diff --git a/nix/configurations/vanadium.nix b/nix/configurations/vanadium.nix
index c8b9e4d5..6be7ec17 100644
--- a/nix/configurations/vanadium.nix
+++ b/nix/configurations/vanadium.nix
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ in
     # ../nixosModules/extra/secure_dns.nix
     ../nixosModules/extra/zram.nix
     ../nixosModules/extra/leana.nix
+    ../nixosModules/extra/lean-nixos.nix
 
     #
     # Extern modules
diff --git a/nix/configurations/vanadium/home/programs.nix b/nix/configurations/vanadium/home/programs.nix
index f891b1e2..b0b931ab 100644
--- a/nix/configurations/vanadium/home/programs.nix
+++ b/nix/configurations/vanadium/home/programs.nix
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
 
     pkgs.ruler
     pkgs.mini-calc
-    pkgs.zbar
 
     # pdf
     pkgs.poppler-utils # pdfseparate, pdfunite
@@ -78,7 +77,6 @@
     # productivity / media
     pkgs.evolution
     pkgs.libreoffice
-    pkgs.minder # mindmap tool
     pkgs.calibre
     pkgs.digikam
     pkgs.nautilus
@@ -95,9 +93,7 @@
     pkgs.iamb
     pkgs.discord # keep the app for video calls
     pkgs.signal-desktop
-    pkgs.tuba # mastodon GUI client
     pkgs.emoji-picker-rs
-    pkgs.telegram-desktop # for archlinux china
 
     # wm utilities
     pkgs.xbrightness
diff --git a/nix/homeModules/common/password-store.nix b/nix/homeModules/common/password-store.nix
index 04d8c5f9..8b1dcc19 100644
--- a/nix/homeModules/common/password-store.nix
+++ b/nix/homeModules/common/password-store.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ let
 in
 {
   home.packages = lib.mkIf cfg.enable [
+    pkgs.zbar
     pkgs.pwgen
     pkgs.diceware
   ];
diff --git a/nix/nixosModules/extra/lean-nixos.nix b/nix/nixosModules/extra/lean-nixos.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b8d4a815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nix/nixosModules/extra/lean-nixos.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# disable unused tools on nixos systems (that I don't use)
+{
+  system.tools = {
+    # build a network of virtual machines? never used this.
+    nixos-build-vms.enable = false;
+
+    # only useful for installer
+    nixos-generate-config.enable = false;
+    nixos-install.enable = false;
+
+    # interactively show options, just use the repl instead
+    nixos-option.enable = false;
+  };
+}