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blog/001-installing-guix.md

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+# 001 - Installing Guix System
+
+*initially written on November 11th, 2024*
+
+## Launching the Guix Installer
+
+If you followed the instructions of `000` you should now have a USB stick with
+the Guix bootable installer burned to it.  Turn off the computer you wish to
+install Guix to; plug in the USB stick.  Now turn the computer on, it should
+tell you how to open a BIOS/UEFI/boot menu, hold that key, if your computer
+launches like normal turn it off and try again- this time holding that key
+immediately.
+
+> ❗ If no key was shown you can try holding `F10`, `F12`, `Escape`, or `Delete`
+> and if none of those worked than try looking online for information on how to
+> enter the boot menu for your computer or motherboard model.
+
+Once you're in the boot menu there should be an option to select either a "boot
+media" or to set a "boot order".  If you can select a "boot media" then all you
+need to do is select the option most similar to "USB Media", "Removable Media",
+or "USB HDD".  If only setting a "boot order" is an option then you need to move
+the options like those to the top of the list.  Once you have done that there
+should be an option to "Save and Exit".
+
+> ❗ If you have difficulty with this there should be information about how to
+> select a boot media for your specific computer or motherboard model online.
+
+## Installing through the Guix Installer
+
+You should now be on a screen where you're prompted to select a "Locale
+Language", you can navigate this and future screens with the arrow keys on your
+keyboard.  You can also type the first letter of the language of your choice.
+I went with "English" and then press `Enter` to continue.  Next I select my
+"territory for this language" in my case "United States", some languages might
+not have this option.
+
+You're now prompted to select how to install Guix, I will select "Graphical
+install using a terminal based interface"- if you prefer to install manually I
+recommend [this guide by System Crafters.](https://wiki.systemcrafters.net/guix/nonguix-installation-guide/)
+
+I immediately get a red screen with the warning "Devices not supported by free
+software were found on your computer", that's okay, I press `Enter`.  Next, I
+select my timezone, you should know the drill by now: navigate with arrow keys,
+submit with `Enter`.  Same with keyboard layout.
+
+Next I'm prompted to choose a hostname, it doesn't really matter much what you
+pick- but it is the name your computer will interact with networks with.  I
+chose "guixpad", and again submitted with `Enter`.  Then I select "WiFi" to
+provide internet access, I'm told "No wifi detected" but despite the earlier
+warning if I press the `Right Arrow` key to go to "Scan" and press enter my
+WiFi network shows up and I connect to it.  I'm then asked if I wish to enable
+"Substitute server discovery" you're free to read it yourself, but I choose to
+"Disable" it as I don't have a substitute server in my local network.
+
+You should then be prompted to add an root/administrator password.  Next adding
+a user so I press `Enter` and add the user "aidan".  I chose not to change the
+"Real name" or "Home directory", you can again select a password- this time for
+your user.  I press `Enter` on "OK" and continue to selecting a "Desktop
+enviroment", I chose "GNOME" and then pressed the `Right Arrow` button so the
+cursor moved to "OK" and pressed `Enter`.  I chose not to enable any of the next
+options, and again navigated to "OK" and pressed `Enter`.  Again the same for
+"CUPS".
+
+When you have reached the `Partitioning method` screen either select
+"Guided"/"Guided ... with encryption" or "Manual" and read their respective
+sections below.
+
+## Guided Partitioning
+
+You should be given a list of hard drives you can install Guix on, press `Enter`
+on the one you wish to install Guix to.
+
+> ❗ **THIS PROCESS WILL DELETE ALL FILES ON THAT DRIVE** ❗
+
+If asked you probably want a "gpt" partition table.
+
+You are then given the option of seperating the "/home" partition, I chose not
+to and to instead continue with "Everything is one partition".  I am shown the
+partition layout and press `Right Arrow` to navigate to "OK" and press `Enter`.
+
+> 🔐 Encrypted partitioning then prompts you to enter a password, make sure you
+> remember this password.  Forgetting it likely means that all your files would
+> be irrecoverable.  I then agree to format the new partition.
+
+## Manual Partitioning
+
+[TODO]
+
+## Editing the Configuration file
+
+The Guix install generated a configuration file for us based on the options we
+chose, unfortunately this config doesn't include nonguix.  Make the following
+changes to the *Scheme* code:
+
+> **`λ`** Scheme is a functional programming language, and the primary language
+> used in configuring Guix.  Being functional means that most things are written
+> in the form of a function, the same kind of function as `f(x) = x + 3` but
+> usually much more complex in effect.  In Scheme parenthesis(`(` and `)`)
+> denote *nesting* what can be called "lexical depth" or just *depth*.  Each
+> *depth* begins with a function name, followed by the *arguments* for that
+> function.  It’s important in Scheme to be mindful of how deeply nested you are
+> within parentheses- afterall this is what determines what function you're
+> passing *arguments* to.
+>
+> As touched on in `000`: anything following `;;` in a line of Scheme code is a
+> *comment* and not executed as code.
+
+> 🗒️ Lines to add will be green, to remove will be red, other lines should be
+> unchanged, even if they're slightly different on your computer.  Just make
+> sure any changes you make are to the same *depth* I'm referring to.
+
+```diff
+- (use-modules (gnu))
++ (use-modules (gnu)
++              (nongnu packages linux)
++              (nongnu system linux-initrd))
+(use-service-modules cups desktop networking ssh xorg)
+
+(operating-system
++ (kernel linux)
++ (initrd microcode-initrd)
++ (firmware (list linux-firmware))
+  (locale "en_US.utf8")
+  (timezone "Europe/Warsaw")
+  (keyboard-layout (keyboard-layout "us"))
+  (host-name "guixpad")
+
+  ;; The list of user accounts ('root' is implicit).
+  (users (cons* (user-account
+                  (name "aidan")
+                  (comment "Aidan")
+                  (group "users")
+                  (home-directory "/home/aidan")
+                  (supplementary-groups '("wheel" "netdev" "audio" "video")))
+                %base-user-accounts))
+
+  ;; Below is the list of system services. To search for available
+  ;; services, run 'guix system search KEYWORD' in a terminal.
+
+  (services
+   (append (list (service gnome-desktop-service-type)
+                 (set-xorg-configuration
+                  (xorg-configuration (keyboard-layout keyboard-layout))))
+
+           ;; This is the default list of services we
+           ;; are appending to.
+           %desktop-services))
+  (bootloader (bootloader-configuration
+                (bootloader grub-bootloader)
+                ( targets (list "/dev/sda"))
+                (keyboard-layout keyboard-layout)))
+  (swap-devices (list (swap-space
+                        (target (uuid
+                                 "8204b016-5101-4d32-9aba-f4a7adcb9560")))))
+
+  ;; The list of file systems that get "mounted".  The unique
+  ;; file system identifiers there ("UUIDs") can be obtained
+  ;; by running 'blkid' in a terminal.
+  (file-systems (cons* (file-system
+                         (mount-point "/")
+                         (device (uuid
+                                  "0be89db0-5391-44aa-9251-a87adb3ec25b"
+                                  'ext4))
+                         (type "ext4")) %base-file-systems)))
+```
+
+Basically what we've done there is import nonguix and install non-free firmware
+and a non-free Linux kernel into our system.
+
+There are also other changes that you
+
+## Installing Guix System
+
+**DO NOT PRESS OK**
+
+Instead press the `Control`, `ALT` and `F3` keys simulatenously
+
+Press `Enter` to go to a terminal screen.
+
+From there you can type:
+
+`$ herd start cow-store /mnt`
+
+And finally:
+
+`$ guix system init /mnt/etc/config.scm /mnt`