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diff --git a/doc/manual/glossary.xml b/doc/manual/glossary.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..2c4f55c7e7f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/manual/glossary.xml @@ -0,0 +1,79 @@ +<appendix><title>Glossary</title> + +<glosslist> + + +<glossentry><glossterm>derivation</glossterm> + + <glossdef><para>A description of a build action. The result of a + derivation is a store object.</para></glossdef> + +</glossentry> + + +<glossentry><glossterm>store</glossterm> + + <glossdef><para>The location in the file system where store objects + live. Typically <filename>/nix/store</filename>.</para></glossdef> + +</glossentry> + + +<glossentry><glossterm>store path</glossterm> + + <glossdef><para>The location in the file system of a store object, + i.e., an immediate child of the Nix store + directory.</para></glossdef> + +</glossentry> + + +<glossentry><glossterm>store object</glossterm> + + <glossdef><para>A file that is an immediate child of the Nix store + directory. These can be regular files, but also entire directory + trees. Store objects can be sources (objects copied from outside of + the store), derivation outputs (objects produced by running a build + action), or derivations (files describing a build + action).</para></glossdef> + +</glossentry> + + +<glossentry><glossterm>substitute</glossterm> + + <glossdef><para>A substitute is a command invocation stored in the + Nix database that describes how to build a store object, bypassing + normal the build mechanism (i.e., derivations). Typically, the + substitute builds the store object by downloading a pre-built + version of the store object from some server.</para></glossdef> + +</glossentry> + + +<glossentry><glossterm>purity</glossterm> + + <glossdef><para>The assumption that equal Nix derivations when run + always produce the same output. This cannot be guaranteed in + general (e.g., a builder can rely on external inputs such as the + network or the system time) but the Nix model assumes + it.</para></glossdef> + +</glossentry> + + +<glossentry><glossterm>Nix expression</glossterm> + + <glossdef><para>A high-level description of software components and + compositions thereof. Deploying software using Nix entails writing + Nix expressions for your components. Nix expressions are translated + to derivations that are stored in the Nix store. These derivations + can then be built.</para></glossdef> + +</glossentry> + + +</glosslist> + + +</appendix> \ No newline at end of file |