first) is just about one minute.

Currently optimized for full screen usage (but remote-viewer has ability to resize window dynamically without change resolution) without guest additions.

appvm screenshot

Install Nix package manager

$ sudo mkdir -m 0755 /nix && sudo chown $USER /nix
$ curl https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh

Dependencies

$ sudo apt install golang virt-manager

Libvirt from user (required if you need access to shared files)

$ echo user = "\"$USER\"" | sudo tee -a /etc/libvirt/qemu.conf

Install appvm tool

$ export 'GOPATH=$HOME/go' >> ~/.bashrc
$ export 'PATH=$PATH:$GOPATH/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
$ source ~/.bashrc
$ go get github.com/jollheef/appvm

Generate resolution

By default uses 3840x2160. If you need to regenerate appvm/nix/monitor.nix:

$ $GOPATH/github.com/jollheef/appvm/generate-resolution.sh 1920 1080 > $GOPATH/github.com/jollheef/appvm/nix/monitor.nix

Autodetection is a bash-spaghetti, so you need to check results. BTW it's just a X.org monitor section.

Run application

($GOPATH/bin must be in $PATH)

$ appvm start chromium

You can customize local settings in $GOPATH/github.com/jollheef/appvm/nix/local.nix.

Default hotkey to release cursor: ctrl+alt.

Shared directory

$ ls appvm/chromium
foo.tar.gz
bar.tar.gz

Close VM

$ appvm stop chromium

App description

$ cat nix/chromium.nix
{pkgs, ...}:
{
  imports = [
    <nixpkgs/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix>
    <nix/base.nix>
  ];

  environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.chromium ];
  services.xserver.displayManager.sessionCommands = "while [ 1 ]; do ${pkgs.chromium}/bin/chromium; done &";
}

For create new app you should add package name (search at https://nixos.org/nixos/packages.html) and path to binary (typically same as package name).

Defined applications (pull requests are welcome!)

  • chromium
  • thunderbird
  • tdesktop
  • evince
  • libreoffice
  • wire