error: path '/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels' is a symlink

[samuelmarquis]

New to NixOS, fresh (modulo some fiddling to get sway working) install. I tried adding nix-index as a package, but when I run the nix-index command I get this (after a few minutes on querying packages):

+ querying available packages
error: querying available packages failed
caused by: nix-env failed with error: nix-env failed with exit status: 1:
error:
       … while querying the derivation named 'nixpkgs-manual'

       … while calling the 'getAttr' builtin
         at <nix/derivation-internal.nix>:44:19:
           43|       value = commonAttrs // {
           44|         outPath = builtins.getAttr outputName strict;
             |                   ^
           45|         drvPath = strict.drvPath;

       … while calling the 'derivationStrict' builtin
         at <nix/derivation-internal.nix>:34:12:
           33|
           34|   strict = derivationStrict drvAttrs;
             |            ^
           35|

       (stack trace truncated; use '--show-trace' to show the full, detailed trace)

       error: path '/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels' is a symlink

Switched from adding as a package to using programs.nix-index.enable = true, but the issue persists.

Google turned up absolutely nothing, so I'm not sure what to make of this.

Here's the output with --show-trace:

error:
       … while querying the derivation named 'nixpkgs-manual'

       … while calling the 'getAttr' builtin
         at <nix/derivation-internal.nix>:44:19:
           43|       value = commonAttrs // {
           44|         outPath = builtins.getAttr outputName strict;
             |                   ^
           45|         drvPath = strict.drvPath;

       … while calling the 'derivationStrict' builtin
         at <nix/derivation-internal.nix>:34:12:
           33|
           34|   strict = derivationStrict drvAttrs;
             |            ^
           35|

       … while evaluating derivation 'nixpkgs-manual'
         whose name attribute is located at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix:1:12605

       … while evaluating attribute 'buildPhase' of derivation 'nixpkgs-manual'
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/doc/doc-support/package.nix:1:987:
       … while calling the 'getAttr' builtin
         at <nix/derivation-internal.nix>:44:19:
           43|       value = commonAttrs // {
           44|         outPath = builtins.getAttr outputName strict;
             |                   ^
           45|         drvPath = strict.drvPath;

       … while calling the 'derivationStrict' builtin
         at <nix/derivation-internal.nix>:34:12:
           33|
           34|   strict = derivationStrict drvAttrs;
             |            ^
           35|

       … while evaluating derivation 'nixpkgs-lib-docs'
         whose name attribute is located at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix:1:12605

       … while evaluating attribute 'src' of derivation 'nixpkgs-lib-docs'
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/doc/doc-support/lib-function-docs.nix:1:2062:
       … from call site
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/doc/doc-support/lib-function-docs.nix:1:2068:
       … while calling 'toSource'
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/default.nix:1:11946:
       … while evaluating a branch condition
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/default.nix:1:13320:
       … in the left operand of the AND (&&) operator
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/default.nix:1:13360:
       … in the argument of the not operator
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/default.nix:1:13324:
       … from call site
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/default.nix:1:12160:
       … while calling '_coerce'
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/internal.nix:1:4147:
       … from call site
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/internal.nix:1:6089:
       … while calling '_singleton'
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/internal.nix:1:7685:
       … while evaluating a branch condition
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/internal.nix:1:7738:
       … while calling the 'readFileType' builtin
         at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/fileset/internal.nix:1:7712:
       error: path '/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels' is a symlink

To be clear though: I'm not sure if this is a rtfm moment. I'm following instructions from a disparate batch of sources trying to figure out how to get a library so that I can build something, nix-index was recommended, now I'm here and somewhat baffled. Maybe I shouldn't be here? But I'm confused either way. Here's my configuration.nix, let me know if I'm doing anything stupid

[samuelmarquis]

Although I'm not certain, this seemed to fix the issue? Leaving it open in case anyone else runs into a stranger variant, or if it re-emerges.

[sigmonsays]

This is still an issue for me on a fresh install using the script. On ubuntu, using multi-user install of nix.

Stuck atm...

[acovaci]

Same issue on a fresh install of nix multi-user on MacOS done just now. The suggested fix by @samuelmarquis did not work. It also seems that $NIX_PATH isn't set either.