A point of collaboration?

[xeruf]

I have written https://github.com/xeruf/instalee to automate distro-independent package installation, a different approach to solve similar problems as you, it seems.

Since there are still some things I am missing in my automated setups, such as JOSM and Firefox Extensions, I think we should look into joining forces :)

[Poikilos]

The nopackage script (formerly install_any.py) has moved to https://github.com/Poikilos/nopackage. See what you think and I'll see when I can take a look at your project. The install_program_in_place function in nopackage is a huge batch-like function there so it could use some work. It also now allows for moving the application not just adding an icon for a program already where you want it, so the function isn't named well. I should split that part up into smaller functions then maybe it will be more useful to you.