Guixbased

Guixbased refers to operating systems, software distributions, or configurations that are primarily built upon or heavily utilize the GNU Guix package manager. Guix is a transactional package manager and system configuration tool that uses a functional approach, meaning that packages and system configurations are treated as immutable values. This functional nature provides significant benefits such as reliable and reproducible builds, easy rollbacks, and the ability to manage multiple versions of software simultaneously without conflicts.

Systems described as "Guixbased" often leverage Guix not only for managing user applications but also for managing the entire operating system. This includes bootstrapping the system, managing its services, and defining its kernel. This holistic approach to system management, often referred to as "Guix System," aims to provide a highly declarative and reproducible operating system environment.

The core principles behind Guix-based systems include transparency, reproducibility, and user freedom. By treating system components as functional data, Guix-based environments can offer a high degree of control and understanding over how the system is assembled and how it operates. This makes them attractive to users and developers who prioritize these qualities, such as those in scientific computing, reproducible research, or for building custom, reliable server environments. While Guix itself is the package manager, "Guixbased" is a broader term encompassing the ecosystem and philosophy that arises from its use.