I think the question is about what kind of commitment the functional package management paradigm, especially as implemented by Nix and Guix, requires too much commitment or skill to really 'eat the world'.
That whole operating systems based on this model are workable by enthusiasts, experts, and adventurous hackers is, as you point out, well-proven by NixOS and (perhaps especially, by your reckoning) GuixSD.
Personally, while I think later, 'more pragmatic' takes on functional package management (e.g., Spack) get some things right for the first time in the space, I'm optimistic about how far projects like NixOS and Guix can go even without relaxing any 'purity' constraints. NixOS is blowing up with Linux hobbyists right now because there's already so much it can do without experienced administrator. The Guix package collection is growing incredibly quickly given its relative youth and smaller contributor base— I'd be shocked if it didn't outgrow some of the most popular Linux distros in the next few years.
Like you say, these projects aren't just proofs of concept in a lab or paper somewhere. They have users and contributors right here in the real world, already, and they're growing and improving all the time.
pxc|1 year ago
That whole operating systems based on this model are workable by enthusiasts, experts, and adventurous hackers is, as you point out, well-proven by NixOS and (perhaps especially, by your reckoning) GuixSD.
Personally, while I think later, 'more pragmatic' takes on functional package management (e.g., Spack) get some things right for the first time in the space, I'm optimistic about how far projects like NixOS and Guix can go even without relaxing any 'purity' constraints. NixOS is blowing up with Linux hobbyists right now because there's already so much it can do without experienced administrator. The Guix package collection is growing incredibly quickly given its relative youth and smaller contributor base— I'd be shocked if it didn't outgrow some of the most popular Linux distros in the next few years.
Like you say, these projects aren't just proofs of concept in a lab or paper somewhere. They have users and contributors right here in the real world, already, and they're growing and improving all the time.