The specfile (proposal)

spec.io

Ion spec(
  # this stanza is for administrative metadata
  metadata(
    author("A Cool Developer")
    email("[email protected]")
    homepage("http://www.example.com/")
    summary("This is a really cool library!")
    description("""
      Really, I swear it is.
    """)
    # ... etc
  )

  # this stanza is for info about how to build the package
  # (i.e. what files are important, what the name is, etc.)
  packageData(
    package("MyIon") # default, based on filename.
                     # will load "MyIon.io"
                     # or "MyIon/" as a directory (see https://gist.github.com/801972)

    package("vendor/MyOtherPackage") # maybe?

    binDir("bin") # this is default

    bin("mybinfile") # in "#{binDir}/mybinfile"
  )

  # and the dependencies.
  dependencies(
    depends("ion-1 >= 3")
    depends("ion-2 ~> 2", "ion-3")

    # nice syntax for specifying external dependencies
    # (not resolved automagically by any means, but it's
    # possible to build extensions into yum or apt to resolve
    # them)
    depends(rpm("rpm-1", "rpm-2"))
    depends(deb("deb-1", "deb-2"))

    # dependency groups.  not resolved by default,
    # these enable peripheral functionality like
    # tests running, etc.
    group development(
      depends("ion-4", "ion-5")
      depends(rpm("rpm-3"))
    )

    # custom names are discouraged, but supported.
    group mygroup(
      depends("ion-6")
      depends(deb("deb-3"))
    )
  )
)