Add chapters for popular applications

book/src/SUMMARY.md

@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 # Asterinas NixOS
 
 * [Getting Started](distro/README.md)
+* [Popular Applications](distro/popular-applications/README.md)
+    * [Package Management](distro/popular-applications/package-management.md)
+    * [Desktop Environment](distro/popular-applications/desktop-environment.md)
+    * [Containerization](distro/popular-applications/containerization.md)
 
 # Asterinas Kernel
 

book/src/distro/popular-applications/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Popular Applications
+
+The [Nix package collection](https://search.nixos.org/packages) contains over 120,000 packages.
+Many of them may already work out of the box on Asterinas NixOS,
+but it is impractical to test every package
+and document its support status.
+Instead, we group popular applications into categories
+and document the ones we have verified to work.

book/src/distro/popular-applications/containerization.md

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Containerization
+
+## Podman
+
+[Podman](https://docs.podman.io/en/stable/Introduction.html) is a modern, daemonless container engine
+that provides a Docker-compatible command-line interface,
+making it easy for users familiar with Docker to transition.
+
+### Installation
+
+To install Podman, add the following line to `configuration.nix`:
+
+```nix
+virtualization.podman.enable = true;
+```
+
+### Verified Usage
+
+#### `podman run`
+
+`podman run` runs a command in a new container.
+
+```bash
+# Start a container, execute a command, and then exit
+podman run --name=c1 docker.io/library/alpine ls /etc
+
+# Start a container and attach to an interactive shell
+podman run -it docker.io/library/alpine
+```
+
+#### `podman image`
+
+`podman image` manages local images.
+
+```bash
+# List downloaded images
+podman image ls
+```
+
+#### `podman ps`
+
+`podman ps` lists containers.
+
+```bash
+# Show the status of all containers (including exited ones)
+podman ps -a
+```
+
+#### `podman rm`
+
+`podman rm` removes one or more containers.
+
+```bash
+# Remove a container named foo
+podman rm foo
+```

book/src/distro/popular-applications/desktop-environment.md

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Desktop Environment
+
+## Xfce
+
+[Xfce](https://www.xfce.org/) is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems.
+
+### Installation
+
+Add the following lines to the `configuration.nix` file:
+
+```nix
+services.xserver.enable = true;
+services.xserver.desktopManager.xfce.enable = true;
+```
+
+<!--
+TODO: upgrade mdbook to enable admonition blocks like the one below:
+
+> [!WARNING]
+> Xfce must be enabled during the initial installation of Asterinas NixOS. Applying configuration changes via `nixos-rebuild` is not working yet.
+-->
+
+### Verified Backends
+
+* Display server:
+  * Xorg display server
+* Graphics drivers:
+  * Standard UEFI VGA framebuffer
+
+### Verified Functionality
+
+* Changing desktop wallpapers and background settings
+* Adjusting font size, style, and system theme
+* Creating application shortcuts and desktop launchers
+* Managing panels and window behavior
+* Using the settings manager and file browser
+
+### Verified GUI Applications
+
+Utilities:
+
+* `galculator`: Calculator
+* `mousepad`: The default Xfce text editor
+* `mupdf`: A lightweight PDF and XPS viewer
+
+Games:
+
+* `fairymax`: Chess
+* `five-or-more`: GNOME alignment game
+* `lbreakout2`: Breakout/Arkanoid clone
+* `gnome-chess`: GNOME chess
+* `gnome-mines`: Minesweeper
+* `gnome-sudoku`: GNOME sudoku
+* `tali`: GNOME dice game
+* `xboard`: Chess
+* `xgalaga`: Galaga-style arcade game

book/src/distro/popular-applications/package-management.md

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+# Package Management
+
+NixOS provides a set of [tools](https://nix.dev/manual/nix/2.28/command-ref/main-commands)
+for building, installing, and managing packages.
+
+## Verified Usage
+
+### `nix-build`
+
+`nix-build` builds Nix derivations and produces outputs in the Nix store.
+It is the preferred way to build software reproducibly.
+
+```bash
+# Step 1: Create a clean workspace
+rm -rf /tmp/nix-hello-c && mkdir -p /tmp/nix-hello-c && cd /tmp/nix-hello-c
+
+# Step 2: Write a C program
+cat > hello.c <<'EOF'
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main(void) {
+    puts("Hello, World!");
+    return 0;
+}
+EOF
+
+# Step 3: Write a default.nix
+cat > default.nix <<'EOF'
+{ pkgs ? import <nixpkgs> {} }:
+
+pkgs.stdenv.mkDerivation {
+  pname = "hello-c";
+  version = "0.1.0";
+  src = ./.;
+
+  dontConfigure = true;
+
+  buildPhase = ''
+    cc hello.c -o hello
+  '';
+
+  installPhase = ''
+    mkdir -p $out/bin
+    install -m755 hello $out/bin/hello
+  '';
+}
+EOF
+
+# Step 4: Build and run
+nix-build
+./result/bin/hello
+```
+
+### `nix-env`
+
+`nix-env` installs or removes individual packages in your user profile.
+
+```bash
+# Install the `hello` package
+nix-env -iA nixos.hello
+
+# Remove the `hello` package
+nix-env -e hello
+```
+
+### `nix-shell`
+
+`nix-shell` creates a temporary development environment with the specified dependencies.
+This is useful for testing software without modifying your system environment.
+
+```bash
+# Enter a shell with the `hello` package available
+nix-shell -p hello
+```
+
+### `nixos-rebuild`
+
+`nixos-rebuild` manages the entire system configuration declaratively.
+It applies changes defined in `configuration.nix`,
+and is the recommended approach for installing packages system-wide.
+
+```bash
+# Edit the system configuration file
+vim /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
+
+# Apply configuration changes and rebuild the system without rebooting
+nixos-rebuild test
+```
+
+<!--
+TODO: upgrade mdbook to enable admonition blocks like the one below:
+
+> [!WARNING]
+> `nixos-rebuild switch` is not yet supported
+-->