But does it need to be official? Wouldn't that at the same time bloat nix even more? Isn't it enough if core people of the community for example build https://github.com/nix-community/nix-user-chroot ?
> In reality the only easy way to get it done is to use additional non-foss software
That is not true at all. You can use a nix docker image, a 5 line nix file and 2 commands to do a very basic CI pipeline almost anywhere.
When looking at the up-front time investment and long-term effects, it’s (counterintuitively) crucial that it be official.
If you’re lucky unofficial things eventually end up being official and work fine, but much more often unofficial things die on the vine. If you’re really unlucky the whole branch rots and the system you built on that branch ends up isolated on the ground.
Apologies for stretching the metaphor, it’s been a long day.
Yes, if you don't cache the build results or manage that cache very crudely. Sorry, I wasn't precise enough.