old version of nix no longer functional when adding package #2692
Description
What happened?
I have been using devbox version 0.14.0, but have also tried this with devbox 0.16.0. A existing devbox.json and an existing lock file work fine, but attempting to add or update any package will break when using nix 2.13.5. I'm guessing this was a change in nixhub as everything was working without any changes on my local machine.
I understand nix 2.13.5 is old, but I can't update my understanding is that devbox still supports that version of nix.
Steps to reproduce
- Install nix 2.13.5
- Install devbox
- devbox add anything
Command
add
devbox.json
Devbox version
0.16.0
Nix version
2.13.5
What system does this bug occur on?
Linux (x86-64)
Debug logs
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.421-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:125 msg="searching for config file (including parent directories)" path=.
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:108 msg="trying config file" path=.
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=/home/devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=/devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=ERROR source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:135 msg="config file search error" err="no devbox config file found" dur=156.53µs
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=ERROR source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/run.go:82 msg="failed to open devbox" err="no devbox.json found in the current directory (or any parent directories). Did you run `devbox init` yet?\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/usererr.New\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/usererr/usererr.go:30\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devbox.Open\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devbox/devbox.go:95\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.listScripts\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/run.go:75\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.runCmd\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/run.go:69\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.globalCmd\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/global.go:37\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.RootCmd\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/root.go:65\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.Execute\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/root.go:108\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.Main\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/root.go:132\nmain.main\n\t./main.go:11\nruntime.main\n\truntime/proc.go:272\nruntime.goexit\n\truntime/asm_amd64.s:1700"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:125 msg="searching for config file (including parent directories)" path=.
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:108 msg="trying config file" path=.
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=/home/devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=/devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=ERROR source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:135 msg="config file search error" err="no devbox config file found" dur=30.378µs
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=ERROR source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/run.go:82 msg="failed to open devbox" err="no devbox.json found in the current directory (or any parent directories). Did you run `devbox init` yet?\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/usererr.New\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/usererr/usererr.go:30\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devbox.Open\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devbox/devbox.go:95\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.listScripts\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/run.go:75\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.runCmd\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/run.go:69\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.RootCmd\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/root.go:74\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.Execute\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/root.go:108\ngo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli.Main\n\tgo.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/root.go:132\nmain.main\n\t./main.go:11\nruntime.main\n\truntime/proc.go:272\nruntime.goexit\n\truntime/asm_amd64.s:1700"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.422-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/nix/nix.go:143 msg="nix command starting" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' --version --debug"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.441-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/nix/nix.go:143 msg="nix command exited" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' --version --debug" cmd.path=/home/coder/.nix-profile/bin/nix cmd.pid=52716 cmd.code=0 cmd.dur=18.552664ms
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.441-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:90 msg="searching for config file (excluding parent directories)" path=/home/coder/.local/share/devbox/global/default
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.441-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=/home/coder/.local/share/devbox/global/default/devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.441-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:95 msg="config file found" path=/home/coder/.local/share/devbox/global/default/devbox.json dur=205.492µs
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.441-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devpkg/package.go:204 msg="package doesn't need patching" pkg=yadm mode=auto
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.441-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devpkg/package.go:204 msg="package doesn't need patching" pkg=yadm mode=auto
Info: Adding package "yadm@latest" to devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.541-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devpkg/package.go:204 msg="package doesn't need patching" pkg=yadm mode=auto
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.541-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devpkg/package.go:204 msg="package doesn't need patching" pkg=yadm mode=auto
time=2025-09-03T08:05:01.541-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/store.go:40 msg="nix command starting" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' path-info 'github:NixOS/nixpkgs/648f70160c03151bc2121d179291337ad6bc564b#yadm' --json --impure"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.196-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/store.go:40 msg="nix command exited" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' path-info 'github:NixOS/nixpkgs/648f70160c03151bc2121d179291337ad6bc564b#yadm' --json --impure" cmd.path=/home/coder/.nix-profile/bin/nix cmd.pid=52722 cmd.code=0 cmd.dur=655.233295ms
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.196-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/store.go:61 msg="nix command starting" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' path-info --offline --json /nix/store/66rvcl809yvv52c8wgz5k7gnnlsibzk4-yadm-3.3.0"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.217-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/store.go:61 msg="nix command exited" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' path-info --offline --json /nix/store/66rvcl809yvv52c8wgz5k7gnnlsibzk4-yadm-3.3.0" cmd.path=/home/coder/.nix-profile/bin/nix cmd.pid=52725 cmd.code=0 cmd.dur=20.395316ms
Info: Installing the following packages to the nix store: yadm@latest
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.217-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/build.go:50 msg="nix command starting" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' build --impure --no-link 'github:NixOS/nixpkgs/648f70160c03151bc2121d179291337ad6bc564b#yadm'"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.883-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/build.go:50 msg="nix command exited" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' build --impure --no-link 'github:NixOS/nixpkgs/648f70160c03151bc2121d179291337ad6bc564b#yadm'" cmd.path=/home/coder/.nix-profile/bin/nix cmd.pid=52728 cmd.code=0 cmd.dur=665.850227ms
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.893-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devpkg/package.go:204 msg="package doesn't need patching" pkg=yadm mode=auto
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.893-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devpkg/package.go:204 msg="package doesn't need patching" pkg=yadm mode=auto
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.893-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/flake.go:20 msg="nix command starting" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' flake metadata --json github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixpkgs-unstable"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.916-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/flake.go:20 msg="nix command exited" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' flake metadata --json github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixpkgs-unstable" cmd.path=/home/coder/.nix-profile/bin/nix cmd.pid=52737 cmd.code=0 cmd.dur=22.55775ms
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.916-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/nix.go:83 msg="running print-dev-env cmd" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' print-dev-env --json path:/home/coder/.local/share/devbox/global/default/.devbox/gen/flake"
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.917-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/nix.go:84 msg="nix command starting" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' print-dev-env --json path:/home/coder/.local/share/devbox/global/default/.devbox/gen/flake"
⣾ Computing the Devbox environment...
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/nix/nix.go:84 msg="nix command exited" cmd.args="nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' print-dev-env --json path:/home/coder/.loc
✓ Computed the Devbox environment.
Error: There was an error installing nix packages
source: nix: command error: nix --extra-experimental-features ca-derivations --option experimental-features 'nix-command flakes fetch-closure' print-dev-env --json path:/home/coder/.local/share/devbox/global/default/.devbox/gen/flake: evaluation aborted with the following error message: ': exit code 1
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=ERROR source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/midcobra/debug.go:68 msg="command error" stderr="error: evaluation aborted with the following error message: '\n This version of Nixpkgs requires an implementation of Nix with the following features:\n - `builtins.nixVersion` reports at least 2.18\n\n Your are evaluating with Nix 2.13.5, please upgrade:\n\n - If you are running NixOS, `nixos-rebuild' can be used to upgrade your system.\n\n - Alternatively, with Nix > 2.0 `nix upgrade-nix' can be used to imperatively\n upgrade Nix. You may use `nix-env --version' to check which version you have.\n\n - If you installed Nix using the install script (https://nixos.org/nix/install),\n it is safe to upgrade by running it again:\n\n curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh\n\n For more information, please see the NixOS release notes at\n https://nixos.org/nixos/manual or locally at\n /nix/store/mfvg1blms6k3rfkgxr3q17cyswv9p3z3-source/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes.\n\n If you need further help, see https://nixos.org/nixos/support.html\n '\n(use '--show-trace' to show detailed location information)\n" execid=de2fb41f622c45da8ba478c930d4d36b stack=<nil>
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=ERROR source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/boxcli/midcobra/debug.go:70 msg="command error" execid=de2fb41f622c45da8ba478c930d4d36b stack=<nil>
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:125 msg="searching for config file (including parent directories)" path=.
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:108 msg="trying config file" path=.
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=/home/devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=DEBUG source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:146 msg="trying config file" path=/devbox.json
time=2025-09-03T08:05:02.942-04:00 level=ERROR source=go.jetpack.io/devbox/internal/devconfig/config.go:135 msg="config file search error" err="no devbox config file found" dur=71.341µs```