I was impressed by pkgsrc because it is a powerful package management system that defines packages using a common tool like a Makefile. I later discovered that the PKGBUILD file is even more impressive, as its purpose is immediately clear. I initially attributed this to my greater familiarity with Bash scripting compared to Makefiles, but I now believe the true reason is PKGBUILD's level of abstraction.
It retains explicit calls to configure and make, preserving the transparency of a manual installation. This demonstrates that while increased abstraction can make code shorter, it can also hinder understanding.
Another potential advantage of greater abstraction is the ability to change the configure command for every package by modifying just one location. However, since GNU Autotools has continued to use the configure command for decades, it may not be worth sacrificing clarity for this particular benefit.
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