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-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/administration/containers.chapter.md8
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.md14
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.xml21
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/administration/troubleshooting.chapter.md12
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/config-syntax.chapter.md8
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.md27
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.xml31
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/declarative-packages.section.md6
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/file-systems.chapter.md6
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/networking.chapter.md18
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/package-mgmt.chapter.md6
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/configuration/profiles.chapter.md24
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/default.nix47
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/development/development.md14
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/development/development.xml20
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/development/nixos-tests.chapter.md10
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/development/what-happens-during-a-system-switch.chapter.md6
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-documentation.chapter.md2
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-modules.chapter.md20
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-nixos-tests.section.md6
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.md11
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.xml18
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/installation/installing.chapter.md14
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/manual.md53
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/manual.xml23
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/nixos-options.md7
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/preface.md11
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/preface.xml42
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.md25
-rw-r--r--nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.xml30
-rw-r--r--pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/manual.py319
-rw-r--r--pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/options.py5
32 files changed, 430 insertions, 434 deletions
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/containers.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/containers.chapter.md
index ea51f91f698..50493b562b5 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/containers.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/containers.chapter.md
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ which is often not what you want. By contrast, in the imperative
 approach, containers are configured and updated independently from the
 host system.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="imperative-containers.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="declarative-containers.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="container-networking.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+imperative-containers.section.md
+declarative-containers.section.md
+container-networking.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.md b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..48e8c7c6668
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Administration {#ch-running}
+
+This chapter describes various aspects of managing a running NixOS system, such as how to use the {command}`systemd` service manager.
+
+```{=include=} chapters
+service-mgmt.chapter.md
+rebooting.chapter.md
+user-sessions.chapter.md
+control-groups.chapter.md
+logging.chapter.md
+cleaning-store.chapter.md
+containers.chapter.md
+troubleshooting.chapter.md
+```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index d9fcc1aee26..00000000000
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/running.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-<part xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"
-      xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
-      xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
-      version="5.0"
-      xml:id="ch-running">
- <title>Administration</title>
- <partintro xml:id="ch-running-intro">
-  <para>
-   This chapter describes various aspects of managing a running NixOS system,
-   such as how to use the <command>systemd</command> service manager.
-  </para>
- </partintro>
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/service-mgmt.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/rebooting.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/user-sessions.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/control-groups.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/logging.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/cleaning-store.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/containers.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/administration/troubleshooting.chapter.xml" />
-</part>
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/troubleshooting.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/troubleshooting.chapter.md
index 548456eaf6d..1253607f8ef 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/administration/troubleshooting.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/administration/troubleshooting.chapter.md
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 This chapter describes solutions to common problems you might encounter
 when you manage your NixOS system.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="boot-problems.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="maintenance-mode.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="rollback.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="store-corruption.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="network-problems.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+boot-problems.section.md
+maintenance-mode.section.md
+rollback.section.md
+store-corruption.section.md
+network-problems.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/config-syntax.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/config-syntax.chapter.md
index 9f8d45d5889..9e606b2b82a 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/config-syntax.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/config-syntax.chapter.md
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ manual](https://nixos.org/nix/manual/#chap-writing-nix-expressions), but
 here we give a short overview of the most important constructs useful in
 NixOS configuration files.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="config-file.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="abstractions.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="modularity.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+config-file.section.md
+abstractions.section.md
+modularity.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.md b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4c966f3325b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Configuration {#ch-configuration}
+
+This chapter describes how to configure various aspects of a NixOS machine through the configuration file {file}`/etc/nixos/configuration.nix`. As described in [](#sec-changing-config), changes to this file only take effect after you run {command}`nixos-rebuild`.
+
+```{=include=} chapters
+config-syntax.chapter.md
+package-mgmt.chapter.md
+user-mgmt.chapter.md
+file-systems.chapter.md
+x-windows.chapter.md
+wayland.chapter.md
+gpu-accel.chapter.md
+xfce.chapter.md
+networking.chapter.md
+linux-kernel.chapter.md
+subversion.chapter.md
+```
+
+```{=include=} chapters
+@MODULE_CHAPTERS@
+```
+
+```{=include=} chapters
+profiles.chapter.md
+kubernetes.chapter.md
+```
+<!-- Apache; libvirtd virtualisation -->
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index b04316cfa48..00000000000
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/configuration.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-<part xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"
-      xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
-      xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
-      version="5.0"
-      xml:id="ch-configuration">
- <title>Configuration</title>
- <partintro xml:id="ch-configuration-intro">
-  <para>
-   This chapter describes how to configure various aspects of a NixOS machine
-   through the configuration file
-   <filename>/etc/nixos/configuration.nix</filename>. As described in
-   <xref linkend="sec-changing-config" />, changes to this file only take
-   effect after you run <command>nixos-rebuild</command>.
-  </para>
- </partintro>
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/config-syntax.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/package-mgmt.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/user-mgmt.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/file-systems.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/x-windows.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/wayland.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/gpu-accel.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/xfce.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/networking.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/linux-kernel.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/subversion.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../generated/modules.xml" xpointer="xpointer(//section[@id='modules']/*)" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/profiles.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/configuration/kubernetes.chapter.xml" />
-<!-- Apache; libvirtd virtualisation -->
-</part>
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/declarative-packages.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/declarative-packages.section.md
index 337cdf8472e..02eaa56192e 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/declarative-packages.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/declarative-packages.section.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ configuration use `pkgs` prefix (variable).
 To "uninstall" a package, simply remove it from
 [](#opt-environment.systemPackages) and run `nixos-rebuild switch`.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="customizing-packages.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="adding-custom-packages.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+customizing-packages.section.md
+adding-custom-packages.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/file-systems.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/file-systems.chapter.md
index 901e2e4f181..aca978be064 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/file-systems.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/file-systems.chapter.md
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ dropping you to the emergency shell. You can make a mount asynchronous
 and non-critical by adding `options = [ "nofail" ];`.
 :::
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="luks-file-systems.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="sshfs-file-systems.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+luks-file-systems.section.md
+sshfs-file-systems.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/networking.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/networking.chapter.md
index 529dc0610bd..abbd9766f17 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/networking.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/networking.chapter.md
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 This section describes how to configure networking components
 on your NixOS machine.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="network-manager.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="ssh.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="ipv4-config.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="ipv6-config.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="firewall.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="wireless.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="ad-hoc-network-config.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="renaming-interfaces.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+network-manager.section.md
+ssh.section.md
+ipv4-config.section.md
+ipv6-config.section.md
+firewall.section.md
+wireless.section.md
+ad-hoc-network-config.section.md
+renaming-interfaces.section.md
 ```
 <!-- TODO: OpenVPN, NAT -->
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/package-mgmt.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/package-mgmt.chapter.md
index a6c414be59a..1148bbe8474 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/package-mgmt.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/package-mgmt.chapter.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ NixOS has two distinct styles of package management:
     `nix-env` command. This style allows mixing packages from different
     Nixpkgs versions. It's the only choice for non-root users.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="declarative-packages.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="ad-hoc-packages.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+declarative-packages.section.md
+ad-hoc-packages.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/profiles.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/profiles.chapter.md
index 2c3dea27c18..9f1f48f742a 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/profiles.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/configuration/profiles.chapter.md
@@ -19,16 +19,16 @@ install media, many are actually intended to be used in real installs.
 What follows is a brief explanation on the purpose and use-case for each
 profile. Detailing each option configured by each one is out of scope.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="profiles/all-hardware.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/base.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/clone-config.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/demo.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/docker-container.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/graphical.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/hardened.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/headless.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/installation-device.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/minimal.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="profiles/qemu-guest.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+profiles/all-hardware.section.md
+profiles/base.section.md
+profiles/clone-config.section.md
+profiles/demo.section.md
+profiles/docker-container.section.md
+profiles/graphical.section.md
+profiles/hardened.section.md
+profiles/headless.section.md
+profiles/installation-device.section.md
+profiles/minimal.section.md
+profiles/qemu-guest.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/default.nix b/nixos/doc/manual/default.nix
index 3da6e88c70b..8c71e510879 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/default.nix
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/default.nix
@@ -143,35 +143,26 @@ let
     ''
       cp -r --no-preserve=all $inputs/* .
 
-      declare -a convert_args
-      while read -r mf; do
-        if [[ "$mf" = *.chapter.md ]]; then
-          convert_args+=("--chapter")
-        else
-          convert_args+=("--section")
-        fi
-
-        convert_args+=("from_md/''${mf%.md}.xml" "$mf")
-      done < <(find . -type f -name '*.md')
-
-      nixos-render-docs manual docbook-fragment \
+      substituteInPlace ./manual.md \
+        --replace '@NIXOS_VERSION@' "${version}"
+      substituteInPlace ./configuration/configuration.md \
+        --replace \
+            '@MODULE_CHAPTERS@' \
+            ${lib.escapeShellArg (lib.concatMapStringsSep "\n" (p: "${p.value}") config.meta.doc)}
+      substituteInPlace ./nixos-options.md \
+        --replace \
+          '@NIXOS_OPTIONS_JSON@' \
+          ${optionsDoc.optionsJSON}/share/doc/nixos/options.json
+      substituteInPlace ./development/writing-nixos-tests.section.md \
+        --replace \
+          '@NIXOS_TEST_OPTIONS_JSON@' \
+          ${testOptionsDoc.optionsJSON}/share/doc/nixos/options.json
+
+      nixos-render-docs manual docbook \
         --manpage-urls ${manpageUrls} \
-        "''${convert_args[@]}"
-
-      mkdir ./generated
-      ln -s ${optionsDoc.optionsDocBook} ./generated/options-db.xml
-      ln -s ${testOptionsDoc.optionsDocBook} ./generated/test-options-db.xml
-      printf "%s" "${version}" > ./generated/version
-      chmod -R u+w .
-
-      nixos-render-docs manual docbook-section \
-        --manpage-urls ${manpageUrls} \
-        ./generated/modules.xml \
-        --section \
-          --section-id modules \
-          --chapters ${lib.concatMapStrings (p: "${p.value} ") config.meta.doc}
-
-      xmllint --xinclude --output ./manual-combined.xml ./manual.xml
+        --revision ${lib.escapeShellArg revision} \
+        ./manual.md \
+        ./manual-combined.xml
 
       ${linterFunctions}
 
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/development/development.md b/nixos/doc/manual/development/development.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6a0dd091b12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/development/development.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Development {#ch-development}
+
+This chapter describes how you can modify and extend NixOS.
+
+```{=include=} chapters
+sources.chapter.md
+writing-modules.chapter.md
+building-parts.chapter.md
+bootspec.chapter.md
+what-happens-during-a-system-switch.chapter.md
+writing-documentation.chapter.md
+nixos-tests.chapter.md
+testing-installer.chapter.md
+```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/development/development.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/development/development.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 949468c9021..00000000000
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/development/development.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-<part   xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"
-        xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
-        xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
-        version="5.0"
-        xml:id="ch-development">
- <title>Development</title>
- <partintro xml:id="ch-development-intro">
-  <para>
-   This chapter describes how you can modify and extend NixOS.
-  </para>
- </partintro>
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/sources.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/writing-modules.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/building-parts.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/bootspec.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/what-happens-during-a-system-switch.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/writing-documentation.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/nixos-tests.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/development/testing-installer.chapter.xml" />
-</part>
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/development/nixos-tests.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/development/nixos-tests.chapter.md
index 2a4fdddeaa6..ec0e4b9f076 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/development/nixos-tests.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/development/nixos-tests.chapter.md
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ NixOS tests are kept in the directory `nixos/tests`, and are executed
 (using Nix) by a testing framework that automatically starts one or more
 virtual machines containing the NixOS system(s) required for the test.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="writing-nixos-tests.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="running-nixos-tests.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="running-nixos-tests-interactively.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="linking-nixos-tests-to-packages.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+writing-nixos-tests.section.md
+running-nixos-tests.section.md
+running-nixos-tests-interactively.section.md
+linking-nixos-tests-to-packages.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/development/what-happens-during-a-system-switch.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/development/what-happens-during-a-system-switch.chapter.md
index aad82831a3c..9cbec729803 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/development/what-happens-during-a-system-switch.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/development/what-happens-during-a-system-switch.chapter.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Most of these actions are either self-explaining but some of them have to do
 with our units or the activation script. For this reason, these topics are
 explained in the next sections.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="unit-handling.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="activation-script.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+unit-handling.section.md
+activation-script.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-documentation.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-documentation.chapter.md
index 4986c9f0a81..8d504dfb0b0 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-documentation.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-documentation.chapter.md
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ Keep the following guidelines in mind when you create and add a topic:
 
 ## Adding a Topic to the Book {#sec-writing-docs-adding-a-topic}
 
-Open the parent XML file and add an `xi:include` element to the list of
+Open the parent CommonMark file and add a line to the list of
 chapters with the file name of the topic that you created. If you
 created a `section`, you add the file to the `chapter` file. If you created
 a `chapter`, you add the file to the `part` file.
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-modules.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-modules.chapter.md
index a0ec4a5df96..ae657458d76 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-modules.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-modules.chapter.md
@@ -189,14 +189,14 @@ in {
 ```
 :::
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="option-declarations.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="option-types.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="option-def.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="assertions.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="meta-attributes.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="importing-modules.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="replace-modules.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="freeform-modules.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="settings-options.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+option-declarations.section.md
+option-types.section.md
+option-def.section.md
+assertions.section.md
+meta-attributes.section.md
+importing-modules.section.md
+replace-modules.section.md
+freeform-modules.section.md
+settings-options.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-nixos-tests.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-nixos-tests.section.md
index d80e314e625..3de46fda3df 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-nixos-tests.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/development/writing-nixos-tests.section.md
@@ -470,6 +470,8 @@ In that case, `numpy` is chosen from the generic `python3Packages`.
 
 The following options can be used when writing tests.
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="../../generated/test-options-db.xml" xpointer="test-options-list"/>
+```{=include=} options
+id-prefix: test-opt-
+list-id: test-options-list
+source: @NIXOS_TEST_OPTIONS_JSON@
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.md b/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..14059425660
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Installation {#ch-installation}
+
+This section describes how to obtain, install, and configure NixOS for first-time use.
+
+```{=include=} chapters
+obtaining.chapter.md
+installing.chapter.md
+changing-config.chapter.md
+upgrading.chapter.md
+building-nixos.chapter.md
+```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index ba07d71d0ca..00000000000
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installation.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-<part xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"
-      xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
-      xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
-      version="5.0"
-      xml:id="ch-installation">
- <title>Installation</title>
- <partintro xml:id="ch-installation-intro">
-  <para>
-   This section describes how to obtain, install, and configure NixOS for
-   first-time use.
-  </para>
- </partintro>
- <xi:include href="../from_md/installation/obtaining.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/installation/installing.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/installation/changing-config.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/installation/upgrading.chapter.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/installation/building-nixos.chapter.xml" />
-</part>
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installing.chapter.md b/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installing.chapter.md
index e1908017a7e..cf783c2d22b 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installing.chapter.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/installation/installing.chapter.md
@@ -602,11 +602,11 @@ With a partitioned disk.
 
 ## Additional installation notes {#sec-installation-additional-notes}
 
-```{=docbook}
-<xi:include href="installing-usb.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="installing-pxe.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="installing-kexec.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="installing-virtualbox-guest.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="installing-from-other-distro.section.xml" />
-<xi:include href="installing-behind-a-proxy.section.xml" />
+```{=include=} sections
+installing-usb.section.md
+installing-pxe.section.md
+installing-kexec.section.md
+installing-virtualbox-guest.section.md
+installing-from-other-distro.section.md
+installing-behind-a-proxy.section.md
 ```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/manual.md b/nixos/doc/manual/manual.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1972eaeda87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/manual.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# NixOS Manual {#book-nixos-manual}
+## Version @NIXOS_VERSION@
+
+<!--
+  this is the top-level structure file for the nixos manual.
+
+  the manual structure extends the nixpkgs commonmark further with include
+  blocks to allow better organization of input text. there are six types of
+  include blocks: preface, parts, chapters, sections, appendix, and options.
+  each type except `options`` corresponds to the docbook elements of (roughly)
+  the same name, and can itself can further include blocks to denote its
+  substructure.
+
+  non-`options`` include blocks are fenced code blocks that list a number of
+  files to include, in the form
+
+     ```{=include=} <type>
+     <file-name-1>
+     <file-name-2>
+     <...>
+     ```
+
+  `options` include blocks do not list file names but contain a list of key-value
+  pairs that describe the options to be included and how to convert them into
+  elements of the manual output type:
+
+      ```{=include=} options
+      id-prefix: <options id prefix>
+      list-id: <variable list element id>
+      source: <path to options.json>
+      ```
+
+-->
+
+```{=include=} preface
+preface.md
+```
+
+```{=include=} parts
+installation/installation.md
+configuration/configuration.md
+administration/running.md
+development/development.md
+```
+
+```{=include=} chapters
+contributing-to-this-manual.chapter.md
+```
+
+```{=include=} appendix
+nixos-options.md
+release-notes/release-notes.md
+```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/manual.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/manual.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4440f8e04ba..00000000000
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/manual.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-<book xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"
-      xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
-      xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
-      version="5.0"
-      xml:id="book-nixos-manual">
- <info>
-  <title>NixOS Manual</title>
-  <subtitle>Version <xi:include href="./generated/version" parse="text" />
-  </subtitle>
- </info>
- <xi:include href="preface.xml" />
- <xi:include href="installation/installation.xml" />
- <xi:include href="configuration/configuration.xml" />
- <xi:include href="administration/running.xml" />
- <xi:include href="development/development.xml" />
- <xi:include href="./from_md/contributing-to-this-manual.chapter.xml" />
- <appendix xml:id="ch-options">
-  <title>Configuration Options</title>
-  <xi:include href="./generated/options-db.xml"
-                xpointer="configuration-variable-list" />
- </appendix>
- <xi:include href="release-notes/release-notes.xml" />
-</book>
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/nixos-options.md b/nixos/doc/manual/nixos-options.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..33b487c95a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/nixos-options.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Configuration Options {#ch-options}
+
+```{=include=} options
+id-prefix: opt-
+list-id: configuration-variable-list
+source: @NIXOS_OPTIONS_JSON@
+```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/preface.md b/nixos/doc/manual/preface.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d5e6364780a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/preface.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Preface {#preface}
+
+This manual describes how to install, use and extend NixOS, a Linux distribution based on the purely functional package management system [Nix](https://nixos.org/nix), that is composed using modules and packages defined in the [Nixpkgs](https://nixos.org/nixpkgs) project.
+
+Additional information regarding the Nix package manager and the Nixpkgs project can be found in respectively the [Nix manual](https://nixos.org/nix/manual) and the [Nixpkgs manual](https://nixos.org/nixpkgs/manual).
+
+If you encounter problems, please report them on the [`Discourse`](https://discourse.nixos.org), the [Matrix room](https://matrix.to/#nix:nixos.org), or on the [`#nixos` channel on Libera.Chat](irc://irc.libera.chat/#nixos). Alternatively, consider [contributing to this manual](#chap-contributing). Bugs should be reported in [NixOS’ GitHub issue tracker](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues).
+
+::: {.note}
+Commands prefixed with `#` have to be run as root, either requiring to login as root user or temporarily switching to it using `sudo` for example.
+:::
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/preface.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/preface.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index c0d530c3d1b..00000000000
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/preface.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-<preface xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"
-         xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
-         xml:id="preface">
- <title>Preface</title>
- <para>
-  This manual describes how to install, use and extend NixOS, a Linux
-  distribution based on the purely functional package management system
-  <link xlink:href="https://nixos.org/nix">Nix</link>, that is composed
-  using modules and packages defined in the
-  <link xlink:href="https://nixos.org/nixpkgs">Nixpkgs</link> project.
- </para>
- <para>
-  Additional information regarding the Nix package manager and the Nixpkgs
-  project can be found in respectively the
-  <link xlink:href="https://nixos.org/nix/manual">Nix manual</link> and the
-  <link xlink:href="https://nixos.org/nixpkgs/manual">Nixpkgs manual</link>.
- </para>
- <para>
-  If you encounter problems, please report them on the
-  <literal
-   xlink:href="https://discourse.nixos.org">Discourse</literal>,
-  the <link
-   xlink:href="https://matrix.to/#nix:nixos.org">Matrix room</link>,
-  or on the <link
-   xlink:href="irc://irc.libera.chat/#nixos">
-  <literal>#nixos</literal> channel on Libera.Chat</link>.
-  Alternatively, consider <link
-   xlink:href="#chap-contributing">
-   contributing to this manual</link>. Bugs should be
-  reported in
-  <link
-   xlink:href="https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues">NixOS’
-  GitHub issue tracker</link>.
- </para>
- <note>
-  <para>
-   Commands prefixed with <literal>#</literal> have to be run as root, either
-   requiring to login as root user or temporarily switching to it using
-   <literal>sudo</literal> for example.
-  </para>
- </note>
-</preface>
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.md b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ac61de3793e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Release Notes {#ch-release-notes}
+
+This section lists the release notes for each stable version of NixOS and current unstable revision.
+
+```{=include=} sections
+rl-2305.section.md
+rl-2211.section.md
+rl-2205.section.md
+rl-2111.section.md
+rl-2105.section.md
+rl-2009.section.md
+rl-2003.section.md
+rl-1909.section.md
+rl-1903.section.md
+rl-1809.section.md
+rl-1803.section.md
+rl-1709.section.md
+rl-1703.section.md
+rl-1609.section.md
+rl-1603.section.md
+rl-1509.section.md
+rl-1412.section.md
+rl-1404.section.md
+rl-1310.section.md
+```
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index bb5cc677afb..00000000000
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/release-notes.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-<appendix xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"
-          xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
-          xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
-          version="5.0"
-          xml:id="ch-release-notes">
- <title>Release Notes</title>
- <para>
-  This section lists the release notes for each stable version of NixOS and
-  current unstable revision.
- </para>
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-2305.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-2211.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-2205.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-2111.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-2105.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-2009.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-2003.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1909.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1903.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1809.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1803.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1709.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1703.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1609.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1603.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1509.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1412.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1404.section.xml" />
- <xi:include href="../from_md/release-notes/rl-1310.section.xml" />
-</appendix>
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/manual.py b/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/manual.py
index ab61d699d7f..efc8b02e8d6 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/manual.py
+++ b/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/manual.py
@@ -2,68 +2,107 @@ import argparse
 import json
 
 from abc import abstractmethod
-from collections.abc import MutableMapping, Sequence
+from collections.abc import Mapping, MutableMapping, Sequence
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, cast, NamedTuple, Optional, Union
 from xml.sax.saxutils import escape, quoteattr
+
+import markdown_it
 from markdown_it.token import Token
 from markdown_it.utils import OptionsDict
 
-from .docbook import DocBookRenderer
+from . import options
+from .docbook import DocBookRenderer, Heading
 from .md import Converter
 
-class RenderedSection:
-    id: Optional[str]
-    chapters: list[str]
-
-    def __init__(self, id: Optional[str]) -> None:
-        self.id = id
-        self.chapters = []
-
-class BaseConverter(Converter):
-    _sections: list[RenderedSection]
-
-    def __init__(self, manpage_urls: dict[str, str]):
-        super().__init__(manpage_urls)
-        self._sections = []
-
-    def add_section(self, id: Optional[str], chapters: list[Path]) -> None:
-        self._sections.append(RenderedSection(id))
-        for chpath in chapters:
-            try:
-                with open(chpath, 'r') as f:
-                    self._md.renderer._title_seen = False # type: ignore[attr-defined]
-                    self._sections[-1].chapters.append(self._render(f.read()))
-            except Exception as e:
-                raise RuntimeError(f"failed to render manual chapter {chpath}") from e
-
-    @abstractmethod
-    def finalize(self) -> str: raise NotImplementedError()
-
 class ManualDocBookRenderer(DocBookRenderer):
-    # needed to check correctness of chapters.
-    # we may want to use front matter instead of this kind of heuristic.
-    _title_seen = False
+    _toplevel_tag: str
+
+    def __init__(self, toplevel_tag: str, manpage_urls: Mapping[str, str],
+                 parser: Optional[markdown_it.MarkdownIt] = None):
+        super().__init__(manpage_urls, parser)
+        self._toplevel_tag = toplevel_tag
+        self.rules |= {
+            'included_sections': lambda *args: self._included_thing("section", *args),
+            'included_chapters': lambda *args: self._included_thing("chapter", *args),
+            'included_preface': lambda *args: self._included_thing("preface", *args),
+            'included_parts': lambda *args: self._included_thing("part", *args),
+            'included_appendix': lambda *args: self._included_thing("appendix", *args),
+            'included_options': self.included_options,
+        }
+
+    def render(self, tokens: Sequence[Token], options: OptionsDict,
+               env: MutableMapping[str, Any]) -> str:
+        wanted = { 'h1': 'title' }
+        wanted |= { 'h2': 'subtitle' } if self._toplevel_tag == 'book' else {}
+        for (i, (tag, kind)) in enumerate(wanted.items()):
+            if len(tokens) < 3 * (i + 1):
+                raise RuntimeError(f"missing {kind} ({tag}) heading")
+            token = tokens[3 * i]
+            if token.type != 'heading_open' or token.tag != tag:
+                assert token.map
+                raise RuntimeError(f"expected {kind} ({tag}) heading in line {token.map[0] + 1}", token)
+        for t in tokens[3 * len(wanted):]:
+            if t.type != 'heading_open' or (info := wanted.get(t.tag)) is None:
+                continue
+            assert t.map
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"only one {info[0]} heading ({t.markup} [text...]) allowed per "
+                f"{self._toplevel_tag}, but found a second in lines [{t.map[0] + 1}..{t.map[1]}]. "
+                "please remove all such headings except the first or demote the subsequent headings.",
+                t)
+
+        # books get special handling because they have *two* title tags. doing this with
+        # generic code is more complicated than it's worth. the checks above have verified
+        # that both titles actually exist.
+        if self._toplevel_tag == 'book':
+            assert tokens[1].children
+            assert tokens[4].children
+            if (maybe_id := cast(str, tokens[0].attrs.get('id', ""))):
+                maybe_id = "xml:id=" + quoteattr(maybe_id)
+            return (f'<book xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"'
+                    f'      xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"'
+                    f'      {maybe_id} version="5.0">'
+                    f'  <title>{self.renderInline(tokens[1].children, options, env)}</title>'
+                    f'  <subtitle>{self.renderInline(tokens[4].children, options, env)}</subtitle>'
+                    f'  {super().render(tokens[6:], options, env)}'
+                    f'</book>')
+
+        return super().render(tokens, options, env)
 
     def _heading_tag(self, token: Token, tokens: Sequence[Token], i: int, options: OptionsDict,
                      env: MutableMapping[str, Any]) -> tuple[str, dict[str, str]]:
         (tag, attrs) = super()._heading_tag(token, tokens, i, options, env)
-        if self._title_seen:
-            if token.tag == 'h1':
-                assert token.map is not None
-                raise RuntimeError(
-                    "only one title heading (# [text...]) allowed per manual chapter "
-                    f"but found a second in lines [{token.map[0]}..{token.map[1]}]. "
-                    "please remove all such headings except the first, split your "
-                    "chapters, or demote the subsequent headings to (##) or lower.",
-                    token)
+        # render() has already verified that we don't have supernumerary headings and since the
+        # book tag is handled specially we can leave the check this simple
+        if token.tag != 'h1':
             return (tag, attrs)
-        self._title_seen = True
-        return ("chapter", attrs | {
+        return (self._toplevel_tag, attrs | {
             'xmlns': "http://docbook.org/ns/docbook",
             'xmlns:xlink': "http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink",
         })
 
+    def _included_thing(self, tag: str, token: Token, tokens: Sequence[Token], i: int,
+                        options: OptionsDict, env: MutableMapping[str, Any]) -> str:
+        result = []
+        # close existing partintro. the generic render doesn't really need this because
+        # it doesn't have a concept of structure in the way the manual does.
+        if self._headings and self._headings[-1] == Heading('part', 1):
+            result.append("</partintro>")
+            self._headings[-1] = self._headings[-1]._replace(partintro_closed=True)
+        # must nest properly for structural includes. this requires saving at least
+        # the headings stack, but creating new renderers is cheap and much easier.
+        r = ManualDocBookRenderer(tag, self._manpage_urls, None)
+        for (included, path) in token.meta['included']:
+            try:
+                result.append(r.render(included, options, env))
+            except Exception as e:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"rendering {path}") from e
+        return "".join(result)
+    def included_options(self, token: Token, tokens: Sequence[Token], i: int, options: OptionsDict,
+                         env: MutableMapping[str, Any]) -> str:
+        return cast(str, token.meta['rendered-options'])
+
     # TODO minimize docbook diffs with existing conversions. remove soon.
     def paragraph_open(self, token: Token, tokens: Sequence[Token], i: int, options: OptionsDict,
                        env: MutableMapping[str, Any]) -> str:
@@ -76,127 +115,113 @@ class ManualDocBookRenderer(DocBookRenderer):
         return f"<programlisting>\n{escape(token.content)}</programlisting>"
     def fence(self, token: Token, tokens: Sequence[Token], i: int, options: OptionsDict,
               env: MutableMapping[str, Any]) -> str:
-        # HACK for temporarily being able to replace md-to-db.sh. pandoc used this syntax to
-        # allow md files to inject arbitrary docbook, and manual chapters use it.
-        if token.info == '{=docbook}':
-            return token.content
         info = f" language={quoteattr(token.info)}" if token.info != "" else ""
         return f"<programlisting{info}>\n{escape(token.content)}</programlisting>"
 
-class DocBookSectionConverter(BaseConverter):
-    __renderer__ = ManualDocBookRenderer
-
-    def finalize(self) -> str:
-        result = []
-
-        for section in self._sections:
-            id = "id=" + quoteattr(section.id) if section.id is not None else ""
-            result.append(f'<section {id}>')
-            result += section.chapters
-            result.append(f'</section>')
+class DocBookConverter(Converter):
+    def __renderer__(self, manpage_urls: Mapping[str, str],
+                     parser: Optional[markdown_it.MarkdownIt]) -> ManualDocBookRenderer:
+        return ManualDocBookRenderer('book', manpage_urls, parser)
 
-        return "\n".join(result)
+    _base_paths: list[Path]
+    _revision: str
 
-class ManualFragmentDocBookRenderer(ManualDocBookRenderer):
-    _tag: str = "chapter"
-
-    def _heading_tag(self, token: Token, tokens: Sequence[Token], i: int, options: OptionsDict,
-                     env: MutableMapping[str, Any]) -> tuple[str, dict[str, str]]:
-        (tag, attrs) = super()._heading_tag(token, tokens, i, options, env)
-        if token.tag == 'h1':
-            return (self._tag, attrs | { 'xmlns:xi': "http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude" })
-        return (tag, attrs)
-
-class DocBookFragmentConverter(Converter):
-    __renderer__ = ManualFragmentDocBookRenderer
+    def __init__(self, manpage_urls: Mapping[str, str], revision: str):
+        super().__init__(manpage_urls)
+        self._revision = revision
 
-    def convert(self, file: Path, tag: str) -> str:
-        assert isinstance(self._md.renderer, ManualFragmentDocBookRenderer)
+    def convert(self, file: Path) -> str:
+        self._base_paths = [ file ]
         try:
             with open(file, 'r') as f:
-                self._md.renderer._title_seen = False
-                self._md.renderer._tag = tag
                 return self._render(f.read())
         except Exception as e:
-            raise RuntimeError(f"failed to render manual {tag} {file}") from e
-
-
-
-class Section:
-    id: Optional[str] = None
-    chapters: list[str]
-
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
-        self.chapters = []
-
-class SectionAction(argparse.Action):
-    def __call__(self, parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, ns: argparse.Namespace,
-                 values: Union[str, Sequence[Any], None], opt_str: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
-        sections = getattr(ns, self.dest)
-        if sections is None: sections = []
-        sections.append(Section())
-        setattr(ns, self.dest, sections)
-
-class SectionIDAction(argparse.Action):
-    def __call__(self, parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, ns: argparse.Namespace,
-                 values: Union[str, Sequence[Any], None], opt_str: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
-        sections = getattr(ns, self.dest)
-        if sections is None: raise argparse.ArgumentError(self, "no active section")
-        sections[-1].id = cast(str, values)
-
-class ChaptersAction(argparse.Action):
-    def __call__(self, parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, ns: argparse.Namespace,
-                 values: Union[str, Sequence[Any], None], opt_str: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
-        sections = getattr(ns, self.dest)
-        if sections is None: raise argparse.ArgumentError(self, "no active section")
-        sections[-1].chapters.extend(map(Path, cast(Sequence[str], values)))
-
-class SingleFileAction(argparse.Action):
-    def __call__(self, parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, ns: argparse.Namespace,
-                 values: Union[str, Sequence[Any], None], opt_str: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
-        assert isinstance(values, Sequence)
-        chapters = getattr(ns, self.dest) or []
-        chapters.append((Path(values[0]), Path(values[1])))
-        setattr(ns, self.dest, chapters)
-
-def _build_cli_db_section(p: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
-    p.add_argument('--manpage-urls', required=True)
-    p.add_argument("outfile")
-    p.add_argument("--section", dest="contents", action=SectionAction, nargs=0)
-    p.add_argument("--section-id", dest="contents", action=SectionIDAction)
-    p.add_argument("--chapters", dest="contents", action=ChaptersAction, nargs='+')
+            raise RuntimeError(f"failed to render manual {file}") from e
+
+    def _parse(self, src: str, env: Optional[MutableMapping[str, Any]] = None) -> list[Token]:
+        tokens = super()._parse(src, env)
+        for token in tokens:
+            if token.type != "fence" or not token.info.startswith("{=include=} "):
+                continue
+            typ = token.info[12:].strip()
+            if typ == 'options':
+                token.type = 'included_options'
+                self._parse_options(token)
+            elif typ in [ 'sections', 'chapters', 'preface', 'parts', 'appendix' ]:
+                token.type = 'included_' + typ
+                self._parse_included_blocks(token, env)
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"unsupported structural include type '{typ}'")
+        return tokens
+
+    def _parse_included_blocks(self, token: Token, env: Optional[MutableMapping[str, Any]]) -> None:
+        assert token.map
+        included = token.meta['included'] = []
+        for (lnum, line) in enumerate(token.content.splitlines(), token.map[0] + 2):
+            line = line.strip()
+            path = self._base_paths[-1].parent / line
+            if path in self._base_paths:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"circular include found in line {lnum}")
+            try:
+                self._base_paths.append(path)
+                with open(path, 'r') as f:
+                    tokens = self._parse(f.read(), env)
+                    included.append((tokens, path))
+                self._base_paths.pop()
+            except Exception as e:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"processing included file {path} from line {lnum}") from e
+
+    def _parse_options(self, token: Token) -> None:
+        assert token.map
+
+        items = {}
+        for (lnum, line) in enumerate(token.content.splitlines(), token.map[0] + 2):
+            if len(args := line.split(":", 1)) != 2:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"options directive with no argument in line {lnum}")
+            (k, v) = (args[0].strip(), args[1].strip())
+            if k in items:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"duplicate options directive {k} in line {lnum}")
+            items[k] = v
+        try:
+            id_prefix = items.pop('id-prefix')
+            varlist_id = items.pop('list-id')
+            source = items.pop('source')
+        except KeyError as e:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"options directive {e} missing in block at line {token.map[0] + 1}")
+        if items.keys():
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"unsupported options directives in block at line {token.map[0] + 1}",
+                " ".join(items.keys()))
 
-def _build_cli_db_fragment(p: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
-    p.add_argument('--manpage-urls', required=True)
-    p.add_argument("--chapter", action=SingleFileAction, required=True, nargs=2)
-    p.add_argument("--section", action=SingleFileAction, required=True, nargs=2)
+        try:
+            conv = options.DocBookConverter(
+                self._manpage_urls, self._revision, False, 'fragment', varlist_id, id_prefix)
+            with open(self._base_paths[-1].parent / source, 'r') as f:
+                conv.add_options(json.load(f))
+            token.meta['rendered-options'] = conv.finalize(fragment=True)
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"processing options block in line {token.map[0] + 1}") from e
 
-def _run_cli_db_section(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
-    with open(args.manpage_urls, 'r') as manpage_urls:
-        md = DocBookSectionConverter(json.load(manpage_urls))
-        for section in args.contents:
-            md.add_section(section.id, section.chapters)
-        with open(args.outfile, 'w') as f:
-            f.write(md.finalize())
 
-def _run_cli_db_fragment(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
+
+def _build_cli_db(p: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
+    p.add_argument('--manpage-urls', required=True)
+    p.add_argument('--revision', required=True)
+    p.add_argument('infile', type=Path)
+    p.add_argument('outfile', type=Path)
+
+def _run_cli_db(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
     with open(args.manpage_urls, 'r') as manpage_urls:
-        md = DocBookFragmentConverter(json.load(manpage_urls))
-        for kind in [ 'chapter', 'section' ]:
-            for (target, file) in getattr(args, kind):
-                converted = md.convert(file, kind)
-                target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-                target.write_text(converted)
+        md = DocBookConverter(json.load(manpage_urls), args.revision)
+        converted = md.convert(args.infile)
+        args.outfile.write_text(converted)
 
 def build_cli(p: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
     formats = p.add_subparsers(dest='format', required=True)
-    _build_cli_db_section(formats.add_parser('docbook-section'))
-    _build_cli_db_fragment(formats.add_parser('docbook-fragment'))
+    _build_cli_db(formats.add_parser('docbook'))
 
 def run_cli(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
-    if args.format == 'docbook-section':
-        _run_cli_db_section(args)
-    elif args.format == 'docbook-fragment':
-        _run_cli_db_fragment(args)
+    if args.format == 'docbook':
+        _run_cli_db(args)
     else:
         raise RuntimeError('format not hooked up', args)
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/options.py b/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/options.py
index b0db410c481..3cba36140bb 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/options.py
+++ b/pkgs/tools/nix/nixos-render-docs/src/nixos_render_docs/options.py
@@ -231,10 +231,11 @@ class DocBookConverter(BaseConverter):
     def _decl_def_footer(self) -> list[str]:
         return [ "</simplelist>" ]
 
-    def finalize(self) -> str:
+    def finalize(self, *, fragment: bool = False) -> str:
         result = []
 
-        result.append('<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>')
+        if not fragment:
+            result.append('<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>')
         if self._document_type == 'appendix':
             result += [
                 '<appendix xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook"',