Replace /homeless-shelter with a more neutral path

[katrinafyi]

I think that the default home path, /homeless-shelter, should be replaced with a more neutral path. Some suggestions would be /nowhere or /nonexistent, matching conventions for HOME of the nobody user.

The reason for this change is the global crisis of housing affordability. I do not think that having "homeless-shelter" so prominently featured is a desirable thing to have.

As a secondary benefit, a path like /nonexistent is also more obvious to understand; it is a path that does not exist. To clarify that it is a non-existing home folder, we could use /nonexistent-home. With /homeless-shelter, one has to think to understand what the meaning of /homeless-shelter would be (and such thinking brings up thoughts of the very real global issues).

I expect this could be changed without too much difficulty. The string appears to be defined in only a handful of places in nix: https://github.com/search?q=repo%3ANixOS%2Fnix+%22homeless-shelter%22&type=code

In nixpkgs, I've done a simple grep of occurences of this string. Most of these are in comments or using it as a constant value, but there are some instances where a variable is checked against this string. These will need to be changed to either check for both the new and old paths, or do a more robust check (EACCESS, maybe).

$ git show | cat                    
commit 3d41404dfd83f56844b2a16fcd3d5c4420456948
Merge: e70f156987ac c25c2933a7a8
Author: Martin Weinelt <[email protected]>
Date:   Fri Feb 7 01:38:50 2025 +0100

    nss_latest: 3.107 -> 3.108 (#379643)
$ grep -R '/homeless-shelter' . --context=1
--
./nixos/lib/make-disk-image.nix-        # clobbers $HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels/nixos This would cause a  folder
./nixos/lib/make-disk-image.nix:        # /homeless-shelter to show up in the final image which  in turn breaks
./nixos/lib/make-disk-image.nix-        # nix builds in the target image if sandboxing is turned off (through
--
./nixos/modules/services/misc/felix.nix-      description = "OSGi user";
./nixos/modules/services/misc/felix.nix:      home = "/homeless-shelter";
./nixos/modules/services/misc/felix.nix-    };
--
./nixos/modules/services/networking/ircd-hybrid/control.in-     cd /home/ircd
./nixos/modules/services/networking/ircd-hybrid/control.in:    env - HOME=/homeless-shelter $extraEnv \
./nixos/modules/services/networking/ircd-hybrid/control.in-        @su@/bin/su ircd --shell=/bin/sh -c ' @ircdHybrid@/bin/ircd -configfile @out@/conf/ircd.conf </dev/null -logfile /home/ircd/ircd.log' 2>&1 >/var/log/ircd-hybrid.out
--
./nixos/modules/services/networking/vsftpd.nix-            else
./nixos/modules/services/networking/vsftpd.nix:              "/homeless-shelter";
./nixos/modules/services/networking/vsftpd.nix-        };
--
./nixos/modules/services/web-servers/tomcat.nix-      description = "Tomcat user";
./nixos/modules/services/web-servers/tomcat.nix:      home = "/homeless-shelter";
./nixos/modules/services/web-servers/tomcat.nix-      group = "tomcat";
--
./nixos/tests/qemu-vm-external-disk-image.nix-      # Make sure systemd boot didn't clobber this
./nixos/tests/qemu-vm-external-disk-image.nix:      machine.succeed("[ ! -e /homeless-shelter ]")
./nixos/tests/qemu-vm-external-disk-image.nix-    '';
--
./pkgs/applications/networking/cloudflared/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
./pkgs/applications/networking/cloudflared/default.nix:    # Workaround for: sshgen_test.go:74: mkdir /homeless-shelter/.cloudflared: no such file or directory
./pkgs/applications/networking/cloudflared/default.nix-    export HOME="$(mktemp -d)"
--
./pkgs/applications/networking/gns3/server.nix-  # Otherwise tests will fail to create directory
./pkgs/applications/networking/gns3/server.nix:  # Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/applications/networking/gns3/server.nix-  preCheck = ''
--
./pkgs/applications/networking/protonvpn-gui/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
./pkgs/applications/networking/protonvpn-gui/default.nix:    # Needed for Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/applications/networking/protonvpn-gui/default.nix-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/applications/version-management/gitlab/remove-hardcoded-locations.patch--  '/home/' + Settings.gitlab['user']
./pkgs/applications/version-management/gitlab/remove-hardcoded-locations.patch:+  '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/applications/version-management/gitlab/remove-hardcoded-locations.patch- end
--
./pkgs/applications/video/jellyfin-mpv-shim/default.nix-  # override $HOME directory:
./pkgs/applications/video/jellyfin-mpv-shim/default.nix:  #   error: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/applications/video/jellyfin-mpv-shim/default.nix-  #
--
./pkgs/applications/virtualization/lima/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
./pkgs/applications/virtualization/lima/default.nix:    # Workaround for: could not create "/homeless-shelter/.lima/_config" directory: mkdir /homeless-shelter: permission denied
./pkgs/applications/virtualization/lima/default.nix-    export LIMA_HOME="$(mktemp -d)"
--
./pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix-    drv = pkgs.mkShell { };
./pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix:    homeDirectory = "/homeless-shelter";
./pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix-    run = ''
--
./pkgs/build-support/docker/nix-prefetch-docker.nix-      --prefix PATH : ${lib.makeBinPath [ nix skopeo jq coreutils ]} \
./pkgs/build-support/docker/nix-prefetch-docker.nix:      --set HOME /homeless-shelter
./pkgs/build-support/docker/nix-prefetch-docker.nix-  '';
--
./pkgs/by-name/_4/_4d-minesweeper/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/_4/_4d-minesweeper/package.nix:    # Cannot create file '/homeless-shelter/.config/godot/projects/...'
./pkgs/by-name/_4/_4d-minesweeper/package.nix-    export HOME=$TMPDIR
--
./pkgs/by-name/ba/base16-shell-preview/package.nix-  # If enabled, it will attempt to run '__init__.py, failing by trying to write
./pkgs/by-name/ba/base16-shell-preview/package.nix:  # at "/homeless-shelter" as HOME
./pkgs/by-name/ba/base16-shell-preview/package.nix-  doCheck = false;
--
./pkgs/by-name/ba/backblaze-b2/package.nix-      (old: {
./pkgs/by-name/ba/backblaze-b2/package.nix:        # workaround the error: Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/by-name/ba/backblaze-b2/package.nix-        # backblaze-b2 fails to create a 'b2' directory under the XDG config path
--
./pkgs/by-name/ci/cilium-cli/package.nix-  # Required to workaround install check error:
./pkgs/by-name/ci/cilium-cli/package.nix:  # 2022/06/25 10:36:22 Unable to start gops: mkdir /homeless-shelter: permission denied
./pkgs/by-name/ci/cilium-cli/package.nix-  HOME = "$TMPDIR";
--
./pkgs/by-name/do/doctl/package.nix-  postInstall = ''
./pkgs/by-name/do/doctl/package.nix:    export HOME=$(mktemp -d) # attempts to write to /homeless-shelter
./pkgs/by-name/do/doctl/package.nix-    for shell in bash fish zsh; do
--
./pkgs/by-name/do/dooit/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/do/dooit/package.nix:  # /homeless-shelter
./pkgs/by-name/do/dooit/package.nix-  preBuild = ''
--
./pkgs/by-name/en/ente-cli/package.nix-    # running ente results in the following errors:
./pkgs/by-name/en/ente-cli/package.nix:    # > mkdir /homeless-shelter: permission denied
./pkgs/by-name/en/ente-cli/package.nix-    # > error getting password from keyring: exec: "dbus-launch": executable file not found in $PATH
--
./pkgs/by-name/fi/find-billy/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/fi/find-billy/package.nix:    # Cannot create file `/homeless-shelter/.config/godot/projects/...`
./pkgs/by-name/fi/find-billy/package.nix-    export HOME=$TMPDIR
--
./pkgs/by-name/fl/fluxcd/package.nix-  # Required to workaround test error:
./pkgs/by-name/fl/fluxcd/package.nix:  #   panic: mkdir /homeless-shelter: permission denied
./pkgs/by-name/fl/fluxcd/package.nix-  HOME = "$TMPDIR";
--
./pkgs/by-name/ic/icdiff/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/ic/icdiff/package.nix:  # error: could not lock config file /homeless-shelter/.gitconfig: No such file or directory
./pkgs/by-name/ic/icdiff/package.nix-  doCheck = false;
--
./pkgs/by-name/li/libguestfs/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/li/libguestfs/package.nix:    export HOME=$(mktemp -d) # avoid access to /homeless-shelter/.guestfish
./pkgs/by-name/li/libguestfs/package.nix-
--
./pkgs/by-name/oa/oauth2l/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/oa/oauth2l/package.nix:  # Fix tests by preventing them from writing to /homeless-shelter.
./pkgs/by-name/oa/oauth2l/package.nix-  preCheck = "export HOME=$(mktemp -d)";
--
./pkgs/by-name/pa/patroni/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/pa/patroni/package.nix:  # Fix tests by preventing them from writing to /homeless-shelter.
./pkgs/by-name/pa/patroni/package.nix-  preCheck = "export HOME=$(mktemp -d)";
--
./pkgs/by-name/ru/rustdesk-flutter/package.nix-  strictDeps = true;
./pkgs/by-name/ru/rustdesk-flutter/package.nix:  env.VCPKG_ROOT = "/homeless-shelter"; # idk man, makes the build go since https://github.com/21pages/hwcodec/commit/1873c34e3da070a462540f61c0b782b7ab15dc84
./pkgs/by-name/ru/rustdesk-flutter/package.nix-
--
./pkgs/by-name/ti/tinysparql/package.nix-    ''
./pkgs/by-name/ti/tinysparql/package.nix:      # (tracker-store:6194): Tracker-CRITICAL **: 09:34:07.722: Cannot initialize database: Could not open sqlite3 database:'/homeless-shelter/.cache/tracker/meta.db': unable to open database file
./pkgs/by-name/ti/tinysparql/package.nix-      export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/by-name/vi/vikunja/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/vi/vikunja/package.nix:    # Fixes "mkdir /homeless-shelter: permission denied" - "Error: error compiling magefiles" during build
./pkgs/by-name/vi/vikunja/package.nix-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/by-name/wi/wipeout-rewrite/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/wi/wipeout-rewrite/package.nix:    # I can't get --chdir to not expand the bash variables in datadir at build time (so they point to /homeless-shelter)
./pkgs/by-name/wi/wipeout-rewrite/package.nix-    # or put them inside single quotes (breaking the expansion at runtime)
--
./pkgs/by-name/gl/glab/package.nix-  preCheck = ''
./pkgs/by-name/gl/glab/package.nix:    # failed to read configuration:  mkdir /homeless-shelter: permission denied
./pkgs/by-name/gl/glab/package.nix-    export HOME=$TMPDIR
--
./pkgs/by-name/lo/lorien/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/lo/lorien/package.nix:    # Cannot create file '/homeless-shelter/.config/godot/projects/...'
./pkgs/by-name/lo/lorien/package.nix-    export HOME=$TMPDIR
--
./pkgs/by-name/hu/hullcaster/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/hu/hullcaster/package.nix:  # work around error: Could not create filepath: /homeless-shelter/.local/share
./pkgs/by-name/hu/hullcaster/package.nix-  checkFlags = [
--
./pkgs/by-name/oh/oh-my-git/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/oh/oh-my-git/package.nix:    # Cannot create file '/homeless-shelter/.config/godot/projects/...'
./pkgs/by-name/oh/oh-my-git/package.nix-    export HOME=$TMPDIR
--
./pkgs/by-name/vc/vcpkg-tool/package.nix-      cat "$out" | head -n 4 | diff - ${writeText "vcpkg-tool-test-wrapper-expected" ''
./pkgs/by-name/vc/vcpkg-tool/package.nix:        NIX_VCPKG_DOWNLOADS_ROOT = /homeless-shelter/.vcpkg/root/downloads
./pkgs/by-name/vc/vcpkg-tool/package.nix:        NIX_VCPKG_BUILDTREES_ROOT = /homeless-shelter/.vcpkg/root/buildtrees
./pkgs/by-name/vc/vcpkg-tool/package.nix-        NIX_VCPKG_PACKAGES_ROOT = test
--
./pkgs/by-name/za/zabbix-cli/package.nix-  # Otherwise tests will fail to create directory
./pkgs/by-name/za/zabbix-cli/package.nix:  # Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/by-name/za/zabbix-cli/package.nix-  preCheck = ''
--
./pkgs/by-name/is/iscc/package.nix-
./pkgs/by-name/is/iscc/package.nix:    # Solves PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter/.wine'
./pkgs/by-name/is/iscc/package.nix-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/by-name/k9/k9s/package.nix-  # For arch != x86
./pkgs/by-name/k9/k9s/package.nix:  # {"level":"fatal","error":"could not create any of the following paths: /homeless-shelter/.config, /etc/xdg","time":"2022-06-28T15:52:36Z","message":"Unable to create configuration directory for k9s"}
./pkgs/by-name/k9/k9s/package.nix-  passthru = {
--
./pkgs/development/compilers/rust/setup-hook.sh:# Fix 'failed to open: /homeless-shelter/.cargo/.package-cache' in rust 1.36.
./pkgs/development/compilers/rust/setup-hook.sh-if [[ -z ${IN_NIX_SHELL-} && -z ${CARGO_HOME-} ]]; then
--
./pkgs/development/compilers/swift/compiler/patches/llvm-module-cache.patch-   }
./pkgs/development/compilers/swift/compiler/patches/llvm-module-cache.patch:+  if (std::equal(result.begin(), result.end(), "/homeless-shelter")) {
./pkgs/development/compilers/swift/compiler/patches/llvm-module-cache.patch-+    return false;
--
./pkgs/development/compilers/swift/compiler/patches/llvm-module-cache.patch-   }
./pkgs/development/compilers/swift/compiler/patches/llvm-module-cache.patch:+  if (std::equal(result.begin(), result.end(), "/homeless-shelter")) {
./pkgs/development/compilers/swift/compiler/patches/llvm-module-cache.patch-+    system_temp_directory(true/*ErasedOnReboot*/, result);
--
./pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-nix.nix-  # Tests attempt to use NPM to install from the network into
./pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-nix.nix:  # /homeless-shelter. Disabled.
./pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-nix.nix-  purescript = dontCheck super.purescript;
--
./pkgs/development/ocaml-modules/lambdapi/default.nix-  ];
./pkgs/development/ocaml-modules/lambdapi/default.nix:  doCheck = false; # anomaly: Sys_error("/homeless-shelter/.why3.conf: No such file or directory")
./pkgs/development/ocaml-modules/lambdapi/default.nix-
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/ansible-vault-rw/default.nix-  # Otherwise tests will fail to create directory
./pkgs/development/python-modules/ansible-vault-rw/default.nix:  # Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/ansible-vault-rw/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/argostranslate/default.nix-  # required for import check to work
./pkgs/development/python-modules/argostranslate/default.nix:  # PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/argostranslate/default.nix-  env.HOME = "/tmp";
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/crytic-compile/default.nix-  # required for import check to work
./pkgs/development/python-modules/crytic-compile/default.nix:  # PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/crytic-compile/default.nix-  env.HOME = "/tmp";
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/fsspec/default.nix-      # Test assumes user name is part of $HOME
./pkgs/development/python-modules/fsspec/default.nix:      # AssertionError: assert 'nixbld' in '/homeless-shelter/foo/bar'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/fsspec/default.nix-      "test_strip_protocol_expanduser"
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/geeknote/default.nix-    build with tests fails with "Can not create application dirictory :
./pkgs/development/python-modules/geeknote/default.nix:    /homeless-shelter/.geeknotebuilder".
./pkgs/development/python-modules/geeknote/default.nix-  */
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/gradient/default.nix-
./pkgs/development/python-modules/gradient/default.nix:  # Tries to use /homeless-shelter to mimic container usage, etc
./pkgs/development/python-modules/gradient/default.nix-  doCheck = false;
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/hyperopt/default.nix-
./pkgs/development/python-modules/hyperopt/default.nix:  # tries to use /homeless-shelter to mimic container usage, etc
./pkgs/development/python-modules/hyperopt/default.nix-  doCheck = false;
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/mhcflurry/default.nix-  disabledTests = [
./pkgs/development/python-modules/mhcflurry/default.nix:    # RuntimeError: Missing MHCflurry downloadable file: /homeless-shelter/.local...
./pkgs/development/python-modules/mhcflurry/default.nix-    "test_a1_mage_epitope_downloaded_models"
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/mhcflurry/default.nix-  disabledTestPaths = [
./pkgs/development/python-modules/mhcflurry/default.nix:    # RuntimeError: Missing MHCflurry downloadable file: /homeless-shelter/.local...
./pkgs/development/python-modules/mhcflurry/default.nix-    "test/test_changing_allele_representations.py"
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/molecule/default.nix-      (old: {
./pkgs/development/python-modules/molecule/default.nix:        # workaround the error: Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/molecule/default.nix-        HOME = "$(mktemp -d)";
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/ofxtools/default.nix-  # override $HOME directory:
./pkgs/development/python-modules/ofxtools/default.nix:  #   error: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/ofxtools/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/pydicom/default.nix-  # Setting $HOME to prevent pytest to try to create a folder inside
./pkgs/development/python-modules/pydicom/default.nix:  # /homeless-shelter which is read-only.
./pkgs/development/python-modules/pydicom/default.nix-  # Linking pydicom-data dicom files to $HOME/.pydicom/data
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/softlayer/default.nix-  # Otherwise soap_tests.py will fail to create directory
./pkgs/development/python-modules/softlayer/default.nix:  # Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/softlayer/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/proton-vpn-api-core/default.nix-  postInstall = ''
./pkgs/development/python-modules/proton-vpn-api-core/default.nix:    # Needed for Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/proton-vpn-api-core/default.nix-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/proton-vpn-network-manager/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
./pkgs/development/python-modules/proton-vpn-network-manager/default.nix:    # Needed for Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/proton-vpn-network-manager/default.nix-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/dfdiskcache/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
./pkgs/development/python-modules/dfdiskcache/default.nix:    # Needed for Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/development/python-modules/dfdiskcache/default.nix-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/development/python-modules/triton/default.nix-          if __name__ == "__main__":
./pkgs/development/python-modules/triton/default.nix:            if os.environ.get("HOME", None) == "/homeless-shelter":
./pkgs/development/python-modules/triton/default.nix-              os.environ["HOME"] = os.environ.get("TMPDIR", "/tmp")
--
./pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/gradle/update-deps.nix-        bwrap \
./pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/gradle/update-deps.nix:          --unshare-all --share-net --clearenv --chdir / --setenv HOME /homeless-shelter \
./pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/gradle/update-deps.nix-          --tmpfs /home --bind /tmp /tmp --ro-bind /nix /nix --ro-bind /run /run --proc /proc --dev /dev  \
--
./pkgs/development/tools/rover/default.nix-  # Some tests try to write configuration data to a location in the user's home
./pkgs/development/tools/rover/default.nix:  # directory. Since this would be /homeless-shelter during the build, point at
./pkgs/development/tools/rover/default.nix-  # a writeable location instead.
--
./pkgs/development/tools/wrangler_1/default.nix-
./pkgs/development/tools/wrangler_1/default.nix:  # tries to use "/homeless-shelter" and fails
./pkgs/development/tools/wrangler_1/default.nix-  doCheck = false;
--
./pkgs/tools/networking/opendrop/default.nix-  preCheck = ''
./pkgs/tools/networking/opendrop/default.nix:    # Solves PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/homeless-shelter'
./pkgs/tools/networking/opendrop/default.nix-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
--
./pkgs/tools/package-management/nix-prefetch-scripts/default.nix-        --prefix PATH : ${lib.makeBinPath (deps ++ [ coreutils gnused nix ])} \
./pkgs/tools/package-management/nix-prefetch-scripts/default.nix:        --set HOME /homeless-shelter
./pkgs/tools/package-management/nix-prefetch-scripts/default.nix-    '';
--
./pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/texlive/bin.nix-
./pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/texlive/bin.nix:        # If unset, xindy will try to mkdir /homeless-shelter
./pkgs/tools/typesetting/tex/texlive/bin.nix-        HOME = ".";
--
./pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix-  # If instantiated directly, it will use $HOME/.ccache as the cache directory,
./pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix:  # i.e. /homeless-shelter/.ccache using the Nix daemon.
./pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix-  # You should specify a different directory using an override in

git log -S 'homeless-shelter' --source --all tells me that this path dates back to the very early days of 2003 (a881442) - a different time, for sure.

[cole-h]

Semi-related PR: #11300 (mostly about moving it to another location, but also has some very brief discussion on a better name in a similar vein to this ticket)

[katrinafyi]

Thanks for the link, it's good to see other people have been thinking about it.