Nix has an ephemeral command to “install” packages to try out before installing permanently. nix-shell -p <package> will install the package, and drop you into an ephemeral shell to test it out. Exit the shell and it’s gone.

It’s also possible to install permanently straight from the CLI, but that ruins composability. To each his own.

My bigger problem w nix is the lack of FHS and the hoops you have to jump thru to get a non standard app to work.