Nixpkgs Package Category Hierarchy (Continued) and Naming Conventions

- `development/tools/parsing` (e.g. `bison`, `flex`) - **If it’s a _build manager_:** - `development/tools/build-managers` (e.g. `gnumake`) - **If it’s a _language server_:** - `development/tools/language-servers` (e.g. `ccls` or `nil`) - **Else:** - `development/tools/misc` (e.g. `binutils`) - **Else:** - `development/misc` **If it’s a (set of) _tool(s)_:** (A tool is a relatively small program, especially one intended to be used non-interactively.) - **If it’s for _networking_:** - `tools/networking` (e.g. `wget`) - **If it’s for _text processing_:** - `tools/text` (e.g. `diffutils`) - **If it’s a _system utility_, i.e., something related or essential to the operation of a system:** - `tools/system` (e.g. `cron`) - **If it’s an _archiver_ (which may include a compression function):** - `tools/archivers` (e.g. `zip`, `tar`) - **If it’s a _compression_ program:** - `tools/compression` (e.g. `gzip`, `bzip2`) - **If it’s a _security_-related program:** - `tools/security` (e.g. `nmap`, `gnupg`) - **Else:** - `tools/misc` **If it’s a _shell_:** - `shells` (e.g. `bash`) **If it’s a _server_:** - **If it’s a web server:** - `servers/http` (e.g. `apache-httpd`) - **If it’s an implementation of the X Windowing System:** - `servers/x11` (e.g. `xorg` — this includes the client libraries and programs) - **Else:** - `servers/misc` **If it’s a _desktop environment_:** - `desktops` (e.g. `kde`, `gnome`, `enlightenment`) **If it’s a _window manager_:** - `applications/window-managers` (e.g. `awesome`, `stumpwm`) **If it’s an _application_:** A (typically large) program with a distinct user interface, primarily used interactively. - **If it’s a _version management system_:** - `applications/version-management` (e.g. `subversion`) - **If it’s a _terminal emulator_:** - `applications/terminal-emulators` (e.g. `alacritty` or `rxvt` or `termite`) - **If it’s a _file manager_:** - `applications/file-managers` (e.g. `mc` or `ranger` or `pcmanfm`) - **If it’s for _video playback / editing_:** - `applications/video` (e.g. `vlc`) - **If it’s for _graphics viewing / editing_:** - `applications/graphics` (e.g. `gimp`) - **If it’s for _networking_:** - **If it’s a _mailreader_:** - `applications/networking/mailreaders` (e.g. `thunderbird`) - **If it’s a _newsreader_:** - `applications/networking/newsreaders` (e.g. `pan`) - **If it’s a _web browser_:** - `applications/networking/browsers` (e.g. `firefox`) - **Else:** - `applications/networking/misc` - **Else:** - `applications/misc` **If it’s _data_ (i.e., does not have a straight-forward executable semantics):** - **If it’s a _font_:** - `data/fonts` - **If it’s an _icon theme_:** - `data/icons` - **If it’s related to _SGML/XML processing_:** - **If it’s an _XML DTD_:** - `data/sgml+xml/schemas/xml-dtd` (e.g. `docbook`) - **If it’s an _XSLT stylesheet_:** (Okay, these are executable...) - `data/sgml+xml/stylesheets/xslt` (e.g. `docbook-xsl`) - **If it’s a _theme_ for a _desktop environment_, a _window manager_ or a _display manager_:** - `data/themes` **If it’s a _game_:** - `games` **Else:** - `misc` </details> # Conventions The key words _must_, _must not_, _required_, _shall_, _shall not_, _should_, _should not_, _recommended_, _may_, and _optional_ in this section are to be interpreted as described in [RFC 2119](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2119). Only _emphasized_ words are to be interpreted in this way. ## Package naming In Nixpkgs, there are generally three different names associated with a package: - The `pname` attribute of the derivation. This is what most users see, in particular when using `nix-env`. - The attribute name used for the package in the [`pkgs/by-name` structure](./by-name/README.md) or in [`all-packages.nix`](./top-level/all-packages.nix), and when passing it as a dependency in recipes. - The filename for (the directory containing) the Nix expression.

This chunk continues the detailed categorization guidelines for Nixpkgs packages within the older directory hierarchy, covering classifications for security tools, shells, various servers (HTTP, X11, generic), desktop environments, window managers, and a wide range of applications (e.g., version management, terminal emulators, file managers, video, graphics, and networking subcategories like mailreaders and web browsers). It also outlines categories for non-executable data (fonts, icons, SGML/XML schemas, themes), games, and a general 'misc' category. Following these guidelines, the document introduces 'Conventions' by referencing RFC 2119 for keyword interpretation and explains the three distinct names associated with a Nixpkgs package: the `pname` attribute (user-facing), the attribute name used in `pkgs/by-name` or `all-packages.nix` (for dependencies), and the filename of its Nix expression.