{
  inputs = {
    nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-25.11";
    home-manager = {
      url = "github:nix-community/home-manager/release-25.11";
      inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
    };
    nix-darwin = {
      url = "github:lnl7/nix-darwin/nix-darwin-25.11";
      inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
    };
    flake-schemas.url = "https://flakehub.com/f/DeterminateSystems/flake-schemas/*";
  };

  outputs = inputs @ {
    self,
    nixpkgs,
    home-manager,
    nix-darwin,
    flake-schemas,
  }: let
    # set username, hostname, email, and time zone (TZ identifier) here as variables
    userName = "username";
    userEmail = "user@user.me";
    hostName = "hostname";
    timeZone = "America/Detroit";

    # needed if you are going to utilize home-manager
    extraSpecialArgs = {
      inherit userName hostName userEmail timeZone;
    };
    
    # for any overlay packages that you need/build
    userOverlays = { ... }: {
      nixpkgs.overlays = [
        self.common.overlays # this is user defined but it's empty
      ];
    };

    # utilizes flake-schemas, allows modularization between platforms/systems
    # currently, you are not using the full potential of flake-schemas but i included it
    # in case you build upon this flake - add platforms to the list below (e.g. "x86_64-linux")
    supportedSystems = [ "aarch64-darwin" ];
    forEachSupportedSystem = f: nixpkgs.lib.genAttrs supportedSystems (system: f {
      pkgs = import nixpkgs { inherit system; };
    });
  in {
    schemas = flake-schemas.schemas;
    common = {
      overlays = import ./common/overlays;
    };

    # a development shell where you can tailor each package to your liking
    devShell = forEachSupportedSystem ({ pkgs }: {
      default = pkgs.mkShell {
        packages = with pkgs; [
          deadnix
          nixd
        ];
      };
    });

    # system configuration utilizing home-manager
    darwinConfigurations.${hostName} =
    nix-darwin.lib.darwinSystem {
      system = "aarch64-darwin";
      specialArgs = {
        inherit userName hostName userEmail;
        hostname = hostName;
      };
      modules = [
        userOverlays
        ./machine

        home-manager.darwinModules.home-manager
        {
          home-manager.useGlobalPkgs = true;
          home-manager.useUserPackages = true;
          home-manager.extraSpecialArgs = extraSpecialArgs;
          home-manager.backupFileExtension = "bak";
          home-manager.users.${userName} = import ./home;
        }
      ];
    };

    # utilizing _just_ home-manager
    homeConfigurations.${hostName} = 
    home-manager.lib.homeManagerConfiguration {
      pkgs = forEachSupportedSystem;
      extraSpecialArgs = extraSpecialArgs;
      modules = [
        userOverlays
        ./home
      ];
    };
  };
}