diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d953f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+use nix
diff --git a/shell.nix b/shell.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e706411
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{ ... }:
+let
+  sources = import ./nix/sources.nix;
+  nixpkgs = import sources.nixpkgs { };
+  niv = import sources.niv { };
+in with nixpkgs;
+stdenv.mkDerivation {
+  name = "dotfiles";
+  buildInputs = [
+    ## meta-information for managing dotfiles
+    niv.niv
+
+    ## sample projects
+    # elm
+    elmPackages.elm
+    elmPackages.elm-format
+  ];
+}