From 6ab734f475d4e8d7b06b59dcc43d7c88051e7ed3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "google-labs-jules[bot]"
 <161369871+google-labs-jules[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2026 07:36:25 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] docs: Add instructions for getting git on fresh install

This commit adds a small tip to the README.md explaining how to
use `nix-shell -p git` to temporarily obtain git in order to clone
the repository on a completely fresh NixOS install that might not
have git in its system packages yet.

Co-authored-by: jamessucla <2191476+jamessucla@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 README.md | 17 ++++++++++++-----
 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f636ba5..50d3eb1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -79,8 +79,15 @@ sudo chmod 600 /run/secrets/xmpp_password
 To deploy this on a fresh NixOS system for the hackathon without experimental features:
 
 1. Connect your Meshtastic node via USB.
-2. Clone this repository to the machine: `git clone https://github.com/jshiffer/lora-xmpp-bridge.git /etc/nixos/lora-xmpp-bridge`.
-3. Edit your `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix` to include the module and configuration block as shown above.
-4. Create the password file: `echo "yourpassword" | sudo tee /run/secrets/xmpp_password && sudo chmod 600 /run/secrets/xmpp_password`.
-5. Apply the configuration: `sudo nixos-rebuild switch`.
-6. Verify it's running: `systemctl status sovereign-bridge.service`.
+2. If your fresh install doesn't have `git`, you can easily drop into a temporary shell that has it:
+   ```bash
+   nix-shell -p git
+   ```
+3. Clone this repository to the machine (we recommend placing it near your config):
+   ```bash
+   sudo git clone https://github.com/jshiffer/lora-xmpp-bridge.git /etc/nixos/lora-xmpp-bridge
+   ```
+4. Edit your `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix` to include the module and configuration block as shown above.
+5. Create the password file: `echo "yourpassword" | sudo tee /run/secrets/xmpp_password && sudo chmod 600 /run/secrets/xmpp_password`.
+6. Apply the configuration: `sudo nixos-rebuild switch`.
+7. Verify it's running: `systemctl status sovereign-bridge.service`.