diff --git a/fake_nixpkgs/default.nix b/fake_nixpkgs/default.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eee7aac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fake_nixpkgs/default.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+_:
+throw ''
+  This container doesn't include nixpkgs.
+
+  The best way to work around that is to pin your dependencies. See
+    https://nix.dev/tutorials/first-steps/towards-reproducibility-pinning-nixpkgs.html
+
+  Or if you must, override the NIX_PATH environment variable with eg:
+    "NIX_PATH=nixpkgs=channel:nixos-unstable"
+''
diff --git a/flake.lock b/flake.lock
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6db1db3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flake.lock
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+{
+  "nodes": {
+    "attic": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "crane": "crane",
+        "flake-compat": "flake-compat",
+        "flake-parts": "flake-parts",
+        "flake-utils": "flake-utils",
+        "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs",
+        "nixpkgs-stable": "nixpkgs-stable"
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1725048495,
+        "narHash": "sha256-vzmyW8Q6fG+QqlsYus+Xbo5s61ciXM4UpStZ2j5Pn54=",
+        "owner": "zhaofengli",
+        "repo": "attic",
+        "rev": "f74cee00364a36e4db8d05dc9c98391e18d9b4f8",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "zhaofengli",
+        "repo": "attic",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "crane": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "nixpkgs": [
+          "attic",
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ]
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1722960479,
+        "narHash": "sha256-NhCkJJQhD5GUib8zN9JrmYGMwt4lCRp6ZVNzIiYCl0Y=",
+        "owner": "ipetkov",
+        "repo": "crane",
+        "rev": "4c6c77920b8d44cd6660c1621dea6b3fc4b4c4f4",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "ipetkov",
+        "repo": "crane",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "flake-compat": {
+      "flake": false,
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1696426674,
+        "narHash": "sha256-kvjfFW7WAETZlt09AgDn1MrtKzP7t90Vf7vypd3OL1U=",
+        "owner": "edolstra",
+        "repo": "flake-compat",
+        "rev": "0f9255e01c2351cc7d116c072cb317785dd33b33",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "edolstra",
+        "repo": "flake-compat",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "flake-parts": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "nixpkgs-lib": [
+          "attic",
+          "nixpkgs"
+        ]
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1722555600,
+        "narHash": "sha256-XOQkdLafnb/p9ij77byFQjDf5m5QYl9b2REiVClC+x4=",
+        "owner": "hercules-ci",
+        "repo": "flake-parts",
+        "rev": "8471fe90ad337a8074e957b69ca4d0089218391d",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "hercules-ci",
+        "repo": "flake-parts",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "flake-utils": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "systems": "systems"
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1710146030,
+        "narHash": "sha256-SZ5L6eA7HJ/nmkzGG7/ISclqe6oZdOZTNoesiInkXPQ=",
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "flake-utils",
+        "rev": "b1d9ab70662946ef0850d488da1c9019f3a9752a",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "flake-utils",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "flake-utils_2": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "systems": "systems_2"
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1710146030,
+        "narHash": "sha256-SZ5L6eA7HJ/nmkzGG7/ISclqe6oZdOZTNoesiInkXPQ=",
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "flake-utils",
+        "rev": "b1d9ab70662946ef0850d488da1c9019f3a9752a",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "numtide",
+        "repo": "flake-utils",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "nixpkgs": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1724999960,
+        "narHash": "sha256-LB3jqSGW5u1ZcUcX6vO/qBOq5oXHlmOCxsTXGMEitp4=",
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "rev": "b96f849e725333eb2b1c7f1cb84ff102062468ba",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "ref": "nixpkgs-unstable",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "nixpkgs-stable": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1724316499,
+        "narHash": "sha256-Qb9MhKBUTCfWg/wqqaxt89Xfi6qTD3XpTzQ9eXi3JmE=",
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "rev": "797f7dc49e0bc7fab4b57c021cdf68f595e47841",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "ref": "nixos-24.05",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "nixpkgs_2": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1725001927,
+        "narHash": "sha256-eV+63gK0Mp7ygCR0Oy4yIYSNcum2VQwnZamHxYTNi+M=",
+        "owner": "nixos",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "rev": "6e99f2a27d600612004fbd2c3282d614bfee6421",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "nixos",
+        "ref": "nixos-24.05",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "root": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "attic": "attic",
+        "flake-utils": "flake-utils_2",
+        "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs_2"
+      }
+    },
+    "systems": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1681028828,
+        "narHash": "sha256-Vy1rq5AaRuLzOxct8nz4T6wlgyUR7zLU309k9mBC768=",
+        "owner": "nix-systems",
+        "repo": "default",
+        "rev": "da67096a3b9bf56a91d16901293e51ba5b49a27e",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "nix-systems",
+        "repo": "default",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "systems_2": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1681028828,
+        "narHash": "sha256-Vy1rq5AaRuLzOxct8nz4T6wlgyUR7zLU309k9mBC768=",
+        "owner": "nix-systems",
+        "repo": "default",
+        "rev": "da67096a3b9bf56a91d16901293e51ba5b49a27e",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "nix-systems",
+        "repo": "default",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "root": "root",
+  "version": 7
+}
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84b7770
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+{
+  description = "A very basic flake";
+
+  inputs = {
+    nixpkgs.url = "github:nixos/nixpkgs?ref=nixos-24.05";
+
+    flake-utils.url = "github:numtide/flake-utils";
+
+    attic.url = "github:zhaofengli/attic";
+  };
+
+  outputs = { self, nixpkgs, flake-utils, attic }: flake-utils.lib.eachDefaultSystem (system:
+    let
+      pkgs = import nixpkgs {
+        inherit system;
+        overlays = [
+          attic.overlays.default
+        ];
+      };
+
+      gitReallyMinimal = (
+        pkgs.git.override {
+          perlSupport = false;
+          pythonSupport = false;
+          withManual = false;
+          withpcre2 = false;
+        }
+      ).overrideAttrs (
+        _: {
+          # installCheck is broken when perl is disabled
+          doInstallCheck = false;
+        }
+      );
+    in
+    {
+      packages.default = pkgs.dockerTools.buildImageWithNixDb {
+        name = "docker-attic-nix";
+        tag = "latest";
+
+        copyToRoot = [
+          ./root
+
+          gitReallyMinimal
+
+          (pkgs.writeTextFile {
+            name = "nix.conf";
+            destination = "/etc/nix/nix.conf";
+            text = ''
+              accept-flake-config = true
+              experimental-features = nix-command flakes
+            '';
+          })
+        ] ++ (builtins.attrValues {
+          inherit (pkgs)
+            coreutils
+            bashInteractive
+            nix
+            cacert
+            gnutar
+            gzip
+            openssh
+            xz
+            nodejs
+            iana-etc
+            attic-client;
+        });
+
+        extraCommands = ''
+          # for /usr/bin/env
+          mkdir usr
+          ln -s ../bin usr/bin
+
+          # make sure /tmp exists
+          mkdir -m 1777 tmp
+
+          # need a HOME
+          mkdir -vp root
+        '';
+
+        config = {
+          Cmd = [ "/bin/bash" ];
+          Env = [
+            "ENV=/etc/profile.d/nix.sh"
+            "BASH_ENV=/etc/profile.d/nix.sh"
+            "NIX_BUILD_SHELL=/bin/bash"
+            "NIX_PATH=nixpkgs=${./fake_nixpkgs}"
+            "PAGER=cat"
+            "PATH=/root/.nix-profile/bin:/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/profile/bin:/usr/bin:/bin"
+            "SSL_CERT_FILE=${pkgs.cacert}/etc/ssl/certs/ca-bundle.crt"
+            "USER=root"
+          ];
+        };
+      };
+    });
+}
diff --git a/root/group b/root/group
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..162f79f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/group
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+root:x:0:
+wheel:x:1:
+kmem:x:2:
+tty:x:3:
+messagebus:x:4:
+disk:x:6:
+audio:x:17:
+floppy:x:18:
+uucp:x:19:
+lp:x:20:
+cdrom:x:24:
+tape:x:25:
+video:x:26:
+dialout:x:27:
+utmp:x:29:
+adm:x:55:
+keys:x:96:
+users:x:100:
+input:x:174:
+nixbld:x:30000:nixbld1,nixbld10,nixbld11,nixbld12,nixbld13,nixbld14,nixbld15,nixbld16,nixbld17,nixbld18,nixbld19,nixbld2,nixbld20,nixbld21,nixbld22,nixbld23,nixbld24,nixbld25,nixbld26,nixbld27,nixbld28,nixbld29,nixbld3,nixbld30,nixbld31,nixbld32,nixbld4,nixbld5,nixbld6,nixbld7,nixbld8,nixbld9
+nogroup:x:65534:
diff --git a/root/nsswitch.conf b/root/nsswitch.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0c0338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/nsswitch.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+passwd:    files mymachines systemd
+group:     files mymachines systemd
+shadow:    files
+
+hosts:     files mymachines dns myhostname
+networks:  files
+
+ethers:    files
+services:  files
+protocols: files
+rpc:       files
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/root/passwd b/root/passwd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7490e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/root/passwd
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+root:x:0:0:System administrator:/root:/bin/bash
+nixbld1:x:30001:30000:Nix build user 1:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld2:x:30002:30000:Nix build user 2:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld3:x:30003:30000:Nix build user 3:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld4:x:30004:30000:Nix build user 4:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld5:x:30005:30000:Nix build user 5:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld6:x:30006:30000:Nix build user 6:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld7:x:30007:30000:Nix build user 7:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld8:x:30008:30000:Nix build user 8:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld9:x:30009:30000:Nix build user 9:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld10:x:30010:30000:Nix build user 10:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld11:x:30011:30000:Nix build user 11:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld12:x:30012:30000:Nix build user 12:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld13:x:30013:30000:Nix build user 13:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld14:x:30014:30000:Nix build user 14:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld15:x:30015:30000:Nix build user 15:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld16:x:30016:30000:Nix build user 16:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld17:x:30017:30000:Nix build user 17:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld18:x:30018:30000:Nix build user 18:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld19:x:30019:30000:Nix build user 19:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld20:x:30020:30000:Nix build user 20:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld21:x:30021:30000:Nix build user 21:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld22:x:30022:30000:Nix build user 22:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld23:x:30023:30000:Nix build user 23:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld24:x:30024:30000:Nix build user 24:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld25:x:30025:30000:Nix build user 25:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld26:x:30026:30000:Nix build user 26:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld27:x:30027:30000:Nix build user 27:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld28:x:30028:30000:Nix build user 28:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld29:x:30029:30000:Nix build user 29:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld30:x:30030:30000:Nix build user 30:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld31:x:30031:30000:Nix build user 31:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nixbld32:x:30032:30000:Nix build user 32:/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
+nobody:x:65534:65534:Unprivileged account (don't use!):/var/empty:/run/current-system/sw/bin/nologin
\ No newline at end of file