Install a list of Emacs packages

package-list.el

(defvar mph-packages
  '(ack-and-a-half auctex clojure-mode coffee-mode deft expand-region
                   gist groovy-mode haml-mode haskell-mode inf-ruby
                   magit magithub markdown-mode paredit projectile python
                   sass-mode rainbow-mode scss-mode solarized-theme
                   volatile-highlights yaml-mode yari zenburn-theme)
  "A list of packages to ensure are installed at launch.")

(defun mph-packages-installed-p ()
  (loop for p in mph-packages
        when (not (package-installed-p p)) do (return nil)
        finally (return t)))

(unless (mph-packages-installed-p)
  ;; check for new packages (package versions)
  (message "%s" "Emacs is now refreshing its package database...")
  (package-refresh-contents)
  (message "%s" " done.")
  ;; install the missing packages
  (dolist (p mph-packages)
    (when (not (package-installed-p p))
      (package-install p))))

(provide 'mph-packages)
;;; mph-packages.el ends here