---
title: "Example flow"
description: "Example flow for preparing a Linux source, reconciling packages, and activating Home Manager."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://outfitting.jfa.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Example flow

This flow assumes the `workstation` profile declares an `apt` manifest and may declare a Nix flake. Replace `workstation` with the profile selected in `config.toml` or the BYOR source. For a pacman profile, select `pacman` instead of `apt`.

## Provision a Linux profile

### Prepare and refresh the source

```sh
outfitting-manager init --profile workstation
```

`init` prepares local state, refreshes a configured remote source by default, and validates the selected profile. It does not change installed packages or activate Home Manager.

### Inspect the declared native packages

```sh
outfitting-manager diff --profile workstation --manager apt
```

`diff` is read-only. It reports differences with a nonzero exit status, so review its output before continuing. The Linux command guide explains how to compare a pacman profile instead.

### Reconcile native packages

```sh
outfitting-manager apply --profile workstation --package-manager apt --no-refresh
```

`apply` reuses the source snapshot refreshed by `init`, installs missing packages from the selected profile's apt manifest, and prompts before making changes. Package-manager downloads can still use the network; `--no-refresh` only avoids fetching a newer BYOR source.

### Activate Home Manager when configured

```sh
outfitting-manager nix switch --profile workstation --no-refresh --if-configured
```

If the profile has a Nix flake, `switch` builds and activates its Home Manager configuration as the current user. `--if-configured` skips the action when that profile has no Nix declaration. Successful Nix actions publish the flake lock unless `--no-push` is supplied.

For later maintenance, [`update`](/docs/cli/update/) upgrades installed native packages, while `nix switch` separately activates Home Manager. Linux has no combined `update all` command. See [Linux commands](/docs/platforms/linux/commands/) for the behavior and options of each Linux operation.

Source: https://outfitting.jfa.dev/docs/platforms/linux/example-flow/index.mdx