appvm/README.md
2018-07-11 23:39:30 +00:00

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# 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](screenshots/2018-07-05.png)
## Install Nix package manager
$ su -c 'mkdir -m 0755 /nix && chown user /nix'
$ curl https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh
## Dependencies
$ su -c 'USE="spice virtfs" emerge qemu 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
$ 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