96 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
96 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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summary: "Install Moltbot declaratively with Nix"
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read_when:
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- You want reproducible, rollback-able installs
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- You're already using Nix/NixOS/Home Manager
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- You want everything pinned and managed declaratively
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---
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# Nix Installation
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The recommended way to run Moltbot with Nix is via **[nix-moltbot](https://github.com/moltbot/nix-moltbot)** — a batteries-included Home Manager module.
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## Quick Start
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Paste this to your AI agent (Claude, Cursor, etc.):
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```text
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I want to set up nix-moltbot on my Mac.
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Repository: github:moltbot/nix-moltbot
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What I need you to do:
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1. Check if Determinate Nix is installed (if not, install it)
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2. Create a local flake at ~/code/moltbot-local using templates/agent-first/flake.nix
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3. Help me create a Telegram bot (@BotFather) and get my chat ID (@userinfobot)
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4. Set up secrets (bot token, Anthropic key) - plain files at ~/.secrets/ is fine
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5. Fill in the template placeholders and run home-manager switch
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6. Verify: launchd running, bot responds to messages
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Reference the nix-moltbot README for module options.
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```
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> **📦 Full guide: [github.com/moltbot/nix-moltbot](https://github.com/moltbot/nix-moltbot)**
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>
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> The nix-moltbot repo is the source of truth for Nix installation. This page is just a quick overview.
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## What you get
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- Gateway + macOS app + tools (whisper, spotify, cameras) — all pinned
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- Launchd service that survives reboots
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- Plugin system with declarative config
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- Instant rollback: `home-manager switch --rollback`
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---
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## Nix Mode Runtime Behavior
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When `CLAWDBOT_NIX_MODE=1` is set (automatic with nix-moltbot):
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Moltbot supports a **Nix mode** that makes configuration deterministic and disables auto-install flows.
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Enable it by exporting:
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```bash
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CLAWDBOT_NIX_MODE=1
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```
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On macOS, the GUI app does not automatically inherit shell env vars. You can
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also enable Nix mode via defaults:
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```bash
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defaults write com.clawdbot.mac moltbot.nixMode -bool true
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```
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### Config + state paths
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Moltbot reads JSON5 config from `CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH` and stores mutable data in `CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR`.
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- `CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR` (default: `~/.clawdbot`)
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- `CLAWDBOT_CONFIG_PATH` (default: `$CLAWDBOT_STATE_DIR/moltbot.json`)
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When running under Nix, set these explicitly to Nix-managed locations so runtime state and config
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stay out of the immutable store.
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### Runtime behavior in Nix mode
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- Auto-install and self-mutation flows are disabled
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- Missing dependencies surface Nix-specific remediation messages
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- UI surfaces a read-only Nix mode banner when present
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## Packaging note (macOS)
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The macOS packaging flow expects a stable Info.plist template at:
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```
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apps/macos/Sources/Moltbot/Resources/Info.plist
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```
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[`scripts/package-mac-app.sh`](https://github.com/moltbot/moltbot/blob/main/scripts/package-mac-app.sh) copies this template into the app bundle and patches dynamic fields
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(bundle ID, version/build, Git SHA, Sparkle keys). This keeps the plist deterministic for SwiftPM
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packaging and Nix builds (which do not rely on a full Xcode toolchain).
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## Related
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- [nix-moltbot](https://github.com/moltbot/nix-moltbot) — full setup guide
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- [Wizard](/start/wizard) — non-Nix CLI setup
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- [Docker](/install/docker) — containerized setup
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