*scratch*.el

;; Given that I have a list of my packages as follows:
;; '((package package-require) (package))
;; Where each element in the list is a list containing
;; either 1 element e, which means I just need to do
;; (package-install e) and (require e)
;; or two elements, e and r, which means I need to do
;; (package-install e) but (require r)
;; Much like I want to (package-install helm) but
;; (require helm-config)
;; Is there something that does something similar to this already, or
;; is this solution alright? Any tips? Better solutions?
;; See below for maybe-require-package
(while my-packages
  (setq-local curp (car my-packages))
  (if (> (length curp) 1)
      (progn  (message "Package %s requires %s" (car curp) (car (last curp)))
               (maybe-require-package (car curp))
               (require (car (last curp)))
               )
    (progn  (maybe-require-package (car curp))
             (require (car curp)))
      )
  (setq my-packages (cdr my-packages))
  )

(defun maybe-require-package (package &optional min-version no-refresh)
  "Try to install PACKAGE, and return non-nil if successful.
In the event of failure, return nil and print a warning message.
Optionally require MIN-VERSION.  If NO-REFRESH is non-nil, the
available package lists will not be re-downloaded in order to
locate PACKAGE."
  (condition-case err
      (require-package package min-version no-refresh)
    (error
     (message "Couldn't install package `%s': %S" package err)
     nil)))

(defun require-package (package &optional min-version no-refresh)
  "Install given PACKAGE, optionally requiring MIN-VERSION.
If NO-REFRESH is non-nil, the available package lists will not be
re-downloaded in order to locate PACKAGE."
  (if (package-installed-p package min-version)
      t
    (if (or (assoc package package-archive-contents) no-refresh)
        (package-install package)
      (progn
        (package-refresh-contents)
        (require-package package min-version t)))))