# Latest issue trying to organize my Guix configuration files -\> error: Unknown command: hostname

**URL:** <https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101>\
**Category:** Guix\
**Created:** [August 17, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101 "2026-08-17T15:14:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Folaht](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/folaht/32/1145_2.png) [@Folaht](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/Folaht)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/1 "2026-08-17T15:14:52Z")

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Still following [this tutorial](https://systemcrafters.net/craft-your-system-with-guix/how-to-organize-your-config), I run into yet another issue:

```shell
$ test-home
fish: Unknown command: hostname
~/.config/fish/config.fish (line 1): 
hostname
^ ~~~~~~ ^
in command substitution
	called on line 33 of file ~/.config/fish/config.fish
from sourcing file ~/.config/fish/config.fish
	called during startup
~/.config/fish/config.fish (line 33): Unknown command
alias test-home "sudo guix home -L ~/dotfiles container ~/dotfiles/config/home/folaht/$(hostname).scm"
                                                                                       ^ ~~~~~~~~ ^

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ee59a6/32.png) [@wxie](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/wxie)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/2 "2026-08-18T01:16:47Z")

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try in your shell first

```auto
hostname

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Folaht](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/folaht/32/1145_2.png) [@Folaht](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/Folaht)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 10:51am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/3 "2026-08-18T10:51:46Z")

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You mean like `guix shell`? `hostname` exists in there.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![juipeltje](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/juipeltje/32/1178_2.png) [@juipeltje](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/juipeltje)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/4 "2026-08-18T13:53:46Z")

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He means just running the `hostname` command in your shell. The error seems to indicate that it can’t find the `hostname` command on path.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Folaht](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/folaht/32/1145_2.png) [@Folaht](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/Folaht)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/5 "2026-08-18T14:23:36Z")

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It can not find `hostname` in the newly created `guix home container` if that’s what you mean.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ee59a6/32.png) [@wxie](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/wxie)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/6 "2026-08-19T01:07:24Z")

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```auto
$ hostname

```

What’s the output?

It seems your shell is fish but you are making config for bash?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Folaht](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/folaht/32/1145_2.png) [@Folaht](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/Folaht)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 8:23am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/7 "2026-08-19T08:23:49Z")

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> [@wxie](#):
>
> ```auto
> $ hostname
> 
> ```
> 
> What’s the output?

In normal shell it’s the name of my machine.

> [@wxie](#):
>
> It seems your shell is fish but you are making config for bash?

One still needs both.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ee59a6/32.png) [@wxie](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/wxie)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/latest-issue-trying-to-organize-my-guix-configuration-files-error-unknown-command-hostname/2101/8 "2026-08-20T01:53:07Z")

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Not sure if hostname works in your container command. You can use a defined name to test in the container first.