Re:NixOS for the Impatient
by rgoulter on Saturday June 10, 2023 @12:10AM
(#36267517)
The term 'reproducible' in 'reproducible build' (https://reproducible-builds.org/) conveys "bit-for-bit identical output". -- The benefit of that is security; others can compile the same sources and check that they get the same binaries.
But more generally, 'reproduce' just means 'create the same thing again'.
Nix uses "reproducible" in a more general sense: you provide the same inputs, and you'll get a program which behaves the same way, regardless of whether you compiled from source or downloaded binaries from a cache.
IMO, I think "reproducible build" is enough to unambiguously refer to the former. But, if you can think of a nicer word for "you get the same behavior from the same inputs" than "reproducible", it would be worth suggesting.
But more generally, 'reproduce' just means 'create the same thing again'.
Nix uses "reproducible" in a more general sense: you provide the same inputs, and you'll get a program which behaves the same way, regardless of whether you compiled from source or downloaded binaries from a cache.
IMO, I think "reproducible build" is enough to unambiguously refer to the former. But, if you can think of a nicer word for "you get the same behavior from the same inputs" than "reproducible", it would be worth suggesting.