Nix — 111 Operations for AI Agents

This page is the canonical reference an AI coding agent uses to refactor, query, and analyze Nix code through the act MCP server. 111 operations available: 37 refactor, 18 query, 42 analysis, 14 verification. Each operation is callable from Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode, or any MCP-compatible agent host. Click any operation for a stable anchor link suitable for citation.

18Query
37Refactor
42Analysis
14Verify

Query

18 query tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/query-tools.

callers control_flow data_flow definition diagnostics effect_closure effect_summary fix_auto get_type graph import_organize interface mutations references repo_outline skeleton symbols symbols_batch

Refactor

Operation Description
add-inherit-statement Add an `inherit` statement to an attribute set for given variables
convert-boolean-to-if Convert a boolean expression into an if-then-else expression
convert-if-to-boolean-expression Simplify `if x then true else false` to just `x`
convert-import-to-let-binding Convert an inline `import ./file.nix` into a let binding
convert-lambda-to-function Wrap an anonymous lambda in a named let-bound function
convert-null-coalesce Convert `x // fallback` merge to an explicit conditional null check
convert-rec-to-scope Convert `rec { ... }` to a `let...in` expression
convert-string-concat-to-interpolation Transform string concatenation expressions to Nix string interpolation
convert-to-attr-set-shorthand Convert attr = attr; bindings to inherit form
convert-to-string-interpolation Convert string concatenation (+ operator) to Nix string interpolation
extract-builtin-call Extract a repeated builtins function call into a named let binding
extract-function Extract an expression into a new named function binding
extract-function-from-lambda Convert an anonymous lambda into a named function binding
extract-let-binding Extract an expression into a let-in binding
extract_function Extract a code selection into a new function — automatically infers parameters, return types, and inserts the call site. Use instead of manually cutting/pasting code. Works without LSP; LSP improves type inference. Params: file (string), new_name (string), start_line (u32), start_column (u32), end_line (u32), end_column (u32) [, preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
extract_variable Extract an expression into a named variable — inserts the declaration and replaces the expression with the variable name. Works without LSP. Params: file (string), new_name (string), start_line (u32), start_column (u32), end_line (u32), end_column (u32) [, preview (bool)]
generate-attribute-set Generate an empty or structured attribute set
generate-filter-function Generate a `filter` operation skeleton over a list
generate-fold-operation Generate a `builtins.foldl'` operation skeleton
generate-function Generate a new function binding skeleton in Nix
generate-if-then-else Generate complete if-then-else structure
generate-let-binding Generate a let-in expression with variable and body
generate-map-function Generate a `map` operation skeleton over a list
generate-mkderivation Generate mkDerivation skeleton with common attributes
generate-test-scaffold Generate a test expression scaffold for Nix code
inline Inline a variable, function, or method — replace every usage with its definition body, then remove the original. The inverse of extract. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file inlining. Params: file (string), symbol (string) [, line (u32), preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
inline-function Inline a function binding by replacing calls with the body
inline-variable Inline a let-bound variable by replacing uses with its definition
insert_body Replace a function's implementation body with new code. AST-validated — rejects if the result has parse errors, so you can't accidentally break syntax. Use instead of manual text editing for function rewrites. Params: file (string), symbol (string), code (string) [, commit (bool)]
move_symbol Move a function, class, or type to a different file and automatically update all imports across the codebase. Use instead of manually cut/paste + fixing imports. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file import updates. Params: file (string), symbol (string), destination (string) [, preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
organize-imports Sort and organize import bindings at the top of a Nix file
recipe_run Run a codemod recipe: declarative match → transform → optional verify across modeled grammars. Preview lists matches; apply writes with optional E7 receipts and all-or-nothing rollback. Returns a per-site report.
remove-unused-parameter Remove a named parameter from a function's formal set
remove-unused-variable Remove a let binding that is never used
rename Rename a symbol and automatically update ALL references across the codebase. Safer and faster than find-and-replace — AST-aware, won't rename strings or comments. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file renames. Params: file (string), old_name (string), new_name (string) [, line (u32), column (u32), preview (bool), receipt (bool)]
rename-identifier Rename a variable, function, or attribute across its scope
reorder-function-arguments Reorder formal parameters in a function definition

Analysis

42 analysis tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/analysis-tools.

analyze_api_diff analyze_chokepoints analyze_clones analyze_clusters analyze_cohesion analyze_conformance analyze_coupling analyze_cycle_risk analyze_cycles analyze_dead_code analyze_depth analyze_entry_points analyze_export analyze_extraction analyze_fan_balance analyze_features analyze_hotspots analyze_impact analyze_inconsistencies analyze_inheritance analyze_interface_bloat analyze_interfaces analyze_layers analyze_orphan_types analyze_patterns analyze_platform_deps analyze_readiness analyze_roles analyze_seams analyze_stability analyze_surface analyze_test_gaps analyze_thickness analyze_type_completeness churn_hotspots co_change_clusters coverage_overlay ownership_map profile_overlay simulate split_module trace_overlay

Verify

14 verify tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/verification.

bisect_regression gate generate_test_harness scan secret_surface summarize_pr taint_flow unsafe_surface verify_behavioral_equivalence verify_contract_preserved verify_diff_semantics verify_port_parity verify_side_effects verify_test_impact

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