# Native auto-activate in Flox

DevFeed: [Native auto-activate in Flox](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/native-auto-activate-in-flox-31354.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://discourse.nixos.org/t/native-auto-activate-in-flox/79316>)

Author: garbas

Published: 2026-08-03T20:37:51Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Announcements - NixOS Discourse](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/announcements-nixos-discourse.md>)

Topics: [Nix](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/nix.md>), [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>)

Tags: [announcements](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/announcements.md>), [environment](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/environment.md>), [environments](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/environments.md>), [functionality](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/functionality.md>), [services](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/services.md>), [setup](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/setup.md>), [using](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/using.md>)

## AI overview

The post discusses Flox 1.14.0, which adds native auto-activation for development environments. It compares this functionality with direnv and nix-direnv, noting that Flox also supports services, layered environments, shell aliases, and functions.

## Source excerpt

So: if you are using nix and use it to setup your development environments you are probably using direnv. most of nixers I know use it. you change the directory and it automagically enters your development environment. at flox we call this auto activation. We released Flox 1.14.0 and we made this functionality native. Steve even wrote about it in detail: Flox | Auto-Activation Is Now Native in Flox. First question I would have as a Nix user would be: "Why didn't you just use direnv and extend like nix does it with nix-direnv?". In short: we would love to, but our activation includes deeper features like services, layered environments, shell aliases and functions. If nothing what you should take from this post is that you give direnv a try if using nix. and with flox this functionality comes out of the box. Do you also wish this functionality would come OOTB with nix? 3 posts - 2 participants Read full topic