The IT Guy Show - Episodes Tagged with “Linuxadmin”

Episode 11: NixOS: The Distro That Thinks Code

Eric Hendricks — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

For many Linux users, configuration means dotfiles, bash scripts, and duct tape. But what if your entire system, from packages to users to services could be described, versioned, and rolled back like code?

In this episode of The IT Guy Show, Eric is joined by Aaron Honeycutt to demystify NixOS, the declarative, reproducible Linux distribution that’s changing how people think about system configuration. We’ll cover what makes NixOS different, how to get started without pulling your hair out, and how this distro fits into modern DevOps, home lab, and desktop workflows.

If you’ve ever heard the term “declarative infrastructure” and wondered what it actually looks like in practice, this is your chance to find out.

Welcome to The IT Guy Show, your go-to destination for all things tech with Eric, your friendly neighborhood IT guy! Join Eric as he shares his wealth of knowledge, insights, and experiences gained from years of working in the IT industry. From troubleshooting common tech issues to exploring the latest trends and innovations, each episode is packed with practical tips, skilled advice, and engaging discussions.

Connect with me! https://linktr.ee/itguyeric
Join our:
Discord: https://itguyeric.com/discord
Matrix: https://matrix.to/#/#podcast-itguyeric:matrix.org

Connect with Aaron: https://aaron.honeycutt.family
Inside a NixOS Homelab: Real-World Walkthrough with Aaron Honeycutt
https://youtu.be/pQTiucyjIjc

NixOS: https://nixos.org
NixOS Discord: https://discord.com/invite/RbvHtGa
Medium - What is Nix / NixOS: https://medium.com/@Erik_Krieg/what-is-nix-nixos-aab5610f0d7f

Chapters:
00:00 Stream Start
00:15 Welcome
01:05 Aaron Honeycutt
02:23 What is NixOS
04:14 How is it different?
06:20 What’s the learning curve?
12:20 Contributing to NixOS
16:59 The Future
23:38 Outro

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency
Photo by Malachi Brooks on Unsplash

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Episode 10: GitOps for the Linux Administrator

Eric Hendricks — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500

GitOps can feel like buzzword soup, especially for seasoned Linux admins who’ve spent years mastering bash, cron, and config files. But what if it’s not as scary—or as different—as it sounds?

In this episode of The IT Guy Show, Eric is joined by Christian Hernandez, a longtime Linux administrator who “accidentally” became a Kubernetes and GitOps expert. Together, they break down what GitOps really is, how it compares to traditional sysadmin practices, and how Linux professionals can embrace this powerful approach to infrastructure automation without throwing away their shell scripts.

Whether you're Git-curious or deep in YAML fatigue, this conversation will give you practical context, real talk, and tips for making GitOps part of your day-to-day toolkit.

Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/itguyeric
Join our:
Discord: https://itguyeric.com/discord
Matrix: https://matrix.to/#/#podcast-itguyeric:matrix.org

Connect with Christian: https://chernand.io/
Akuiti: https://akuity.io
Buy Christian’s book! https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/argo-cd-up/9781098141998

OpenGitOps: https://opengitops.dev/
Kubernetes Kind: https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kind

Chapters:
00:00 Stream Start
00:13 Welcome
01:31 Christian Hernandez
04:14 What is GitOps?
12:29 GitOps Journey
18:40 Mindset Shifts
24:30 Why the hesitation?
30:02 Tools to Learn
40:04 Lightning Round
44:40 Wrap up

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency
Photo by GuerrillaBuzz on Unsplash

Special Guest: Christian Hernandez.

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