Hi!

A quick reply, I only skimmed your post and I need to be making breakfast :)

- It reminds me of the positive side of "Lunar Linux" a source distro. 
In Lunar all "modules" are simply build scripts held in a CVS tree. So 
all developers with a commit bit can add/modify/update the "universe" of 
modules. The effects are numerous:
	- Very easy to contribute
	- Everyone has the same "picture" at the same time
	- You get an automatic "universe" effect, but even "over time", since 
the repo evolves "hand in hand" with the base code base and the packages 
also evolve hand in hand with their dependencies.

- Regarding having to trust code; Deltas are loaded first, and then 
installed. IIRC Henrik Gedenryds module system implemented atomic 
loading by first compiling classes and then in a last big become 
operation they were "swapped in place". Before the last step the classes 
were "hanging on the side" again, IIRC.

- The various ideas (Metacello, Sake etc) that use/abuse the SCM tools 
for maintaining meta information are both "neat" and "disturbing" at the 
same time. :)

Anyway, I need to read your thoughts once more before giving proper 
feedback.

regards, Göran