nix-serve
nix-serve is a standalone server that makes a Nix store available as a remote binary cache.
What nix-serve is
nix-serve is a standalone server that makes a Nix store available as a remote binary cache. Other Nix installations can use it as a substituter by passing the server URL with `--substituters`. The project’s usage instructions start the server with `nix run github:edolstra/nix-serve`; the example serves on localhost port 5000, and `nix store ping --store http://localhost:5000` checks that it is reachable. Those instructions assume a flake-enabled version of Nix. The README also documents signing the cache with a generated key pair and the `NIX_SECRET_KEY_FILE` environment variable, then verifying served store paths with `nix verify` and a trusted public key. nix-serve uses the Starman web server, and an access-log flag is shown as an example of an additional server option. It is free and open source under the LGPL-2.1 license, for Linux and self-hosted use. The repository is under the GitHub account edolstra, whose owner is Eelco Dolstra.
Good
- Free and open source under LGPL-2.1.
- Other Nix installations can use its cache.
- Documents cache signing and verification.
- Runs as a standalone server.
Watch out
- The instructions assume flake-enabled Nix.
- Linux users must self-host the server.
- No pre-built Linux release is listed.
Who it suits
It suits Nix users who want to run a self-hosted binary cache for other Nix installations. Users need a flake-enabled version of Nix for the documented usage instructions.
Verdict
nix-serve provides a focused way to serve a Nix store as a binary cache. Its documented setup assumes flake-enabled Nix and a self-hosted deployment.
Plans and prices
From nix-serve's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| nix-serve | Free | Standalone Nix binary cache server · LGPL-2.1 license |
The facts
Each one read from nix-serve's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access logging
- The README gives `--access-log /dev/stderr` as an example Starman flag.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Cache check
- The README shows checking the server with `nix store ping --store http://localhost:5000`.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Cache integration
- Other Nix installations can use the cache by passing its URL to `--substituters`.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Cache signing
- The README documents signing the binary cache using a generated key pair and the `NIX_SECRET_KEY_FILE` environment variable.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Check server
- The README shows checking the server with `nix store ping --store http://localhost:5000`.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The README describes running nix-serve locally as a standalone binary cache server.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository lists the project under the LGPL-2.1 license.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The repository owner is Eelco Dolstra, whose GitHub profile lists Utrecht, Netherlands.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Nix integration
- The README says to pass the server URL to Nix with `--substituters` to use the cache.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Nix requirement
- The usage instructions assume a flake-enabled version of Nix.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Publisher
- The repository is under the GitHub account edolstra.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- nix-serve serves a Nix store as a binary cache that other Nix installations can use as a substituter.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The usage instructions assume a flake-enabled version of Nix.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Run
- The README shows starting it with `nix run github:edolstra/nix-serve`, serving on localhost port 5000.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Signature verification
- The README shows verifying served store paths with `nix verify` and the cache's trusted public key.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Signing
- The README explains how to sign the binary cache using a generated key pair and `NIX_SECRET_KEY_FILE`.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Standalone server
- The project describes nix-serve as a standalone Nix binary cache server.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Start command
- The README shows starting the server with `nix run github:edolstra/nix-serve`, serving on localhost port 5000.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Web server
- nix-serve uses the Starman web server and accepts additional Starman flags.checked 9 Oct 2026
