Fixing Emoji Font Errors In Typst With Nix

Nov 27, 2025 by Admin 43 views

Hey everyone, let's dive into a common snag many of you might hit when working with Typst and Nix: the emojione issue. If you're using emojione as your emojiFont in Typst, you've probably run into some trouble. This guide is all about fixing that and making sure your emojis render correctly. We'll explore why this error happens, how to reproduce it, and most importantly, how to fix it, potentially by switching to joypixels. Let's get started, guys!

The Problem: emojione and Nix

So, what's the deal with emojione? Well, the emojione package was removed from Nixpkgs. That means if you're trying to use it as your emojiFont in your Typst projects, you're going to get an error. This is because Nix can't find the package anymore, and your build will fail. This is a real bummer, because emojis are awesome and make our documents so much more engaging. But don't worry, there's a solution! It's all about adapting to the changes in the Nix ecosystem and ensuring that our projects stay up to date and functional. The good news is, there are alternative approaches to get those emojis working again. We just need to pivot our approach. Understanding the error is the first step toward fixing it, so kudos to you for even reading this article and trying to find the solution.

Understanding the Error

The root of the problem lies in the removal of the emojione package. When your Typst project tries to use emojione as the emojiFont, the build process looks for the package within your Nix environment. Since the package is no longer available, the build fails. The error message typically indicates that the package cannot be found or that the dependency is missing. This is a common issue when working with evolving package managers like Nix, where packages are constantly updated, removed, or replaced. If you are experiencing this type of error, the first thing you should do is check which packages are causing the error. After you identify the packages causing the error, then you can find solutions on how to solve the problem and keep the packages updated.

Reproducing the Error

To see this error in action, let's look at a sample flake.nix file. This file describes your project's dependencies and build instructions using Nix. This will help you understand how to use Nix as the environment package manager. You can use it to build any software you want. Try to copy and paste the code below into the flake.nix file:

{
 inputs = {
 nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
 typix = {
 url = "github:loqusion/typix";
 inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
 };
 flake-utils.url = "github:numtide/flake-utils";
 };

 outputs = inputs @ {
 nixpkgs,
 typix,
 flake-utils,
 ...
 }: 
 flake-utils.lib.eachDefaultSystem (system: let
 pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.${system};
 inherit (pkgs) lib;

 typixLib = typix.lib.${system};

 src = typixLib.cleanTypstSource ./.;
 commonArgs = {
 typstSource = "main.typ";
 emojiFont = "emojione";
 };

 build-script = typixLib.buildTypstProjectLocal (commonArgs
 // {
 inherit src;
 });

 watch-script = typixLib.watchTypstProject commonArgs;
 in {
 checks = {
 inherit build-script watch-script;
 };

 apps = rec {
 default = watch;
 build = flake-utils.lib.mkApp {
 drv = build-script;
 };
 watch = flake-utils.lib.mkApp {
 drv = watch-script;
 };
 };
 });
}

Then, run nix run .#build. This command will try to build your Typst project, but it will fail because it tries to use the emojione package. This is a simple but effective way to reproduce the error and see it for yourself.

The Solution: Dropping emojione and Exploring Alternatives

So, what's the fix? The simplest solution is to drop the use of emojione and explore alternative emoji font options. Currently, the most promising replacement is joypixels. It's important to remember that because joypixels has a license that might not be entirely free, testing and integration might be a bit more involved. The key here is to adapt to the changes in the available packages and find a solution that works within the current Nix environment. The good news is that by switching to a different package, you can continue to use emojis in your Typst projects. Let's discuss a simple and easy fix.

Switching to joypixels

To switch to joypixels, you'll need to modify your flake.nix file. You will need to change the configuration to include the correct package. This might involve updating your project's dependencies to include joypixels. Because joypixels is not as widely used, you may need to manually configure it. This is usually done by downloading the font and making sure it is properly included in your project. You also must be aware of its licensing terms, which can affect how you distribute your project. Make sure you fully understand the licensing terms before using joypixels in your project.

Additional Considerations and Context

Let's discuss some of the issues you may encounter when fixing the problem in detail. We'll also dive deeper into other relevant details that could impact your project. The first problem is that testing joypixels might be a bit trickier than with emojione due to its licensing terms. Because joypixels does not have a free license, the testing process becomes non-trivial. This is something to keep in mind, because you need to ensure that you are complying with the license terms when you use it. Another thing to consider is to check the documentation of your Typst setup to see if there are any specific instructions on how to use joypixels. Sometimes, you need to configure your Typst environment to properly use the new font. Also, make sure that you update your project's dependencies to reflect the changes. After you do that, you should be good to go. The most important thing here is to stay informed about the licenses and dependencies. It will help you avoid problems in the future.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing the Emoji Font Error

Here’s a practical guide to help you fix the error and get your emojis working again. We'll break it down step-by-step so you can easily follow along:

Identify the Error: Double-check the error message to confirm that the issue is indeed related to emojione not being found.
Modify your flake.nix: This is where you'll make the key changes. You'll need to adjust your flake.nix file. If you’re targeting joypixels, ensure it’s correctly referenced in your dependencies. You might need to change the emojiFont setting in your build script. It could look something like this:
```
commonArgs = {
  typstSource = "main.typ";
  emojiFont = "joypixels"; // Or the correct identifier
};
```
Update Dependencies: After modifying your flake.nix, run nix flake update to refresh your project's dependencies, which is important to make sure that Nix pulls the required packages.
Rebuild Your Project: Execute nix run .#build again to rebuild your Typst project. This time, with the adjustments made, your project should build successfully.
Test Your Emojis: Check your Typst document to ensure that the emojis are rendering correctly. If they appear as expected, congratulations! You have successfully resolved the issue.

Following these steps, you should be able to get your emojis working again. Remember to adapt to the changes in the packages and to stay up-to-date with Nix and its ecosystem.

Further Tips and Troubleshooting

Here are some extra tips to help you troubleshoot and optimize your project:

Check Typst Version Compatibility: Make sure that your Typst version is compatible with joypixels. Older versions of Typst might not support the latest emoji fonts.
Verify Font Availability: Ensure that the joypixels font is available and correctly installed in your system. Sometimes, you might need to manually install the font or update the font cache.
Review Licensing: Carefully review the licensing terms of joypixels to ensure that you comply with the conditions for its use, especially if you plan to distribute your project.
Consult Documentation: Refer to the official documentation for both Typst and Nix for any specific instructions or configurations related to emoji fonts.
Seek Community Help: If you encounter any further issues, don't hesitate to seek help from the Typst or Nix communities. They are usually very helpful, and someone might have encountered the same problem before.

By following these tips, you'll be well-equipped to manage and maintain your projects efficiently, ensuring your emojis render flawlessly. Stay proactive, adapt to changes, and always be ready to learn! That’s all for today, folks. Keep coding, keep creating, and don't let those emoji errors get you down. Happy Typst-ing!