Re: package.el, auto-installation, and auto-removal

[Stefan Monnier]

> Pallet hooks (through advice) into package installations, plus it can
> discover the starting list of packages. It then maintains a Cask file.

OK, next question: what's a Cask file?

> So it does what you asked for at the beginning of this thread, but
> relays the actual package management to Cask.

You mean package.el isn't actually used?

> Cask manages a list of packages in an external file. It's aware of
> dependencies, repos, etc. and is quite popular for its ease of use.

"Aware of" isn't sufficient for me to understand what it does with that info.

> As Phillip Lord said, bundling Cask would remove its Python
> requirement and perhaps improve the user experience with package.el
> and the various ELPAs.

What functionality does it provide for the user (other than
auto-removal of the packages that were not explicitly installed, and
the ability to install the same set of packages, obviously)?


        Stefan