fix(nix): Symlink the apps, not the folder

.config/nix/darwin/configuration.nix

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ pkgs, vars, ... }:
+{ pkgs, config, vars, ... }:
 
 {
   # I don't want to risk breaking my hackintosh setup in case Apple decided to
@@ -57,6 +57,38 @@
   # $ darwin-rebuild changelog
   system = {
     stateVersion = 4;
+    # Nix-darwin does not link installed applications to the user environment. This means apps will not show up
+    # in spotlight, and when launched through the dock they come with a terminal window. This is a workaround.
+    # Upstream issue: https://github.com/LnL7/nix-darwin/issues/214
+    # Original code: https://github.com/IvarWithoutBones/dotfiles/commit/0b3faad8bd1d0e1af6103caf59b206666ab742f4
+    activationScripts.applications.text = pkgs.lib.mkForce ''
+      echo "setting up ~/Applications..." >&2
+      applications="/Applications"
+      nix_apps="$applications/Nix Apps"
+
+      # Delete the directory to remove old links
+      rm -rf "$nix_apps"
+      mkdir -p "$nix_apps"
+      find ${config.system.build.applications}/Applications -maxdepth 1 -type l -exec readlink '{}' + |
+          while read src; do
+            ln -s "$src" "$nix_apps"
+
+            # >> Original linking script - I don't use Spotlight
+            # Spotlight does not recognize symlinks, it will ignore directory we link to the applications folder.
+            # It does understand MacOS aliases though, a unique filesystem feature. Sadly they cannot be created
+            # from bash (as far as I know), so we use the oh-so-great Apple Script instead.
+            # /usr/bin/osascript -e "
+            #     set fileToAlias to POSIX file \"$src\" 
+            #     set applicationsFolder to POSIX file \"$nix_apps\"
+            #     tell application \"Finder\"
+            #         make alias file to fileToAlias at applicationsFolder
+            #         # This renames the alias; 'mpv.app alias' -> 'mpv.app'
+            #         set name of result to \"$(rev <<< "$src" | cut -d'/' -f1 | rev)\"
+            #     end tell
+            # " 1>/dev/null
+            # << Original linking script
+          done
+    '';
   };
 
   users.users.ziro = {