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GNU Guix

GNU Guix is a free functional package manager for installing and managing software on Linux, and it can also install the complete GNU operating system.

Place
#10 of 24
Score
6.0
GNU Guix's website

What GNU Guix is

GNU Guix is a free functional package manager for installing and managing software on Linux, and it can also install the complete GNU operating system. Packages are built in isolated environments with declared inputs. Multiple profiles let users keep separate software environments, while declarative manifests can identify the Guix commit used to create a profile for later recreation. Package changes can be reversed by switching to an earlier profile generation. The guix shell command provides augmented, pure, or containerized environments. Guix supports runtime management, dependency locking, configuration as code, and containers, but not shell integration. It can be installed on running GNU/Linux systems, including Debian-derived distributions and openSUSE. Listed system images cover AArch64, i686, and x86_64 Linux, with an AArch64 binary archive. Security updates use guix pull && guix upgrade. Builds are usually bit-for-bit reproducible, and substitutes are signed.

Good

  • Free software with Linux support
  • Reproducible package builds
  • Profiles support separate environments
  • Rollback switches to earlier generations
  • Containerized shells are available

Watch out

  • Shell integration is not supported
  • Linux-focused platform availability
  • HPC administrators may control critical system software
  • Installation requires GNU/Linux environment

Who it suits

It suits Linux users who want reproducible package management, isolated environments, and declarative configuration. It also fits users managing complete GNU systems or multiple software profiles.

Verdict

GNU Guix provides package installation, profiles, rollbacks, and reproducible builds in one Linux-oriented system. Its declarative and container features suit users prioritizing controlled environments.

Plans and prices

From GNU Guix's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
GNU GuixFreeFree software · installable on GNU/Linux or as a complete GNU system

The facts

Each one read from GNU Guix's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Build verification
Guix package builds are usually bit-for-bit reproducible, and users can challenge substitute providers by building locally.checked 30 Sep 2026
Functional builds
Guix builds packages in isolated environments with declared inputs.checked 30 Sep 2026
Isolation
Guix can create augmented, pure, or containerized software environments with guix shell.checked 30 Sep 2026
Notable limit
The Guix Cookbook notes that security-critical software such as the operating system kernel and system services may remain under system administrators’ control on an HPC cluster.checked 30 Sep 2026
Profiles
Users can maintain multiple package profiles for separate software environments.checked 30 Sep 2026
Reproducibility
Declarative manifests can specify a profile by the Guix commit used to create it, allowing that profile to be recreated.checked 30 Sep 2026
Rollback
Package operations can be rolled back by switching to an earlier profile generation.checked 30 Sep 2026
Security updates
The Guix Cookbook says users receive security updates by running guix pull && guix upgrade.checked 30 Sep 2026
Signed substitutes
The Bordeaux build farm says its substitutes are signed and identifies Bordeaux as a default substitute server in recent Guix versions.checked 30 Sep 2026
Support
The Guix Data Service README directs users needing help to the #guix IRC channel or [email protected].checked 30 Sep 2026
Supported systems
The GNU FTP archive lists Guix 1.5.0 binaries for AArch64 Linux and system installation images for AArch64, i686, and x86_64 Linux.checked 30 Sep 2026
System option
Guix can also be used to install the complete GNU operating system.checked 30 Sep 2026
What it does
GNU Guix is a functional package manager for installing and managing software.checked 30 Sep 2026

The company

Founded
2012checked 28 Sep 2026

Money

Free plan
Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026

Where it runs

Linux distribution installation
The manual describes installing Guix on a running GNU/Linux distribution, including Debian-derived systems and openSUSE.checked 30 Sep 2026

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