Future capability: Package management via gui?

[Nicholas Jankowski]

I just noticed today that the number of times I've responded on the
help list to the 'why can't I get package x to run/install/etc?'
question is such that I've saved a template response. I'm sure those
around longer than me have done it far more often.

Wondered if anyone else thinks another menu option in the GUI for
'Packages' would make sense. A window showing a list of installed
packages, indicator for loaded/unloaded. checkboxes next to ones to
load, maybe another checkbox for "auto-load?" A button next to each to
'pkg update', or a big button for pkg update all. Maybe a package
install button that brings up a file/open dialog.

Along with this is a question (stemming from an admitted ignorance of
how the package install mechanics work) of why we need the
auto-loading function to be set up along with a full package
install/rebuild?  Does that provide something that a simple pkg load
XX in a global startup script would not?  I ask because it seems most
of the things in my first question up top could be handled by the
window triggering 1-line pkg commands for the CLI.

Of course, I write all of this in complete ignorance of the GUI, and
GUI programming in general, so I don't know what level of difficulty
the above entails and how worthwhile it would be as a future feature
request.

Nick J.