diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index e773b4f..76a7dc6 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -264,22 +264,44 @@ If the current window occupies the whole frame, split it."
 
 ;; straight.el: the better package manager?
 ;; minified bootstrap (split lines if you want) (or not)
-;; (defvar bootstrap-version) (let ((bootstrap-file (expand-file-name "straight/repos/straight.el/bootstrap.el" user-emacs-directory)) (bootstrap-version 5)) (unless (file-exists-p bootstrap-file) (with-current-buffer (url-retrieve-synchronously "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/radian-software/straight.el/develop/install.el" 'silent 'inhibit-cookies) (goto-char (point-max)) (eval-print-last-sexp))) (load bootstrap-file nil 'nomessage)) (straight-use-package 'use-package) (setq straight-use-package-by-default t)
+(defun straight-bootstrap ()
+  "bootstrap the `straight' package manager."
+  (defvar bootstrap-version)
+  (let ((bootstrap-file (expand-file-name "straight/repos/straight.el/bootstrap.el" user-emacs-directory)) (bootstrap-version 5)) (unless (file-exists-p bootstrap-file) (with-current-buffer (url-retrieve-synchronously "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/radian-software/straight.el/develop/install.el" 'silent 'inhibit-cookies) (goto-char (point-max)) (eval-print-last-sexp))) (load bootstrap-file nil 'nomessage))
+  (straight-use-package 'use-package)
+  (setq straight-use-package-by-default t))
 
 ;; actually, use elpaca instead
 ;; (require 'elpaca-bootstrap)
+(defun elpaca-bootstrap ()
+  "Bootstrap the `elpaca' package manager."
+  (setq elpaca-bootstrap-file (expand-file-name "elpaca-bootstrap.el"
+						user-emacs-directory))
+  (unless (file-exists-p elpaca-bootstrap-file)
+    (with-current-buffer
+	(pop-to-buffer
+	 (url-retrieve-synchronously "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/progfolio/elpaca/master/README.md"))
+      (re-search-forward (rx "### Installer\n"))
+      (let ((start (1+ (re-search-forward "```emacs-lisp")))
+            (end (- (re-search-forward "\n```") 3)))
+	(write-region start end elpaca-bootstrap-file))))
+  (load-file elpaca-bootstrap-file))
 
-(setq elpaca-bootstrap-file (expand-file-name "elpaca-bootstrap.el"
-                                              user-emacs-directory))
-(unless (file-exists-p elpaca-bootstrap-file)
-  (with-current-buffer
-      (pop-to-buffer
-       (url-retrieve-synchronously "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/progfolio/elpaca/master/README.md"))
-    (re-search-forward (rx "### Installer\n"))
-    (let ((start (1+ (re-search-forward "```emacs-lisp")))
-          (end (- (re-search-forward "\n```") 3)))
-      (write-region start end elpaca-bootstrap-file))))
-(load-file elpaca-bootstrap-file)
+(defun nix-bootstrap ()
+  "placeholder function. Ideally, load nix packages"
+  (message "you never set up nix packages, baka!"))
+
+(if (executable-find "home-manager")
+    (nix-bootstrap)
+  (if (eq system-type 'windows-nt)
+      (straight-bootstrap)
+    (elpaca-bootstrap)))
+
+(fset #'use-package--orig #'use-package)
+(defmacro use-package (&rest args)
+  "re-definition of use-package to replace the downloader depending on system"
+  (require 'dash)
+  `(use-package--orig ,@()))
 
 ;; see https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/1937vaz/emacs_291_on_windows_install_magit_requires_seq/?rdt=48529
 ;; ;; seq version workaround