init.el

; ELPA
(require 'package)
(package-initialize)
(add-to-list 'package-archives '("marmalade" . "http://marmalade-repo.org/packages/") t)
(add-to-list 'package-archives '("melpa" . "http://melpa.milkbox.net/packages/") t)

(defvar preload-packages '())
(setq preload-packages
      '(
        auctex
        ess
        magit
        ;mark-more-like-this ;in MELPA this is part of mark-multiple
        mark-multiple
        gh
        gist
        smex
        js2-mode
        unbound
        markdown-mode
        ace-jump-mode
        haskell-mode
        ))

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

(unless (preload-packages-installed-p)
  (message "%s" "Refreshing package database...")
  (package-refresh-contents)
  (message "%s" " done.")
  (loop for p in preload-packages
        when (not (package-installed-p p)) do (package-install p)))