MacOS "oh no!" error - cleared up after an uninstall

[fwip]

Describe the bug

I think the Nix install script's uninstaller probably misses something, but I'm not sure how helpful this bug report will be for you. I ran the standard sh <(curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install) installation procedure, got the generic "oh no!" error (logs posted below).

I then followed the uninstall instructions here: https://gist.github.com/toonn/94a38643d8fa5c9e06100cdfa81ba163#uninstalling

Then ran the install script again, and nix was successfully installed.

Steps To Reproduce

Not sure how to reproduce. I had experimented in the past with nix installs on my macbook, and likely got my system into an unusual state.

Expected behavior

I expected the Nix installer to properly clean up the leftovers of my old broken Nix installation, and install successfully.

nix-env --version output
After the installation is successful, I see

➜  nix-env --version
nix-env (Nix) 2.6.0

I don't believe nix-env was on my path prior to installation.

Additional context

Log of first install:

Link to Gist

Log of manual uninstall procedure:

projects/futz/nix took 4s
➜  sudo /usr/bin/vim /etc/zshrc

projects/futz/nix took 9s
➜  sudo /usr/bin/vim /etc/bashrc

projects/futz/nix took 7s
➜  sudo /usr/bin/vim /etc/zshrc

projects/futz/nix took 2s
➜  sudo vifs

projects/futz/nix took 5s
➜  cat /etc/synthetic.conf
nix

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo rm /etc/synthetic.conf

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.nix-daemon.plist
/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.nix-daemon.plist: Could not find specified service
Unload failed: 113: Could not find specified service

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.nix-daemon.plist

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.nix-daemon.plistprojects/futz/nix

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.activate-system.plist
/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.activate-system.plist: No such file or directory
Unload failed: 2: No such file or directory

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.activate-system.plist
rm: /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.nixos.activate-system.plist: No such file or directory

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo rm -rf /etc/nix /var/root/.nix-profile /var/root/.nix-defexpr /var/root/.nix-channels ~/.nix-profile ~/.nix-defexpr ~/.nix-channels

projects/futz/nix
➜  sudo dscl . delete /Groups/nixbld

projects/futz/nix
➜  for i in $(seq 1 32); do sudo dscl . -delete /Users/_nixbld$i; done

projects/futz/nix took 3s
➜  sudo diskutil apfs deleteVolume /nix
Started APFS operation
Deleting APFS Volume from its APFS Container
Unmounting disk1s10
Erasing any xART session referenced by 134049EB-94D8-4494-8403-E91387350479
Deleting Volume
Removing any Preboot and Recovery Directories
Finished APFS operation

projects/futz/nix took 3s
➜  sudo rm /etc/bashrc.backup-before-nix /etc/zshrc.backup-before-nix

If it is relevant, my Mac info:

MacOS Monterey (12.2)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

Happy to answer any other questions if you think it'll help. :)

[abathur]

This looks like the same immediate issue as #6053 (notes on the cause in #6053 (comment))

The broader issue (inability to remediate any install, or even install cleanly over a working install) is a common complaint. I've publicly mused on how we might get there in https://discourse.nixos.org/t/anyone-up-for-picking-at-some-nix-onboarding-improvements/13152

[fwip]

Thank you, it does look like the same cause.

[zimbatm]

closing as dup