From 5997c886f609dc6f0211f4e9d2dab558ac3a5483 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Simon Gardling <titaniumtown@proton.me>
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:43:35 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] pull-update: improvement

---
 system/pull-update.nix | 25 +++++++++++++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/system/pull-update.nix b/system/pull-update.nix
index 07c53fa..5bf03ed 100644
--- a/system/pull-update.nix
+++ b/system/pull-update.nix
@@ -3,7 +3,15 @@
 # records the output store path at /deploy/<hostname>.  On boot this
 # service fetches that path, pulls the closure from the binary cache,
 # sets it as the boot profile, and reboots into it.
-{ pkgs, hostname, lib, ... }:
+#
+# Runs before the display manager so the user sees progress on the
+# console instead of staring at a frozen Steam loading screen.
+{
+  pkgs,
+  hostname,
+  lib,
+  ...
+}:
 let
   deploy-url = "https://nix-cache.sigkill.computer/deploy/${hostname}";
 
@@ -43,14 +51,19 @@ let
         exit 0
       fi
 
-      echo "Update available: $CURRENT -> $STORE_PATH"
+      echo ""
+      echo "====================================="
+      echo " System update available. Installing."
+      echo "====================================="
+      echo ""
 
       nix-store -r "$STORE_PATH" || { echo "Failed to fetch closure"; exit 1; }
       nix-env -p /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --set "$STORE_PATH" || { echo "Failed to set profile"; exit 1; }
       "$STORE_PATH/bin/switch-to-configuration" boot || { echo "Failed to install boot entry"; exit 1; }
 
-      wall "System update installed. Rebooting in 10 seconds..."
-      sleep 10
+      echo ""
+      echo "Update installed. Rebooting..."
+      echo ""
       systemctl reboot
     '';
   };
@@ -60,11 +73,15 @@ in
     description = "Pull latest NixOS configuration from binary cache";
     after = [ "network-online.target" ];
     wants = [ "network-online.target" ];
+    # run before the display manager so the message is visible on the console
+    before = [ "display-manager.service" ];
     wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
     restartIfChanged = false;
     serviceConfig = {
       Type = "oneshot";
       ExecStart = lib.getExe pull-update;
+      StandardOutput = "journal+console";
+      StandardError = "journal+console";
     };
   };
 }