diff --git a/lib/systems/default.nix b/lib/systems/default.nix
index d682eb815003c..a9c0edd2d6e06 100644
--- a/lib/systems/default.nix
+++ b/lib/systems/default.nix
@@ -91,7 +91,19 @@ let
         && final.parsed.kernel == platform.parsed.kernel;
       isCompatible = _: throw "2022-05-23: isCompatible has been removed in favor of canExecute, refer to the 22.11 changelog for details";
       # Derived meta-data
-      useLLVM = final.isFreeBSD || final.isOpenBSD;
+
+      toolchain =
+        /**/ if final.isDarwin then "apple"
+        else if final.isFreeBSD || final.isOpenBSD then "llvm"
+        else "gnu";
+
+      cc = if final.toolchain == "apple" || final.toolchain == "llvm" then
+        "clang"
+      else "gcc";
+
+      bintools = if final.toolchain == "apple" || final.toolchain == "bintools" then
+        "llvm"
+      else "gnu";
 
       libc =
         /**/ if final.isDarwin                then "libSystem"
@@ -118,8 +130,8 @@ let
       # independently, so we are just doing `linker` and keeping `useLLVM` for
       # now.
       linker =
-        /**/ if final.useLLVM or false      then "lld"
-        else if final.isDarwin              then "cctools"
+        /**/ if final.toolchain == "llvm" then "lld"
+        else if final.toolchain == "apple" then "cctools"
         # "bfd" and "gold" both come from GNU binutils. The existence of Gold
         # is why we use the more obscure "bfd" and not "binutils" for this
         # choice.
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/cc-wrapper/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/cc-wrapper/default.nix
index 001123fe3d857..a2789f401c5aa 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/cc-wrapper/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/cc-wrapper/default.nix
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ let
   useGccForLibs = useCcForLibs
     && libcxx == null
     && !targetPlatform.isDarwin
-    && !(targetPlatform.useLLVM or false)
+    && !(targetPlatform.cc == "clang")
     && !(targetPlatform.useAndroidPrebuilt or false)
     && !(targetPlatform.isiOS or false)
     && gccForLibs != null;
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ stdenvNoCC.mkDerivation {
     + optionalString (isClang
                       && targetPlatform.isLinux
                       && !(targetPlatform.useAndroidPrebuilt or false)
-                      && !(targetPlatform.useLLVM or false)
+                      && !(targetPlatform.cc == "clang")
                       && gccForLibs != null) (''
       echo "--gcc-toolchain=${gccForLibs}" >> $out/nix-support/cc-cflags
 
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/cy/cyrus_sasl/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/cy/cyrus_sasl/package.nix
index 68d019ca2619b..738db8c71b506 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/cy/cyrus_sasl/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/cy/cyrus_sasl/package.nix
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       "--enable-shared"
     ]
     ++ lib.optional enableLdap "--with-ldap=${openldap.dev}"
-    ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) [
+    ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") [
       "--disable-sample"
       "CFLAGS=-DTIME_WITH_SYS_TIME"
     ];
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/el/elfutils/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/el/elfutils/package.nix
index e29b8b5c1c02e..22e8e4f7e5e56 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/el/elfutils/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/el/elfutils/package.nix
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isMusl [ ./musl-error_h.patch ]
     # Prevent headers and binaries from colliding which results in an error.
     # https://sourceware.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2024q3/007281.html
-    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) ./cxx-header-collision.patch;
+    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") ./cxx-header-collision.patch;
 
   postPatch =
     ''
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       bzip2
     ]
     ++ lib.optional enableDebuginfod pkg-config
-    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) autoreconfHook;
+    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") autoreconfHook;
   buildInputs =
     [
       zlib
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       # Versioned symbols are nice to have, but we can do without.
       (lib.enableFeature (!stdenv.hostPlatform.isMicroBlaze) "symbol-versioning")
     ]
-    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) "--disable-demangler"
+    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") "--disable-demangler"
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.cc.isClang [
       "CFLAGS=-Wno-unused-private-field"
       "CXXFLAGS=-Wno-unused-private-field"
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ke/kexec-tools/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/ke/kexec-tools/package.nix
index 5eef5475390ed..972d286e5809b 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ke/kexec-tools/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ke/kexec-tools/package.nix
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/void-linux/void-packages/6c1192cbf166698932030c2e3de71db1885a572d/srcpkgs/kexec-tools/patches/ppc64-elfv2.patch";
       sha256 = "19wzfwb0azm932v0vhywv4221818qmlmvdfwpvvpfyw4hjsc2s1l";
     })
-  ] ++ lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false) ./fix-purgatory-llvm-libunwind.patch;
+  ] ++ lib.optional (stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang") ./fix-purgatory-llvm-libunwind.patch;
 
   hardeningDisable = [
     "format"
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/li/libseccomp/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/li/libseccomp/package.nix
index 9ff313c84a65e..373e1565e0201 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/li/libseccomp/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/li/libseccomp/package.nix
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     util-linuxMinimal
     which
   ];
-  doCheck = !(stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false);
+  doCheck = !(stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang");
 
   # Hack to ensure that patchelf --shrink-rpath get rids of a $TMPDIR reference.
   preFixup = "rm -rfv src";
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/so/sourceHighlight/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/so/sourceHighlight/package.nix
index 16eaa9e42e6ab..95f5806049f5f 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/so/sourceHighlight/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/so/sourceHighlight/package.nix
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ updateAutotoolsGnuConfigScriptsHook ];
   buildInputs =
     [ boost ]
-    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) (
+    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") (
       llvmPackages.compiler-rt.override {
         doFakeLibgcc = true;
       }
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ SuperSandro2000 ];
   };
 }
-// lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) {
+// lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") {
   # Force linking to "libgcc" so tests pass
   NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-lgcc";
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/compiler-rt/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/compiler-rt/default.nix
index f859a415b5db2..8e6730402aa62 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/compiler-rt/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/compiler-rt/default.nix
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 
 let
 
-  useLLVM = stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false;
+  useLLVM = stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang";
   bareMetal = stdenv.hostPlatform.parsed.kernel.name == "none";
   haveLibc = stdenv.cc.libc != null;
   # TODO: Make this account for GCC having libstdcxx, which will help
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/default.nix
index b53f76e96c11f..1862308444353 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/default.nix
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ let
       clang =
         if stdenv.targetPlatform.libc == null then
           tools.clangNoLibc
-        else if stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false then
+        else if stdenv.targetPlatform.toolchain == "llvm" then
           tools.clangUseLLVM
         else if (pkgs.targetPackages.stdenv or args.stdenv).cc.isGNU then
           tools.libstdcxxClang
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ let
                 echo "--unwindlib=libunwind" >> $out/nix-support/cc-cflags
                 echo "-L${targetLlvmLibraries.libunwind}/lib" >> $out/nix-support/cc-ldflags
               ''
-              + lib.optionalString (!stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm && stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) ''
+              + lib.optionalString (!stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm && stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") ''
                 echo "-lunwind" >> $out/nix-support/cc-ldflags
               ''
               + lib.optionalString stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm ''
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ let
             ++ lib.optional (
               !stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm
               && !stdenv.targetPlatform.isFreeBSD
-              && stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false
+              && stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang"
             ) "-lunwind"
             ++ lib.optional stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm "-fno-exceptions";
           nixSupport.cc-ldflags = lib.optionals (
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ let
                 echo "--unwindlib=libunwind" >> $out/nix-support/cc-cflags
                 echo "-L${targetLlvmLibraries.libunwind}/lib" >> $out/nix-support/cc-ldflags
               ''
-              + lib.optionalString (!stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm && stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) ''
+              + lib.optionalString (!stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm && stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") ''
                 echo "-lunwind" >> $out/nix-support/cc-ldflags
               ''
               + lib.optionalString stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm ''
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ let
             ++ lib.optional (
               !stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm
               && !stdenv.targetPlatform.isFreeBSD
-              && stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false
+              && stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang"
             ) "-lunwind"
             ++ lib.optional stdenv.targetPlatform.isWasm "-fno-exceptions";
           nixSupport.cc-ldflags = lib.optionals (
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ let
             # Darwin needs to use a bootstrap stdenv to avoid an infinite recursion when cross-compiling.
             if args.stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin then
               overrideCC darwin.bootstrapStdenv buildLlvmTools.clangWithLibcAndBasicRtAndLibcxx
-            else if args.stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false then
+            else if args.stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang" then
               overrideCC args.stdenv buildLlvmTools.clangWithLibcAndBasicRtAndLibcxx
             else
               args.stdenv;
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ let
           patches = compiler-rtPatches;
           inherit stdenv;
         }
-        // lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false) {
+        // lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang") {
           libxcrypt = (libxcrypt.override { inherit stdenv; }).overrideAttrs (old: {
             configureFlags = old.configureFlags ++ [ "--disable-symvers" ];
           });
@@ -1091,7 +1091,7 @@ let
 
       compiler-rt-no-libc = callPackage ./compiler-rt {
         patches = compiler-rtPatches;
-        doFakeLibgcc = stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false;
+        doFakeLibgcc = stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang";
         stdenv =
           # Darwin needs to use a bootstrap stdenv to avoid an infinite recursion when cross-compiling.
           if stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin then
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/libcxx/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/libcxx/default.nix
index fe9ae5d0d502b..e891065604200 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/libcxx/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/llvm/common/libcxx/default.nix
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ let
   runtimes = [ "libcxx" ] ++ lib.optional (cxxabi == null) "libcxxabi";
 
   # Note: useLLVM is likely false for Darwin but true under pkgsLLVM
-  useLLVM = stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false;
+  useLLVM = stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang";
 
   src' = if monorepoSrc != null then
     runCommand "${pname}-src-${version}" {} (''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/1_82.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/1_82.nix
index 9d1281352ee1f..08beecd4c57ac 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/1_82.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/1_82.nix
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ let
       {
         enableSharedLibraries = true;
       }
-      // lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) {
+      // lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") {
         # Force LLVM to compile using clang + LLVM libs when targeting pkgsLLVM
         stdenv = pkgSet.stdenv.override {
           allowedRequisites = null;
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ import ./default.nix
 
     # Expose llvmPackages used for rustc from rustc via passthru for LTO in Firefox
     llvmPackages =
-      if (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) then
+      if (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") then
         callPackage (
           {
             pkgs,
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix
index 2641755a86d46..5f155fc5a6539 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ let
     concatStringsSep
     ;
   inherit (darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks) Security;
-  useLLVM = stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false;
+  useLLVM = stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang";
 in
 stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   pname = "${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}rustc";
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
       # doesn't work) to build a linker.
       "--disable-llvm-bitcode-linker"
     ]
-    ++ optionals (stdenv.targetPlatform.isLinux && !(stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false)) [
+    ++ optionals (stdenv.targetPlatform.isLinux && !(stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang")) [
       "--enable-profiler" # build libprofiler_builtins
     ]
     ++ optionals stdenv.buildPlatform.isMusl [
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/kerberos/krb5.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/kerberos/krb5.nix
index 7a4df60f0ae5b..752b8c47929f6 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/kerberos/krb5.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/kerberos/krb5.nix
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ++ lib.optionals (
       stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux
       && stdenv.hostPlatform.libc != "bionic"
-      && !(stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false)
+      && !(stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang")
     ) [ keyutils ]
     ++ lib.optionals withLdap [ openldap ]
     ++ lib.optionals withLibedit [ libedit ]
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libunwind/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libunwind/default.nix
index f0f7de192f448..06359801d316e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libunwind/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libunwind/default.nix
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     hash = "sha256-rCFBHs6rCSnp5FEwbUR5veNNTqSQpFblAv8ebSPX0qE=";
   };
 
-  patches = lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) (fetchpatch {
+  patches = lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") (fetchpatch {
     url = "https://github.com/libunwind/libunwind/pull/770/commits/a69d0f14c9e6c46e82ba6e02fcdedb2eb63b7f7f.patch";
     hash = "sha256-9oBZimCXonNN++jJs3emp9w+q1aj3eNzvSKPgh92itA=";
   });
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libva/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libva/default.nix
index 9fd523a70610c..a0ee6feb8dc05 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libva/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libva/default.nix
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
       {
         NIX_LDFLAGS = "--undefined-version";
       }
-    // lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) {
+    // lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") {
       NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = "-DHAVE_SECURE_GETENV";
     };
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix
index f0cf68f8b6aa6..5de255f09363a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ let
         ++ lib.optional static "etc";
       setOutputFlags = false;
       separateDebugInfo =
-        !stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin && !(stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false) && stdenv.cc.isGNU;
+        !stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin && !(stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang") && stdenv.cc.isGNU;
 
       nativeBuildInputs =
         lib.optional (!stdenv.hostPlatform.isWindows) makeBinaryWrapper
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/quictls/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/quictls/default.nix
index 63ddc6313d6a7..8602ad3730054 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/quictls/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/quictls/default.nix
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   separateDebugInfo =
     !stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin &&
-    !(stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false) &&
+    !(stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang") &&
     stdenv.cc.isGNU;
 
   # TODO(@Ericson2314): Improve with mass rebuild
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix
index 7289820b60df1..bc05903255ecb 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   ];
   buildInputs =
     [ freetype ]
-    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) (
+    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") (
       llvmPackages.compiler-rt.override {
         doFakeLibgcc = true;
       }
diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/jedi/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/jedi/default.nix
index b88dc9311e91b..99158971e561a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/jedi/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/jedi/default.nix
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
       # AssertionError: assert 'foo' in ['setup']
       "test_init_extension_module"
     ]
-    ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) [
+    ++ lib.optionals (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") [
       # InvalidPythonEnvironment: The python binary is potentially unsafe.
       "test_create_environment_executable"
       # AssertionError: assert ['', '.1000000000000001'] == ['', '.1']
diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/mako/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/mako/default.nix
index 0735cf8f2c9e7..04df5dfa08373 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/mako/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/mako/default.nix
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
       "test_bytestring_passthru"
     ]
     # https://github.com/sqlalchemy/mako/issues/408
-    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) "test_future_import";
+    ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") "test_future_import";
 
   meta = with lib; {
     description = "Super-fast templating language";
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix
index 425775e9dd163..131b556a2d6ab 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     ++ lib.optionals withPasswordQuality [ libpwquality ]
     ++ lib.optionals withQrencode [ qrencode ]
     ++ lib.optionals withLibarchive [ libarchive ]
-    ++ lib.optional (withBootloader && stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) (llvmPackages.compiler-rt.override {
+    ++ lib.optional (withBootloader && stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") (llvmPackages.compiler-rt.override {
       doFakeLibgcc = true;
     })
   ;
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/windows/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/windows/default.nix
index 59806318a23ec..5921d78ff30ac 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/windows/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/windows/default.nix
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ lib.makeScope newScope (
 
     # FIXME untested with llvmPackages_16 was using llvmPackages_8
     crossThreadsStdenv = overrideCC stdenvNoLibc (
-      if stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false then
+      if stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang" then
         buildPackages.llvmPackages.clangNoLibcxx
       else
         buildPackages.gccWithoutTargetLibc.override (old: {
diff --git a/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix b/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix
index 94158aa99fcd9..c8fdf6c11bb28 100644
--- a/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix
+++ b/pkgs/servers/x11/xorg/overrides.nix
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ self: super:
     ];
     configureFlags = attrs.configureFlags or []
       ++ malloc0ReturnsNullCrossFlag
-      ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) "ac_cv_path_RAWCPP=cpp";
+      ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") "ac_cv_path_RAWCPP=cpp";
     depsBuildBuild = [
       buildPackages.stdenv.cc
     ] ++ lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isStatic [
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ self: super:
     '';
     configureFlags = attrs.configureFlags or []
       ++ malloc0ReturnsNullCrossFlag
-      ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) "ac_cv_path_RAWCPP=cpp";
+      ++ lib.optional (stdenv.targetPlatform.cc == "clang") "ac_cv_path_RAWCPP=cpp";
     propagatedBuildInputs = attrs.propagatedBuildInputs or [] ++ [ xorg.libSM ];
     depsBuildBuild = [ buildPackages.stdenv.cc ];
     CPP = if stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin then "clang -E -" else "${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}cc -E -";
diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/cross/default.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/cross/default.nix
index 69ea14be5c83d..7fdfcdfcedb35 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/cross/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/cross/default.nix
@@ -118,14 +118,16 @@ lib.init bootStages
                 throw "no C compiler provided for this platform"
               else if crossSystem.isDarwin then
                 buildPackages.llvmPackages.libcxxClang
-              else if crossSystem.useLLVM or false then
+              else if crossSystem.cc == "clang" then
                 buildPackages.llvmPackages.clang
-              else if crossSystem.useZig or false then
+              else if crossSystem.cc == "zig" then
                 buildPackages.zig.cc
-              else if crossSystem.useArocc or false then
+              else if crossSystem.cc == "arocc" then
                 buildPackages.arocc
+              else if crossSystem.cc == "gcc" then
+                buildPackages.gcc
               else
-                buildPackages.gcc;
+                throw "no C compiler provided for this platform";
 
           };
         in
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index d0967333170e1..198fdb6231589 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ with pkgs;
       # thing to to create an earlier thing (leading to infinite recursion) and
       # we also would still respect the stage arguments choices for these
       # things.
-      (if stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.isDarwin || stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false
+      (if stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.isDarwin || stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.toolchain == "llvm"
        then overrideCC stdenvNoCC buildPackages.llvmPackages.clangNoCompilerRt
        else gccCrossLibcStdenv)
     else mkStdenvNoLibs stdenv;
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ with pkgs;
   stdenvNoLibc =
     if stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform != stdenvNoCC.buildPlatform
     then
-      (if stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.isDarwin || stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false
+      (if stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.isDarwin || stdenvNoCC.hostPlatform.toolchain == "llvm"
        then overrideCC stdenvNoCC buildPackages.llvmPackages.clangNoLibc
        else gccCrossLibcStdenv)
     else mkStdenvNoLibs stdenv;
@@ -6126,7 +6126,7 @@ with pkgs;
           # temporarily disabled due to breakage;
           # see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/243249
           && !stdenv.targetPlatform.isWindows
-          && !(stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false)
+          && !(stdenv.targetPlatform.toolchain == "llvm")
         ;
       };
       bintools = binutilsNoLibc;
@@ -9234,7 +9234,7 @@ with pkgs;
     else libcCrossChooser stdenv.targetPlatform.libc;
 
   threadsCross =
-    lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.isMinGW && !(stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false)) {
+    lib.optionalAttrs (stdenv.targetPlatform.isMinGW && stdenv.targetPlatform.toolchain != "llvm") {
       # other possible values: win32 or posix
       model = "mcf";
       # For win32 or posix set this to null
@@ -9707,7 +9707,7 @@ with pkgs;
   libcomps = callPackage ../tools/package-management/libcomps { python = python3; };
 
   libcxxrt = callPackage ../development/libraries/libcxxrt {
-    stdenv = if stdenv.hostPlatform.useLLVM or false
+    stdenv = if stdenv.hostPlatform.cc == "clang"
              then overrideCC stdenv buildPackages.llvmPackages.tools.clangNoLibcxx
              else stdenv;
   };
@@ -12249,7 +12249,7 @@ with pkgs;
 
   busybox = callPackage ../os-specific/linux/busybox {
     # Fixes libunwind from being dynamically linked to a static binary.
-    stdenv = if (stdenv.targetPlatform.useLLVM or false) then
+    stdenv = if stdenv.targetPlatform.toolchain == "llvm" then
       overrideCC stdenv buildPackages.llvmPackages.clangNoLibcxx
     else stdenv;
   };
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix b/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
index 78c22d4f70e2f..1a052111efe81 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
@@ -202,8 +202,7 @@ let
       # This is currently not possible when compiling natively,
       # so we don't need to check hostPlatform != buildPlatform.
       crossSystem = stdenv.targetPlatform // {
-        useLLVM = true;
-        linker = "lld";
+        toolchain = "llvm";
       };
     };
 
@@ -217,7 +216,8 @@ let
       # This is currently not possible when compiling natively,
       # so we don't need to check hostPlatform != buildPlatform.
       crossSystem = stdenv.hostPlatform // {
-        useArocc = true;
+        toolchain = "llvm";
+        cc = "arocc";
         linker = "lld";
       };
     };
@@ -232,7 +232,8 @@ let
       # This is currently not possible when compiling natively,
       # so we don't need to check hostPlatform != buildPlatform.
       crossSystem = stdenv.hostPlatform // {
-        useZig = true;
+        toolchain = "llvm";
+        cc = "zig";
         linker = "lld";
       };
     };