nix-ci
Use this when setting up CI for a GitHub repository — offers GitHub Actions or Vira depending on the project
Best use case
nix-ci is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Use this when setting up CI for a GitHub repository — offers GitHub Actions or Vira depending on the project
Teams using nix-ci should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/nix-ci/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How nix-ci Compares
| Feature / Agent | nix-ci | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Use this when setting up CI for a GitHub repository — offers GitHub Actions or Vira depending on the project
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# CI Setup
When the user asks to set up CI, use the **Ask tool** to prompt them to choose:
1. **GitHub public runners** — CI via GitHub Actions
2. **Vira self-hosted** — self-hosted CI using [Vira](https://vira.nixos.asia)
## Option 1: GitHub Actions
Use the [install-nix](https://github.com/nixbuild/nix-quick-install-action) action (avoid DetSys actions) and invoke Vira to build:
```yaml
# .github/workflows/ci.yml
name: CI
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
build:
strategy:
matrix:
os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest]
runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- uses: nixbuild/nix-quick-install-action@v34
- run: nix profile install github:juspay/vira
- run: vira ci
```
## Option 2: Vira Self-Hosted
Vira is already running and pointed at the repo. Create a `vira.hs` file in the repo root to configure the build pipeline.
**Before generating `vira.hs`, you MUST fetch and read https://vira.nixos.asia/config to understand the exact DSL format. Do not guess the syntax.**
### Rules for generating `vira.hs`
- If the repo has a **git remote pointing to GitHub**, set `signoff.enable = True`
- If **multiple `flake.nix` files** exist (e.g., in subdirectories), add all of them to `build.flakes` with appropriate `overrideInputs` settings
- Leave `cache.url = Nothing` with a comment `-- TODO: configure Attic cache URL`
- Use the **Ask tool** to ask the user whether `build.systems` should be set to `["x86_64-linux", "aarch64-darwin"]` for multi-platform builds
After creating `vira.hs`, run `vira ci -b` to verify the configuration.Related Skills
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