New interface for passing build information among specs (#1875)

- Added a new interface for Specs to pass build information
  - Calls forwarded from Spec to Package are now explicit
  - Added descriptor within Spec to manage forwarding
  - Added state in Spec to maintain query information
  - Modified a few packages (the one involved in spack install pexsi) to showcase changes

- This uses an object wrapper to `spec` to implement the `libs` sub-calls.
  - wrapper is returned from `__getitem__` only if spec is concrete
  - allows packagers to access build information easily

45 files changed, 389 insertions, 147 deletions

diff --git a/lib/spack/llnl/util/lang.py b/lib/spack/llnl/util/lang.py
index 331cf2b3c5..d9fef42e53 100644
--- a/lib/spack/llnl/util/lang.py
+++ b/lib/spack/llnl/util/lang.py
@@ -374,3 +374,17 @@ def duplicate_stream(original):
     :rtype: file like object
     """
     return os.fdopen(os.dup(original.fileno()))
+
+
+class ObjectWrapper(object):
+    """Base class that wraps an object. Derived classes can add new behavior
+    while staying undercover.
+
+    This class is modeled after the stackoverflow answer:
+      -  http://stackoverflow.com/a/1445289/771663
+    """
+    def __init__(self, wrapped_object):
+        wrapped_cls = type(wrapped_object)
+        wrapped_name = wrapped_cls.__name__
+        self.__class__ = type(wrapped_name, (type(self), wrapped_cls), {})
+        self.__dict__ = wrapped_object.__dict__
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package.py b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
index 361691379e..3be3bffc70 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ import re
 import sys
 import textwrap
 import time
-from StringIO import StringIO
 
 import llnl.util.lock
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
@@ -57,6 +56,7 @@ import spack.mirror
 import spack.repository
 import spack.url
 import spack.util.web
+from StringIO import StringIO
 from llnl.util.filesystem import *
 from llnl.util.lang import *
 from llnl.util.link_tree import LinkTree
@@ -1053,6 +1053,10 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         touch(join_path(self.prefix.bin, 'fake'))
         mkdirp(self.prefix.include)
         mkdirp(self.prefix.lib)
+        library_name = 'lib' + self.name
+        dso_suffix = 'dylib' if sys.platform == 'darwin' else 'so'
+        touch(join_path(self.prefix.lib, library_name + dso_suffix))
+        touch(join_path(self.prefix.lib, library_name + '.a'))
         mkdirp(self.prefix.man1)
 
     def _if_make_target_execute(self, target):
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
index 5c7acfcd95..c0ee8486db 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
@@ -96,32 +96,35 @@ specs to avoid ambiguity.  Both are provided because ~ can cause shell
 expansion when it is the first character in an id typed on the command line.
 """
 import base64
-import hashlib
+import collections
+import csv
 import ctypes
-from StringIO import StringIO
+import hashlib
+import itertools
 from operator import attrgetter
 
-from yaml.error import MarkedYAMLError
-
+import cStringIO
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
-from llnl.util.lang import *
-from llnl.util.tty.color import *
-
 import spack
 import spack.architecture
-import spack.store
 import spack.compilers as compilers
 import spack.error
 import spack.parse
+import spack.store
+import spack.util.spack_json as sjson
+import spack.util.spack_yaml as syaml
+from cStringIO import StringIO
+from llnl.util.filesystem import find_libraries
+from llnl.util.lang import *
+from llnl.util.tty.color import *
 from spack.build_environment import get_path_from_module, load_module
+from spack.provider_index import ProviderIndex
+from spack.util.crypto import prefix_bits
 from spack.util.prefix import Prefix
-from spack.util.string import *
-import spack.util.spack_yaml as syaml
-import spack.util.spack_json as sjson
 from spack.util.spack_yaml import syaml_dict
-from spack.util.crypto import prefix_bits
+from spack.util.string import *
 from spack.version import *
-from spack.provider_index import ProviderIndex
+from yaml.error import MarkedYAMLError
 
 __all__ = [
     'Spec',
@@ -750,6 +753,161 @@ class DependencyMap(HashableMap):
         return "{deps: %s}" % ', '.join(str(d) for d in sorted(self.values()))
 
 
+def _libs_default_handler(descriptor, spec, cls):
+    """Default handler when looking for 'libs' attribute. The default
+    tries to search for 'lib{spec.name}' recursively starting from
+    `spec.prefix`.
+
+    :param ForwardQueryToPackage descriptor: descriptor that triggered
+        the call
+    :param Spec spec: spec that is being queried
+    :param type(spec) cls: type of spec, to match the signature of the
+        descriptor `__get__` method
+    """
+    name = 'lib' + spec.name
+    shared = '+shared' in spec
+    return find_libraries(
+        [name], root=spec.prefix, shared=shared, recurse=True
+    )
+
+
+def _cppflags_default_handler(descriptor, spec, cls):
+    """Default handler when looking for cppflags attribute. The default
+    just returns '-I{spec.prefix.include}'.
+
+    :param ForwardQueryToPackage descriptor: descriptor that triggered
+        the call
+    :param Spec spec: spec that is being queried
+    :param type(spec) cls: type of spec, to match the signature of the
+        descriptor `__get__` method
+    """
+    return '-I' + spec.prefix.include
+
+
+class ForwardQueryToPackage(object):
+    """Descriptor used to forward queries from Spec to Package"""
+
+    def __init__(self, attribute_name, default_handler=None):
+        """Initializes the instance of the descriptor
+
+        :param str attribute_name: name of the attribute to be
+            searched for in the Package instance
+        :param callable default_handler: [optional] default function
+            to be called if the attribute was not found in the Package
+            instance
+        """
+        self.attribute_name = attribute_name
+        # Turn the default handler into a function with the right
+        # signature that always returns None
+        if default_handler is None:
+            default_handler = lambda descriptor, spec, cls: None
+        self.default = default_handler
+
+    def __get__(self, instance, cls):
+        """Retrieves the property from Package using a well defined chain
+        of responsibility.
+
+        The order of call is :
+
+        1. if the query was through the name of a virtual package try to
+            search for the attribute `{virtual_name}_{attribute_name}`
+            in Package
+
+        2. try to search for attribute `{attribute_name}` in Package
+
+        3. try to call the default handler
+
+        The first call that produces a value will stop the chain.
+
+        If no call can handle the request or a None value is produced,
+        then AttributeError is raised.
+        """
+        pkg = instance.package
+        try:
+            query = instance.last_query
+        except AttributeError:
+            # There has been no query yet: this means
+            # a spec is trying to access its own attributes
+            _ = instance[instance.name]  # NOQA: ignore=F841
+            query = instance.last_query
+
+        callbacks_chain = []
+        # First in the chain : specialized attribute for virtual packages
+        if query.isvirtual:
+            specialized_name = '{0}_{1}'.format(
+                query.name, self.attribute_name
+            )
+            callbacks_chain.append(lambda: getattr(pkg, specialized_name))
+        # Try to get the generic method from Package
+        callbacks_chain.append(lambda: getattr(pkg, self.attribute_name))
+        # Final resort : default callback
+        callbacks_chain.append(lambda: self.default(self, instance, cls))
+
+        # Trigger the callbacks in order, the first one producing a
+        # value wins
+        value = None
+        for f in callbacks_chain:
+            try:
+                value = f()
+                break
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+        # 'None' value raises AttributeError : this permits to 'disable'
+        # the call in a particular package by returning None from the
+        # queried attribute, or will trigger an exception if  things
+        # searched for were not found
+        if value is None:
+            fmt = '\'{name}\' package has no relevant attribute \'{query}\'\n'  # NOQA: ignore=E501
+            fmt += '\tspec : \'{spec}\'\n'
+            fmt += '\tqueried as : \'{spec.last_query.name}\'\n'
+            fmt += '\textra parameters : \'{spec.last_query.extra_parameters}\'\n'  # NOQA: ignore=E501
+            message = fmt.format(
+                name=pkg.name,
+                query=self.attribute_name,
+                spec=instance
+            )
+            raise AttributeError(message)
+
+        return value
+
+    def __set__(self, instance, value):
+        cls_name = type(instance).__name__
+        msg = "'{0}' object attribute '{1}' is read-only"
+        raise AttributeError(msg.format(cls_name, self.attribute_name))
+
+
+class SpecBuildInterface(ObjectWrapper):
+
+    libs = ForwardQueryToPackage(
+        'libs',
+        default_handler=_libs_default_handler
+    )
+
+    cppflags = ForwardQueryToPackage(
+        'cppflags',
+        default_handler=_cppflags_default_handler
+    )
+
+    def __init__(self, spec, name, query_parameters):
+        super(SpecBuildInterface, self).__init__(spec)
+
+        # Represents a query state in a BuildInterface object
+        QueryState = collections.namedtuple(
+            'QueryState', ['name', 'extra_parameters', 'isvirtual']
+        )
+
+        is_virtual = Spec.is_virtual(name)
+        self._query_to_package = QueryState(
+            name=name,
+            extra_parameters=query_parameters,
+            isvirtual=is_virtual
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def last_query(self):
+        return self._query_to_package
+
+
 @key_ordering
 class Spec(object):
 
@@ -818,14 +976,6 @@ class Spec(object):
             self._add_dependency(spec, deptypes)
             deptypes = ()
 
-    def __getattr__(self, item):
-        """Delegate to self.package if the attribute is not in the spec"""
-        # This line is to avoid infinite recursion in case package is
-        # not present among self attributes
-        if item.endswith('libs'):
-            return getattr(self.package, item)
-        raise AttributeError(item)
-
     def get_dependency(self, name):
         dep = self._dependencies.get(name)
         if dep is not None:
@@ -2239,22 +2389,46 @@ class Spec(object):
         return self.versions[0]
 
     def __getitem__(self, name):
-        """Get a dependency from the spec by its name."""
-        for spec in self.traverse():
-            if spec.name == name:
-                return spec
-
-        if Spec.is_virtual(name):
-            # TODO: this is a kind of kludgy way to find providers
-            # TODO: should we just keep virtual deps in the DAG instead of
-            # TODO: removing them on concretize?
-            for spec in self.traverse():
-                if spec.virtual:
-                    continue
-                if spec.package.provides(name):
-                    return spec
+        """Get a dependency from the spec by its name. This call implicitly
+        sets a query state in the package being retrieved. The behavior of
+        packages may be influenced by additional query parameters that are
+        passed after a colon symbol.
+
+        Note that if a virtual package is queried a copy of the Spec is
+        returned while for non-virtual a reference is returned.
+        """
+        query_parameters = name.split(':')
+        if len(query_parameters) > 2:
+            msg = 'key has more than one \':\' symbol.'
+            msg += ' At most one is admitted.'
+            raise KeyError(msg)
+
+        name, query_parameters = query_parameters[0], query_parameters[1:]
+        if query_parameters:
+            # We have extra query parameters, which are comma separated
+            # values
+            f = cStringIO.StringIO(query_parameters.pop())
+            try:
+                query_parameters = next(csv.reader(f, skipinitialspace=True))
+            except StopIteration:
+                query_parameters = ['']
+
+        try:
+            value = next(
+                itertools.chain(
+                    # Regular specs
+                    (x for x in self.traverse() if x.name == name),
+                    (x for x in self.traverse()
+                     if (not x.virtual) and x.package.provides(name))
+                )
+            )
+        except StopIteration:
+            raise KeyError("No spec with name %s in %s" % (name, self))
+
+        if self._concrete:
+            return SpecBuildInterface(value, name, query_parameters)
 
-        raise KeyError("No spec with name %s in %s" % (name, self))
+        return value
 
     def __contains__(self, spec):
         """True if this spec satisfies the provided spec, or if any dependency
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py
index bbaa88b91d..0d7999cd36 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py
@@ -103,6 +103,18 @@ def _mock_remove(spec):
     spec.package.do_uninstall(spec)
 
 
+def test_default_queries(database):
+    install_db = database.mock.db
+    rec = install_db.get_record('zmpi')
+
+    spec = rec.spec
+    libraries = spec['zmpi'].libs
+    assert len(libraries) == 1
+
+    cppflags_expected = '-I' + spec.prefix.include
+    assert spec['zmpi'].cppflags == cppflags_expected
+
+
 def test_005_db_exists(database):
     """Make sure db cache file exists after creating."""
     install_path = database.mock.path
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/spec_dag.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/spec_dag.py
index 1578bcacbe..2c414bd0c0 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/spec_dag.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/spec_dag.py
@@ -24,9 +24,6 @@
 ##############################################################################
 """
 These tests check Spec DAG operations using dummy packages.
-You can find the dummy packages here::
-
-    spack/lib/spack/spack/test/mock_packages
 """
 import pytest
 import spack
@@ -690,3 +687,47 @@ class TestSpecDag(object):
 
         s4 = s3.copy()
         self.check_diamond_deptypes(s4)
+
+    def test_getitem_query(self):
+        s = Spec('mpileaks')
+        s.concretize()
+
+        # Check a query to a non-virtual package
+        a = s['callpath']
+
+        query = a.last_query
+        assert query.name == 'callpath'
+        assert len(query.extra_parameters) == 0
+        assert not query.isvirtual
+
+        # Check a query to a virtual package
+        a = s['mpi']
+
+        query = a.last_query
+        assert query.name == 'mpi'
+        assert len(query.extra_parameters) == 0
+        assert query.isvirtual
+
+        # Check a query to a virtual package with
+        # extra parameters after query
+        a = s['mpi:cxx,fortran']
+
+        query = a.last_query
+        assert query.name == 'mpi'
+        assert len(query.extra_parameters) == 2
+        assert 'cxx' in query.extra_parameters
+        assert 'fortran' in query.extra_parameters
+        assert query.isvirtual
+
+    def test_getitem_exceptional_paths(self):
+        s = Spec('mpileaks')
+        s.concretize()
+        # Needed to get a proxy object
+        q = s['mpileaks']
+
+        # Test that the attribute is read-only
+        with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
+            q.libs = 'foo'
+
+        with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
+            q.libs
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin.mock/packages/mpileaks/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin.mock/packages/mpileaks/package.py
index 749fcc601a..c84fdf2238 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin.mock/packages/mpileaks/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin.mock/packages/mpileaks/package.py
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ class Mpileaks(Package):
     depends_on("mpi")
     depends_on("callpath")
 
+    # Will be used to try raising an exception
+    libs = None
+
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         pass
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py
index ff27f69723..1798059ee7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py
@@ -127,13 +127,13 @@ class Abinit(Package):
         # BLAS/LAPACK
         if '+scalapack' in spec:
             oapp("--with-linalg-flavor=custom+scalapack")
-            linalg = (spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs +
-                      spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs)
+            linalg = (spec['scalapack'].libs +
+                      spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs)
 
         # elif '+elpa' in spec:
         else:
             oapp("--with-linalg-flavor=custom")
-            linalg = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+            linalg = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
 
         oapp("--with-linalg-libs=%s" % linalg.ld_flags)
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/armadillo/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/armadillo/package.py
index 2336da4520..9ab1b66880 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/armadillo/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/armadillo/package.py
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ class Armadillo(Package):
             # ARPACK support
             '-DARPACK_LIBRARY={0}'.format(arpack.joined()),
             # BLAS support
-            '-DBLAS_LIBRARY={0}'.format(spec['blas'].blas_libs.joined()),
+            '-DBLAS_LIBRARY={0}'.format(spec['blas'].libs.joined()),
             # LAPACK support
-            '-DLAPACK_LIBRARY={0}'.format(spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.joined()),
+            '-DLAPACK_LIBRARY={0}'.format(spec['lapack'].libs.joined()),
             # SuperLU support
             '-DSuperLU_INCLUDE_DIR={0}'.format(spec['superlu'].prefix.include),
             '-DSuperLU_LIBRARY={0}'.format(superlu.joined()),
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arpack-ng/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arpack-ng/package.py
index a1c18d8086..1168d4623c 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arpack-ng/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arpack-ng/package.py
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ class ArpackNg(Package):
         options.append('-DCMAKE_INSTALL_NAME_DIR:PATH=%s/lib' % prefix)
 
         # Make sure we use Spack's blas/lapack:
-        lapack_libs = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.joined(';')
-        blas_libs = spec['blas'].blas_libs.joined(';')
+        lapack_libs = spec['lapack'].libs.joined(';')
+        blas_libs = spec['blas'].libs.joined(';')
 
         options.extend([
             '-DLAPACK_FOUND=true',
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ class ArpackNg(Package):
             ])
 
         options.extend([
-            '--with-blas={0}'.format(spec['blas'].blas_libs.ld_flags),
-            '--with-lapack={0}'.format(spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.ld_flags)
+            '--with-blas={0}'.format(spec['blas'].libs.ld_flags),
+            '--with-lapack={0}'.format(spec['lapack'].libs.ld_flags)
         ])
         if '+shared' not in spec:
             options.append('--enable-shared=no')
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py
index 51f0fced2b..b62d39dde8 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py
@@ -112,8 +112,7 @@ class Atlas(Package):
             make("install")
             self.install_test()
 
-    @property
-    def blas_libs(self):
+    def libs(self):
         # libsatlas.[so,dylib,dll ] contains all serial APIs (serial lapack,
         # serial BLAS), and all ATLAS symbols needed to support them. Whereas
         # libtatlas.[so,dylib,dll ] is parallel (multithreaded) version.
@@ -135,10 +134,6 @@ class Atlas(Package):
             to_find, root=self.prefix, shared=shared, recurse=True
         )
 
-    @property
-    def lapack_libs(self):
-        return self.blas_libs
-
     def install_test(self):
         source_file = join_path(os.path.dirname(self.module.__file__),
                                 'test_cblas_dgemm.c')
@@ -146,7 +141,7 @@ class Atlas(Package):
                                  'test_cblas_dgemm.output')
 
         include_flags = ["-I%s" % self.spec.prefix.include]
-        link_flags = self.lapack_libs.ld_flags.split()
+        link_flags = self.libs.ld_flags.split()
 
         output = compile_c_and_execute(source_file, include_flags, link_flags)
         compare_output_file(output, blessed_file)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atompaw/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atompaw/package.py
index 17d0ef8209..987eb86e30 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atompaw/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atompaw/package.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class Atompaw(Package):
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         options = ['--prefix=%s' % prefix]
 
-        linalg = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        linalg = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
         options.extend([
             "--with-linalg-libs=%s" % linalg.ld_flags,
             "--enable-libxc",
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cantera/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cantera/package.py
index 5cd9fcdd17..fece11380d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cantera/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cantera/package.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class Cantera(Package):
 
         # BLAS/LAPACK support
         if '+lapack' in spec:
-            lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+            lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
             options.extend([
                 'blas_lapack_libs={0}'.format(','.join(lapack_blas.names)),
                 'blas_lapack_dir={0}'.format(spec['lapack'].prefix.lib)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cp2k/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cp2k/package.py
index 3a175ea1a2..9bf7a5bc6b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cp2k/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cp2k/package.py
@@ -88,12 +88,10 @@ class Cp2k(Package):
             cppflags = [
                 '-D__FFTW3',
                 '-D__LIBINT',
-                '-I' + spec['fftw'].prefix.include
+                spec['fftw'].cppflags
             ]
             fcflags = copy.deepcopy(optflags[self.spec.compiler.name])
-            fcflags.extend([
-                '-I' + spec['fftw'].prefix.include
-            ])
+            fcflags.append(spec['fftw'].cppflags)
             fftw = find_libraries(['libfftw3'], root=spec['fftw'].prefix.lib)
             ldflags = [fftw.search_flags]
             libs = [
@@ -154,15 +152,17 @@ class Cp2k(Package):
                     '-D__SCALAPACK'
                 ])
                 fcflags.extend([
+                    # spec['elpa:fortran'].cppflags
                     '-I' + join_path(
                         spec['elpa'].prefix,
                         'include',
                         'elpa-{0}'.format(str(spec['elpa'].version)),
                         'modules'
                     ),
+                    # spec[pexsi:fortran].cppflags
                     '-I' + join_path(spec['pexsi'].prefix, 'fortran')
                 ])
-                scalapack = spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs
+                scalapack = spec['scalapack'].libs
                 ldflags.append(scalapack.search_flags)
                 libs.extend([
                     join_path(spec['elpa'].prefix.lib,
@@ -184,8 +184,8 @@ class Cp2k(Package):
                 libs.extend(self.spec['mpi'].mpicxx_shared_libs)
                 libs.extend(self.compiler.stdcxx_libs)
             # LAPACK / BLAS
-            lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
-            blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs
+            lapack = spec['lapack'].libs
+            blas = spec['blas'].libs
 
             ldflags.append((lapack + blas).search_flags)
             libs.extend([str(x) for x in (fftw, lapack, blas)])
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
index 22fb168e65..61dae81a3d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ class Dealii(CMakePackage):
         options = []
         cxx_flags = []
 
-        lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
         options.extend([
             '-DDEAL_II_COMPONENT_EXAMPLES=ON',
             '-DDEAL_II_WITH_THREADS:BOOL=ON',
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elk/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elk/package.py
index acaf863935..148fbd999a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elk/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elk/package.py
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ class Elk(Package):
         blas = 'blas.a'
         lapack = 'lapack.a'
         if '+blas' in spec:
-            blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs.joined()
+            blas = spec['blas'].libs.joined()
         if '+lapack' in spec:
-            lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.joined()
+            lapack = spec['lapack'].libs.joined()
         # lapack must come before blas
         config['LIB_LPK'] = ' '.join([lapack, blas])
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elpa/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elpa/package.py
index b433bf40b0..fe249269c7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elpa/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/elpa/package.py
@@ -59,16 +59,16 @@ class Elpa(Package):
             'FC={0}'.format(self.spec['mpi'].mpifc),
             'CXX={0}'.format(self.spec['mpi'].mpicxx),
             'FCFLAGS={0}'.format(
-                spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.joined()
+                spec['lapack'].libs.joined()
             ),
             'LDFLAGS={0}'.format(
-                spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.joined()
+                spec['lapack'].libs.joined()
             ),
             'SCALAPACK_FCFLAGS={0}'.format(
-                spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs.joined()
+                spec['scalapack'].libs.joined()
             ),
             'SCALAPACK_LDFLAGS={0}'.format(
-                spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs.joined()
+                spec['scalapack'].libs.joined()
             ),
             '--prefix={0}'.format(self.prefix)
         ]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmsh/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmsh/package.py
index 5c42fcf39f..54ff17e387 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmsh/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmsh/package.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class Gmsh(CMakePackage):
         options.append('-DENABLE_OS_SPECIFIC_INSTALL=OFF')
 
         # Make sure GMSH picks up correct BlasLapack by providing linker flags
-        blas_lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        blas_lapack = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
         options.append(
             '-DBLAS_LAPACK_LIBRARIES={0}'.format(blas_lapack.ld_flags))
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hpl/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hpl/package.py
index fa0013de17..a171408a26 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hpl/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hpl/package.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class Hpl(Package):
             'MPlib        = -L{0}'.format(spec['mpi'].prefix.lib),
             # Linear Algebra library (BLAS or VSIPL)
             'LAinc        = {0}'.format(spec['blas'].prefix.include),
-            'LAlib        = {0}'.format(spec['blas'].blas_libs.joined()),
+            'LAlib        = {0}'.format(spec['blas'].libs.joined()),
             # F77 / C interface
             'F2CDEFS      = -DAdd_ -DF77_INTEGER=int -DStringSunStyle',
             # HPL includes / libraries / specifics
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hypre/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hypre/package.py
index 14a2a5cc0c..0c6ee732b7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hypre/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hypre/package.py
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ class Hypre(Package):
         os.environ['F77'] = spec['mpi'].mpif77
 
         # Note: --with-(lapack|blas)_libs= needs space separated list of names
-        lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
-        blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        lapack = spec['lapack'].libs
+        blas = spec['blas'].libs
 
         configure_args = [
             '--prefix=%s' % prefix,
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-mkl/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-mkl/package.py
index eb3ce37c37..6bd4689bc1 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-mkl/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-mkl/package.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class IntelMkl(IntelInstaller):
 
     @property
     def lapack_libs(self):
-        return self.blas_libs
+        return self.libs
 
     @property
     def scalapack_libs(self):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-parallel-studio/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-parallel-studio/package.py
index 287f2bb76e..afaed8b5ed 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-parallel-studio/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-parallel-studio/package.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class IntelParallelStudio(IntelInstaller):
 
     @property
     def lapack_libs(self):
-        return self.blas_libs
+        return self.libs
 
     @property
     def scalapack_libs(self):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ipopt/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ipopt/package.py
index bd1e5f36ef..1aa8e807c4 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ipopt/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ipopt/package.py
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ class Ipopt(Package):
         mumps_flags = "-ldmumps -lmumps_common -lpord -lmpiseq"
         mumps_libcmd = "-L%s " % mumps_dir.lib + mumps_flags
 
-        blas_lib = spec['blas'].blas_libs.ld_flags
-        lapack_lib = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.ld_flags
+        blas_lib = spec['blas'].libs.ld_flags
+        lapack_lib = spec['lapack'].libs.ld_flags
 
         configure_args = [
             "--prefix=%s" % prefix,
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py
index 45f64cef65..a25583e164 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class Mfem(Package):
         options = ['PREFIX=%s' % prefix]
 
         if '+lapack' in spec:
-            lapack_lib = (spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs).ld_flags  # NOQA: ignore=E501
+            lapack_lib = (spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs).ld_flags  # NOQA: ignore=E501
             options.extend([
                 'MFEM_USE_LAPACK=YES',
                 'LAPACK_OPT=-I%s' % spec['lapack'].prefix.include,
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mumps/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mumps/package.py
index 9fd5b5f36b..01469b1f0f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mumps/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mumps/package.py
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ class Mumps(Package):
             raise RuntimeError(
                 'You cannot use the variants parmetis or ptscotch without mpi')
 
-        lapack_blas = (self.spec['lapack'].lapack_libs +
-                       self.spec['blas'].blas_libs)
+        lapack_blas = (self.spec['lapack'].libs +
+                       self.spec['blas'].libs)
         makefile_conf = ["LIBBLAS = %s" % lapack_blas.ld_flags]
 
         orderings = ['-Dpord']
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class Mumps(Package):
                      'OPTC    = %s -O ' % fpic])
 
         if '+mpi' in self.spec:
-            scalapack = self.spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs
+            scalapack = self.spec['scalapack'].libs
             makefile_conf.extend(
                 ['CC = {0}'.format(self.spec['mpi'].mpicc),
                  'FC = {0}'.format(self.spec['mpi'].mpifc),
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-lapack/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-lapack/package.py
index ee011e7d1b..9d0ebae371 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-lapack/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-lapack/package.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class NetlibLapack(Package):
         if '+external-blas' in spec:
             cmake_args.extend([
                 '-DUSE_OPTIMIZED_BLAS:BOOL=ON',
-                '-DBLAS_LIBRARIES:PATH=%s' % spec['blas'].blas_libs.joined(';')
+                '-DBLAS_LIBRARIES:PATH=%s' % spec['blas'].libs.joined(';')
             ])
 
         cmake_args.extend(std_cmake_args)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-scalapack/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-scalapack/package.py
index 578d2d8988..7d8b803abf 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-scalapack/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/netlib-scalapack/package.py
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ class NetlibScalapack(Package):
         ]
 
         # Make sure we use Spack's Lapack:
-        blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs
-        lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
+        blas = spec['blas'].libs
+        lapack = spec['lapack'].libs
         options.extend([
             '-DLAPACK_FOUND=true',
             '-DLAPACK_INCLUDE_DIRS=%s' % spec['lapack'].prefix.include,
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nwchem/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nwchem/package.py
index 556dba34c2..f39d8ad0c7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nwchem/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nwchem/package.py
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ class Nwchem(Package):
             patch(url, when=condition, level=0, md5=md5)
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
-        scalapack = spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs
-        lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
-        blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        scalapack = spec['scalapack'].libs
+        lapack = spec['lapack'].libs
+        blas = spec['blas'].libs
         # see http://www.nwchem-sw.org/index.php/Compiling_NWChem
         args = []
         args.extend([
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octave/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octave/package.py
index 731e2a630f..fe6ea8ce68 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octave/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octave/package.py
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ class Octave(AutotoolsPackage):
 
         # Required dependencies
         config_args.extend([
-            "--with-blas=%s" % spec['blas'].blas_libs.ld_flags,
-            "--with-lapack=%s" % spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.ld_flags
+            "--with-blas=%s" % spec['blas'].libs.ld_flags,
+            "--with-lapack=%s" % spec['lapack'].libs.ld_flags
         ])
 
         # Strongly recommended dependencies
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octopus/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octopus/package.py
index b74befbe35..81e4543745 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octopus/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/octopus/package.py
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ class Octopus(Package):
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         arpack = find_libraries(['libarpack'], root=spec[
                                 'arpack-ng'].prefix.lib, shared=True)
-        lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
-        blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        lapack = spec['lapack'].libs
+        blas = spec['blas'].libs
         args = []
         args.extend([
             '--prefix=%s' % prefix,
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ class Octopus(Package):
             ])
         if '+scalapack' in spec:
             args.extend([
-                '--with-blacs=%s' % spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs,
-                '--with-scalapack=%s' % spec['scalapack'].scalapack_libs,
+                '--with-blacs=%s' % spec['scalapack'].libs,
+                '--with-scalapack=%s' % spec['scalapack'].libs,
             ])
             # --with-etsf-io-prefix=
             # --with-sparskit=${prefix}/lib/libskit.a
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openblas/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openblas/package.py
index 3909744dc8..5648e58b02 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openblas/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openblas/package.py
@@ -59,17 +59,6 @@ class Openblas(MakefilePackage):
 
     parallel = False
 
-    @property
-    def blas_libs(self):
-        shared = True if '+shared' in self.spec else False
-        return find_libraries(
-            ['libopenblas'], root=self.prefix, shared=shared, recurse=True
-        )
-
-    @property
-    def lapack_libs(self):
-        return self.blas_libs
-
     @run_before('edit')
     def check_compilers(self):
         # As of 06/2016 there is no mechanism to specify that packages which
@@ -151,13 +140,15 @@ class Openblas(MakefilePackage):
         blessed_file = join_path(os.path.dirname(self.module.__file__),
                                  'test_cblas_dgemm.output')
 
-        include_flags = ["-I%s" % join_path(spec.prefix, "include")]
-        link_flags = self.lapack_libs.ld_flags.split()
+        include_flags = spec.cppflags
+        link_flags = spec.libs.ld_flags
         if self.compiler.name == 'intel':
-            link_flags.extend(["-lifcore"])
-        link_flags.extend(["-lpthread"])
+            link_flags += ' -lifcore'
+        link_flags += ' -lpthread'
         if '+openmp' in spec:
-            link_flags.extend([self.compiler.openmp_flag])
+            link_flags += ' ' + self.compiler.openmp_flag
 
-        output = compile_c_and_execute(source_file, include_flags, link_flags)
+        output = compile_c_and_execute(
+            source_file, [include_flags], link_flags.split()
+        )
         compare_output_file(output, blessed_file)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmpi/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmpi/package.py
index 562ef22a09..4d09676fac 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmpi/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmpi/package.py
@@ -116,6 +116,18 @@ class Openmpi(AutotoolsPackage):
         return "http://www.open-mpi.org/software/ompi/v%s/downloads/openmpi-%s.tar.bz2" % (
             version.up_to(2), version)
 
+    @property
+    def libs(self):
+        query_parameters = self.spec.last_query.extra_parameters
+        libraries = ['libmpi']
+
+        if 'cxx' in query_parameters:
+            libraries = ['libmpi_cxx'] + libraries
+
+        return find_libraries(
+            libraries, root=self.prefix, shared=True, recurse=True
+        )
+
     def setup_dependent_environment(self, spack_env, run_env, dependent_spec):
         spack_env.set('MPICC',  join_path(self.prefix.bin, 'mpicc'))
         spack_env.set('MPICXX', join_path(self.prefix.bin, 'mpic++'))
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opium/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opium/package.py
index 521f917230..4c50bcfaf2 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opium/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opium/package.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Opium(Package):
     depends_on('lapack')
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
-        libs = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        libs = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
         options = ['LDFLAGS=%s' % libs.ld_flags]
 
         configure(*options)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/petsc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/petsc/package.py
index a9d4ff6065..3e670cba63 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/petsc/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/petsc/package.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class Petsc(Package):
         ])
         # Make sure we use exactly the same Blas/Lapack libraries
         # across the DAG. To that end list them explicitly
-        lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
         options.extend([
             '--with-blas-lapack-lib=%s' % lapack_blas.joined()
         ])
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/make.inc b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/make.inc
index a8020fb370..c97b09b424 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/make.inc
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/make.inc
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ DSUPERLU_INCLUDE = -I${DSUPERLU_DIR}/include
 INCLUDES = ${PEXSI_INCLUDE} ${DSUPERLU_INCLUDE}
 
 # Libraries
-CPP_LIB = @STDCXX_LIB @MPICXX_LIB
+CPP_LIB = @MPICXX_LIB @STDCXX_LIB
 #GFORTRAN_LIB = /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/4.8/libgfortran.a
 LAPACK_LIB = @LAPACK_LIBS
 BLAS_LIB = @BLAS_LIBS
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/package.py
index 9fc71d4c52..989e2ebf6e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pexsi/package.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class Pexsi(Package):
             '@MPICC': self.spec['mpi'].mpicc,
             '@MPICXX': self.spec['mpi'].mpicxx,
             '@MPIFC': self.spec['mpi'].mpifc,
-            '@MPICXX_LIB': ' '.join(self.spec['mpi'].mpicxx_shared_libs),
+            '@MPICXX_LIB': self.spec['mpi:cxx'].libs.joined(),
             '@RANLIB': 'ranlib',
             '@PEXSI_STAGE': self.stage.source_path,
             '@SUPERLU_PREFIX': self.spec['superlu-dist'].prefix,
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ class Pexsi(Package):
             '@PARMETIS_PREFIX': self.spec['parmetis'].prefix,
             '@LAPACK_PREFIX': self.spec['lapack'].prefix,
             '@BLAS_PREFIX': self.spec['blas'].prefix,
-            '@LAPACK_LIBS': self.spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.joined(),
-            '@BLAS_LIBS': self.spec['lapack'].blas_libs.joined(),
+            '@LAPACK_LIBS': self.spec['lapack'].libs.joined(),
+            '@BLAS_LIBS': self.spec['blas'].libs.joined(),
+            # FIXME : what to do with compiler provided libraries ?
             '@STDCXX_LIB': ' '.join(self.compiler.stdcxx_libs)
         }
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/psi4/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/psi4/package.py
index 4248c24646..d14aff363b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/psi4/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/psi4/package.py
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ class Psi4(Package):
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         cmake_args = [
             '-DBLAS_TYPE={0}'.format(spec['blas'].name.upper()),
-            '-DBLAS_LIBRARIES={0}'.format(spec['blas'].blas_libs.joined()),
+            '-DBLAS_LIBRARIES={0}'.format(spec['blas'].libs.joined()),
             '-DLAPACK_TYPE={0}'.format(spec['lapack'].name.upper()),
             '-DLAPACK_LIBRARIES={0}'.format(
-                spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.joined()),
+                spec['lapack'].libs.joined()),
             '-DBOOST_INCLUDEDIR={0}'.format(spec['boost'].prefix.include),
             '-DBOOST_LIBRARYDIR={0}'.format(spec['boost'].prefix.lib),
             '-DENABLE_CHEMPS2=OFF'
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-numpy/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-numpy/package.py
index a1aedb730c..11f6ebb1a5 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-numpy/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-numpy/package.py
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ class PyNumpy(PythonPackage):
         # for build notes see http://www.scipy.org/scipylib/building/linux.html
         lapackblas = LibraryList('')
         if '+lapack' in spec:
-            lapackblas += spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
+            lapackblas += spec['lapack'].libs
 
         if '+blas' in spec:
-            lapackblas += spec['blas'].blas_libs
+            lapackblas += spec['blas'].libs
 
         if '+blas' in spec or '+lapack' in spec:
             # note that one should not use [blas_opt] and [lapack_opt], see
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/suite-sparse/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/suite-sparse/package.py
index 740e490b5a..122032e131 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/suite-sparse/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/suite-sparse/package.py
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ class SuiteSparse(Package):
 
         # Make sure Spack's Blas/Lapack is used. Otherwise System's
         # Blas/Lapack might be picked up.
-        blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs.ld_flags
-        lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs.ld_flags
+        blas = spec['blas'].libs.ld_flags
+        lapack = spec['lapack'].libs.ld_flags
         if '@4.5.1' in spec:
             # adding -lstdc++ is clearly an ugly way to do this, but it follows
             # with the TCOV path of SparseSuite 4.5.1's Suitesparse_config.mk
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sundials/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sundials/package.py
index 6ee247b7ea..cb12a410f4 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sundials/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sundials/package.py
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ class Sundials(Package):
             cmake_args.extend([
                 '-DLAPACK_ENABLE=ON',
                 '-DLAPACK_LIBRARIES={0}'.format(
-                    (spec['lapack'].lapack_libs +
-                     spec['blas'].blas_libs).joined(';')
+                    (spec['lapack'].libs +
+                     spec['blas'].libs).joined(';')
                 )
             ])
         else:
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py
index f076358e90..802c7abc37 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class SuperluDist(Package):
     depends_on('metis@5:')
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
-        lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs + spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        lapack_blas = spec['lapack'].libs + spec['blas'].libs
         makefile_inc = []
         makefile_inc.extend([
             'PLAT         = _mac_x',
@@ -61,17 +61,17 @@ class SuperluDist(Package):
             'DSUPERLULIB  = $(DSuperLUroot)/lib/libsuperlu_dist.a',
             'BLASDEF      = -DUSE_VENDOR_BLAS',
             'BLASLIB      = %s' % lapack_blas.ld_flags,
-            'METISLIB     = -L%s -lmetis' % spec['metis'].prefix.lib,
-            'PARMETISLIB  = -L%s -lparmetis' % spec['parmetis'].prefix.lib,
+            'METISLIB     = %s' % spec['metis'].libs.ld_flags,
+            'PARMETISLIB  = %s' % spec['parmetis'].libs.ld_flags,
             'FLIBS        =',
             'LIBS         = $(DSUPERLULIB) $(BLASLIB) $(PARMETISLIB) $(METISLIB)',  # noqa
             'ARCH         = ar',
             'ARCHFLAGS    = cr',
             'RANLIB       = true',
             'CC           = {0}'.format(self.spec['mpi'].mpicc),
-            'CFLAGS       = -fPIC -std=c99 -O2 -I%s -I%s %s' % (
-                spec['parmetis'].prefix.include,
-                spec['metis'].prefix.include,
+            'CFLAGS       = -fPIC -std=c99 -O2 %s %s %s' % (
+                spec['parmetis'].cppflags,
+                spec['metis'].cppflags,
                 '-D_LONGINT' if '+int64' in spec else ''),
             'NOOPTS       = -fPIC -std=c99',
             'FORTRAN      = {0}'.format(self.spec['mpi'].mpif77),
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-mt/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-mt/package.py
index ea94c2d4c5..fd6091a0f0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-mt/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-mt/package.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class SuperluMt(Package):
         if '+blas' in spec:
             config.extend([
                 'BLASDEF    = -DUSE_VENDOR_BLAS',
-                'BLASLIB    = {0}'.format(spec['blas'].blas_libs.ld_flags)
+                'BLASLIB    = {0}'.format(spec['blas'].libs.ld_flags)
             ])
         else:
             config.append('BLASLIB    = ../lib/libblas$(PLAT).a')
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu/package.py
index 829949e504..13c11b66b9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu/package.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Superlu(Package):
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         cmake_args = [
             '-Denable_blaslib=OFF',
-            '-DBLAS_blas_LIBRARY={0}'.format(spec['blas'].blas_libs.joined())
+            '-DBLAS_blas_LIBRARY={0}'.format(spec['blas'].libs.joined())
         ]
 
         if '+fpic' in spec:
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class Superlu(Package):
             'SUPERLULIB = $(SuperLUroot)/lib/libsuperlu_{0}.a' \
             .format(self.spec.version),
             'BLASDEF    = -DUSE_VENDOR_BLAS',
-            'BLASLIB    = {0}'.format(spec['blas'].blas_libs.ld_flags),
+            'BLASLIB    = {0}'.format(spec['blas'].libs.ld_flags),
             # or BLASLIB      = -L/usr/lib64 -lblas
             'TMGLIB     = libtmglib.a',
             'LIBS       = $(SUPERLULIB) $(BLASLIB)',
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py
index a4d97a6bc7..6cf1032f83 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ class Trilinos(CMakePackage):
 
         mpi_bin = spec['mpi'].prefix.bin
         # Note: -DXYZ_LIBRARY_NAMES= needs semicolon separated list of names
-        blas = spec['blas'].blas_libs
-        lapack = spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
+        blas = spec['blas'].libs
+        lapack = spec['lapack'].libs
         options.extend([
             '-DTrilinos_ENABLE_ALL_PACKAGES:BOOL=ON',
             '-DTrilinos_ENABLE_ALL_OPTIONAL_PACKAGES:BOOL=ON',
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/veclibfort/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/veclibfort/package.py
index b906d4f9c9..fa99acfa97 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/veclibfort/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/veclibfort/package.py
@@ -44,17 +44,12 @@ class Veclibfort(Package):
     provides('blas')
     provides('lapack')
 
-    @property
-    def blas_libs(self):
+    def libs(self):
         shared = True if '+shared' in self.spec else False
         return find_libraries(
             ['libvecLibFort'], root=self.prefix, shared=shared, recurse=True
         )
 
-    @property
-    def lapack_libs(self):
-        return self.blas_libs
-
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         if sys.platform != 'darwin':
             raise InstallError('vecLibFort can be installed on macOS only')
@@ -65,6 +60,6 @@ class Veclibfort(Package):
         # test
         fc = which('fc')
         flags = ['-o', 'tester', '-O', 'tester.f90']
-        flags.extend(self.lapack_libs.ld_flags.split())
+        flags.extend(spec.libs.ld_flags.split())
         fc(*flags)
         Executable('./tester')()
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/wannier90/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/wannier90/package.py
index 119d2cf769..ad61860d73 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/wannier90/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/wannier90/package.py
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ class Wannier90(Package):
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
 
-        lapack = self.spec['lapack'].lapack_libs
-        blas = self.spec['blas'].blas_libs
+        lapack = self.spec['lapack'].libs
+        blas = self.spec['blas'].libs
         substitutions = {
             '@F90': spack_fc,
             '@MPIF90': self.spec['mpi'].mpifc,