nix-store
manages the Nix store
TLDR
Query package dependencies
$ nix-store -q --references [/nix/store/...path]
Query reverse dependencies$ nix-store -q --referrers [/nix/store/...path]
Show dependency tree$ nix-store -q --tree [/nix/store/...path]
Garbage collect$ nix-store --gc
Optimize store$ nix-store --optimise
Verify store integrity$ nix-store --verify --check-contents
SYNOPSIS
nix-store operation [options] [paths...]
DESCRIPTION
nix-store manages the Nix store (/nix/store). It handles garbage collection, optimization, queries, and store maintenance operations.
The Nix store contains all packages and their dependencies as immutable paths.
PARAMETERS
-q, --query
Query mode.--gc
Garbage collect.--optimise
Deduplicate store.--verify
Verify store integrity.--references
Show dependencies.--referrers
Show reverse dependencies.--tree
Show dependency tree.--delete
Delete paths.
STORE LAYOUT
$ /nix/store/
├── hash-name/ # Package paths
├── hash-name.drv # Derivations
└── .links/ # Hard link pool
├── hash-name/ # Package paths
├── hash-name.drv # Derivations
└── .links/ # Hard link pool
CAVEATS
Don't manually modify /nix/store. Garbage collection only removes unreferenced paths. Optimization uses hard links.
HISTORY
nix-store is a core Nix tool, providing low-level access to the Nix store since the project's inception.
SEE ALSO
nix-env(1), nix-build(1), nix-collect-garbage(1)