I ended the previous post with a simple declarative config for NixOS-based VM. Now it’s time to start customizing it.

Normally, a system boots into some kind of login prompt, which could be a simple text interface or a fancy graphical one. For my project, skipping the login step makes the most sense. The system should directly boot into the custom launcher, skipping the authorization process (I might revisit this later to provide user profiles).

In my previous post I mentioned the idea of turning NixOS into a minimal retro gaming console. The system should boot straight into a simple menu instead of a traditional desktop. From there, the user can configure the network, pair new gamepads, adjust audio settings and finally launch emulators.

I’ll stick with a simple design, as the target hardware probably won’t be very powerful. I will choose one of the thin clients that I have in my collection.