December 2, 2025
Corn vs code: Nix gets spicy
Nixtml: Static website and blog generator written in Nix
Nix-made blog tool sparks cheers, confusion, and corn jokes
TLDR: Nixtml is a new tool that builds websites using Nix, turning text files into a reproducible blog. The crowd is split: Nix fans cheer the reliability, while others say the language and its “flakes” system feel unintuitive—plus, jokes and “cursed” HTML tricks steal the spotlight.
Nixtml just dropped: a site-and-blog builder made with Nix, the ultra-consistent package/config tool loved by some and feared by many. Think “turn text files into a real website,” but the templates are written like code. The community instantly split into love it vs can’t click with it.
Fans are hyped. One Nix regular says they could “see myself using it,” while another is dreaming up an Emacs (a power-user writing tool) + Nix combo to automate everything. But the pushback is loud: a frustrated commenter admits Nix “just couldn’t… click,” especially after flakes (a newer way Nix manages setups). Translation: some folks adore the precision; others feel like they’re reciting spells.
Aesthetic drama sparked too. The HTML-as-code vibe drew side‑eye: one supporter likes Nixtml yet doesn’t love templates that look like function soup. Meanwhile, a link to a “more cursed” variant, htmnix, had people gawking at Nix syntax bent into HTML tags like it’s performance art. Comic relief arrived with corn: “Not to be confused with Nixtamal,” one joker quipped, dropping a Wikipedia link.
Verdict: Nixtml is clean, reproducible website building for those who grok Nix; for everyone else, it’s wizardry—and the crowd is split between applause, eye-rolls, and tortilla memes.
Key Points
- •Nixtml is a static website/blog generator written in Nix, inspired by Hugo.
- •Configuration uses Nix flakes with inputs (nixpkgs, flake-utils, nixtml) and nixtml.lib.mkWebsite.
- •Content directory markdown files are transformed to HTML; static assets are symlinked into the final build.
- •Collections support grouping, pagination, taxonomies (e.g., tags), and RSS feed generation.
- •Templates can be authored using Nix functions (lib.tags) or normal string templating; a Python http.server app enables local serving.