Rename install.yaml -> config.yaml, install_area -> "store"

- Added a schema for config.yaml
- Moved install tree configuration to config.yaml
- Moved etc/spack/install.yaml to etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml
- renamed install_area to "store", to use a term in common with guix/nix.
  - in `config.yaml` file, it's called the `install_tree` to be more
    intuitive to users.
  - `install_tree` might've worked in the code, but `install_tree` is
    already a global function in the spack namespace, from
    llnl.util.filesystem.

23 files changed, 266 insertions, 164 deletions

diff --git a/etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml b/etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5ce60049ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# This is the default spack configuration file.
+#
+# Settings here are versioned with Spack and are intended to provide
+# sensible defaults out of the box. Spack maintainers should edit this
+# file to keep it current.
+#
+# Users can override these settings by editing the following files.
+#
+# Per-spack-instance settings (overrides defaults):
+#   $SPACK_ROOT/etc/spack/config.yaml
+#
+# Per-user settings (overrides default and site settings):
+#   ~/.spack/config.yaml
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+config:
+
+  # Precedence of configuration scopes, high to low.
+  # The user can override this paradoxically.
+  # scopes: [user, spack, default]
+
+
+  # This is the path to the root of the Spack install tree.
+  # You can use $spack here to refer to the root of the spack instance.
+  install_tree: $spack/opt/spack
+
+
+  # Temporary locations Spack can try to use for builds.
+  #
+  # Spack will use the first one it finds that exists and is writable.
+  # You can use $tempdir to refer to the system default temp directory
+  # (as returned by tempfile.gettempdir()).
+  #
+  # A value of $local indicates that Spack should run builds directly
+  # inside its install directory without staging them in temporary space.
+  build_stage:
+    - /usr/workspace/*/%u
+    - $tempdir
+    - /nfs/tmp2/%u
+    - $local
+
+
+  # Cache directory already downloaded source tarballs and archived
+  # repositories. This can be purged with spack purge
+  source_cache: $spack/var/spack/cache
+
+
+  # Cache directory for miscellaneous files, like the package index.
+  misc_cache: ~/.spack/cache
+
+
+  # If this is false, tools like curl that use SSL will not verify
+  # certifiates. (e.g., curl will use use the -k option)
+  verify_ssl: true
+
+
+  # If set to true, Spack will always check checksums after downloading
+  # archives. If false, Spack skips the checksum step.
+  checksum: true
+
+
+  # If set to true, `spack install` and friends will NOT clean
+  # potentially harmful variables from the build environment. Use wisely.
+  dirty: false
diff --git a/etc/spack/install.yaml b/etc/spack/install.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 553d09f13e..0000000000
--- a/etc/spack/install.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# This is the default spack install setup configuration.
-#
-# Changes to this file will affect all users of this spack install
-# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-install:
-    path: $spack/opt/spack
-    layout : YamlDirectoryLayout
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst b/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst
index c797e7e948..1244a27d2f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ Install options
 ----------------------------
 
 By default, Spack will install software into ``opt/spack``.
-To set a custom install directory, the option ``path`` in
-``install.yaml`` can be used. This file can be found
+To set a custom install directory, the option ``install_tree`` in
+``config.yaml`` can be used. This file can be found
 in a Spack installation's ``etc/spack/`` or a user's ``~/.spack/``
 directory.
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/__init__.py b/lib/spack/spack/__init__.py
index 8a0733871f..ab03c0c848 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/__init__.py
@@ -146,22 +146,6 @@ for path in _tmp_candidates:
 do_checksum = True
 
 #
-# SYS_TYPE to use for the spack installation.
-# Value of this determines what platform spack thinks it is by
-# default.  You can assign three types of values:
-# 1. None
-#    Spack will try to determine the sys_type automatically.
-#
-# 2. A string
-#    Spack will assume that the sys_type is hardcoded to the value.
-#
-# 3. A function that returns a string:
-#    Spack will use this function to determine the sys_type.
-#
-sys_type = None
-
-
-#
 # When packages call 'from spack import *', this extra stuff is brought in.
 #
 # Spack internal code should call 'import spack' and accesses other
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
index 942b525bf6..f626bab1af 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ import sys
 
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
 import spack
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 from llnl.util.filesystem import *
 from spack.environment import EnvironmentModifications, validate
 from spack.util.environment import *
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ def set_build_environment_variables(pkg, env, dirty=False):
     env.set(SPACK_PREFIX, pkg.prefix)
 
     # Install root prefix
-    env.set(SPACK_INSTALL, spack.install_area.path)
+    env.set(SPACK_INSTALL, spack.store.root)
 
     # Stuff in here sanitizes the build environemnt to eliminate
     # anything the user has set that may interfere.
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
index 0da542e930..8000c9f1f2 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ from llnl.util.tty.color import *
 import spack
 import spack.config
 import spack.spec
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 
 #
 # Settings for commands that modify configuration
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def elide_list(line_list, max_num=10):
 
 
 def disambiguate_spec(spec):
-    matching_specs = spack.install_area.db.query(spec)
+    matching_specs = spack.store.db.query(spec)
     if not matching_specs:
         tty.die("Spec '%s' matches no installed packages." % spec)
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py
index d7d2f9770c..5ab54bdb61 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 import argparse
 
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 import spack.modules
 from spack.util.pattern import Bunch
 __all__ = ['add_common_arguments']
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class ConstraintAction(argparse.Action):
     def __call__(self, parser, namespace, values, option_string=None):
         # Query specs from command line
         d = self.qualifiers.get(namespace.subparser_name, {})
-        specs = [s for s in spack.install_area.db.query(**d)]
+        specs = [s for s in spack.store.db.query(**d)]
         values = ' '.join(values)
         if values:
             specs = [x for x in specs if x.satisfies(values, strict=True)]
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/deactivate.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/deactivate.py
index 859025034a..fedd078972 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/deactivate.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/deactivate.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import llnl.util.tty as tty
 
 import spack
 import spack.cmd
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 from spack.graph import topological_sort
 
 description = "Deactivate a package extension."
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def deactivate(parser, args):
     if args.all:
         if pkg.extendable:
             tty.msg("Deactivating all extensions of %s" % pkg.spec.short_spec)
-            ext_pkgs = spack.install_area.db.installed_extensions_for(spec)
+            ext_pkgs = spack.store.db.installed_extensions_for(spec)
 
             for ext_pkg in ext_pkgs:
                 ext_pkg.spec.normalize()
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/extensions.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/extensions.py
index 49572263c5..bd149044ca 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/extensions.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/extensions.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from llnl.util.tty.colify import colify
 import spack
 import spack.cmd
 import spack.cmd.find
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 
 description = "List extensions for package."
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def extensions(parser, args):
     # List specs of installed extensions.
     #
     installed = [s.spec
-                 for s in spack.install_area.db.installed_extensions_for(spec)]
+                 for s in spack.store.db.installed_extensions_for(spec)]
 
     print
     if not installed:
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def extensions(parser, args):
     #
     # List specs of activated extensions.
     #
-    activated = spack.install_area.layout.extension_map(spec)
+    activated = spack.store.layout.extension_map(spec)
     print
     if not activated:
         tty.msg("None activated.")
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
index 9e631d6e24..50e6112486 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import sys
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
 import spack
 import spack.spec
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 from llnl.util.lang import *
 from llnl.util.tty.colify import *
 from llnl.util.tty.color import *
@@ -146,9 +146,9 @@ def find(parser, args):
 
     # Get all the specs the user asked for
     if not query_specs:
-        specs = set(spack.install_area.db.query(**q_args))
+        specs = set(spack.store.db.query(**q_args))
     else:
-        results = [set(spack.install_area.db.query(qs, **q_args))
+        results = [set(spack.store.db.query(qs, **q_args))
                    for qs in query_specs]
         specs = set.union(*results)
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/reindex.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/reindex.py
index 10c5ea4c05..7dddda2ffb 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/reindex.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/reindex.py
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@
 # Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
 ##############################################################################
 import spack
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 description = "Rebuild Spack's package database."
 
 
 def reindex(parser, args):
-    spack.install_area.db.reindex(spack.install_area.layout)
+    spack.store.db.reindex(spack.store.layout)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/uninstall.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/uninstall.py
index 26d6080ffb..f48b28ff73 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/uninstall.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/uninstall.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import argparse
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
 import spack
 import spack.cmd
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 import spack.repository
 
 description = "Remove an installed package"
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def concretize_specs(specs, allow_multiple_matches=False, force=False):
     specs_from_cli = []
     has_errors = False
     for spec in specs:
-        matching = spack.install_area.db.query(spec)
+        matching = spack.store.db.query(spec)
         # For each spec provided, make sure it refers to only one package.
         # Fail and ask user to be unambiguous if it doesn't
         if not allow_multiple_matches and len(matching) > 1:
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/config.py b/lib/spack/spack/config.py
index 89e02e33df..1bd1689150 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/config.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/config.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ section_schemas = {
     'repos': spack.schema.repos.schema,
     'packages': spack.schema.packages.schema,
     'modules': spack.schema.modules.schema,
-    'install': spack.schema.install.schema,
+    'config': spack.schema.config.schema,
 }
 
 """OrderedDict of config scopes keyed by name.
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/database.py b/lib/spack/spack/database.py
index e0db8c3167..e8902ec024 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/database.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/database.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ import llnl.util.tty as tty
 from llnl.util.filesystem import *
 from llnl.util.lock import *
 
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 import spack.repository
 from spack.directory_layout import DirectoryLayoutError
 from spack.version import Version
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ class Database(object):
         if version > _db_version:
             raise InvalidDatabaseVersionError(_db_version, version)
         elif version < _db_version:
-            self.reindex(spack.install_area.layout)
+            self.reindex(spack.store.layout)
             installs = dict((k, v.to_dict()) for k, v in self._data.items())
 
         def invalid_record(hash_key, error):
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ class Database(object):
         else:
             # The file doesn't exist, try to traverse the directory.
             # reindex() takes its own write lock, so no lock here.
-            self.reindex(spack.install_area.layout)
+            self.reindex(spack.store.layout)
 
     def _add(self, spec, directory_layout=None, explicit=False):
         """Add an install record for this spec to the database.
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/install_area.py b/lib/spack/spack/install_area.py
deleted file mode 100644
index b99df4c570..0000000000
--- a/lib/spack/spack/install_area.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-__author__ = "Benedikt Hegner (CERN)"
-
-import re
-
-import llnl.util.tty as tty
-from llnl.util.filesystem import *
-
-#
-# Read in the config
-#
-import spack.config
-config = spack.config.get_config("install")
-
-#
-# Set up the install path
-#
-path = re.sub(r'^\$spack', spack.prefix, config['path'])
-
-#
-# Set up the installed packages database
-#
-from spack.database import Database
-db = Database(path)
-
-#
-# This controls how spack lays out install prefixes and
-# stage directories.
-#
-import spack.directory_layout
-
-try:
-    layout_name = config["layout"]
-    layout_class = getattr(spack.directory_layout,layout_name)
-    layout = layout_class(path)
-except:
-     tty.die("Invalid install directory layout %s chosen." %layout_name)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package.py b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
index d9145508e3..6bc3362639 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ from StringIO import StringIO
 import llnl.util.lock
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
 import spack
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 import spack.compilers
 import spack.directives
 import spack.error
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         if not self.is_extension:
             raise ValueError(
                 "is_extension called on package that is not an extension.")
-        exts = spack.install_area.layout.extension_map(self.extendee_spec)
+        exts = spack.store.layout.extension_map(self.extendee_spec)
         return (self.name in exts) and (exts[self.name] == self.spec)
 
     def provides(self, vpkg_name):
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         TODO: move this method to database.py?
         """
         dependents = []
-        for spec in spack.install_area.db.query():
+        for spec in spack.store.db.query():
             if self.name == spec.name:
                 continue
             # XXX(deptype): Should build dependencies not count here?
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
     def prefix_lock(self):
         """Prefix lock is a byte range lock on the nth byte of a file.
 
-        The lock file is ``spack.install_area.db.prefix_lock`` -- the DB
+        The lock file is ``spack.store.db.prefix_lock`` -- the DB
         tells us what to call it and it lives alongside the install DB.
 
         n is the sys.maxsize-bit prefix of the DAG hash.  This makes
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
             prefix = self.spec.prefix
             if prefix not in Package.prefix_locks:
                 Package.prefix_locks[prefix] = llnl.util.lock.Lock(
-                    spack.install_area.db.prefix_lock_path,
+                    spack.store.db.prefix_lock_path,
                     self.spec.dag_hash_bit_prefix(bit_length(sys.maxsize)), 1)
 
             self._prefix_lock = Package.prefix_locks[prefix]
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         Removes the prefix for a package along with any empty parent
         directories
         """
-        spack.install_area.layout.remove_install_directory(self.spec)
+        spack.store.layout.remove_install_directory(self.spec)
 
     def do_fetch(self, mirror_only=False):
         """
@@ -1153,15 +1153,15 @@ class PackageBase(object):
             return
 
         # Ensure package is not already installed
-        layout = spack.install_area.layout
+        layout = spack.store.layout
         with self._prefix_read_lock():
             if layout.check_installed(self.spec):
                 tty.msg(
                     "%s is already installed in %s" % (self.name, self.prefix))
-                rec = spack.install_area.db.get_record(self.spec)
+                rec = spack.store.db.get_record(self.spec)
                 if (not rec.explicit) and explicit:
-                    with spack.install_area.db.write_transaction():
-                        rec = spack.install_area.db.get_record(self.spec)
+                    with spack.store.db.write_transaction():
+                        rec = spack.store.db.get_record(self.spec)
                         rec.explicit = True
                 return
 
@@ -1266,15 +1266,15 @@ class PackageBase(object):
 
         try:
             # Create the install prefix and fork the build process.
-            spack.install_area.layout.create_install_directory(self.spec)
+            spack.store.layout.create_install_directory(self.spec)
             # Fork a child to do the actual installation
             spack.build_environment.fork(self, build_process, dirty=dirty)
             # If we installed then we should keep the prefix
             keep_prefix = True if self.last_phase is None else keep_prefix
             # note: PARENT of the build process adds the new package to
             # the database, so that we don't need to re-read from file.
-            spack.install_area.db.add(
-                self.spec, spack.install_area.layout, explicit=explicit
+            spack.store.db.add(
+                self.spec, spack.store.layout, explicit=explicit
             )
         except directory_layout.InstallDirectoryAlreadyExistsError:
             # Abort install if install directory exists.
@@ -1303,15 +1303,16 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         """
         self.last_phase = kwargs.pop('stop_at', None)
         if self.last_phase is not None and self.last_phase not in self.phases:
-            tty.die('\'{0.last_phase}\' is not among the allowed phases for package {0.name}'.format(self))  # NOQA: ignore=E501
+            tty.die('\'{0}\' is not an allowed phase for package {1}'
+                    .format(self.last_phase, self.name))
 
     def log(self):
         # Copy provenance into the install directory on success
-        log_install_path = spack.install_area.layout.build_log_path(
+        log_install_path = spack.store.layout.build_log_path(
             self.spec)
-        env_install_path = spack.install_area.layout.build_env_path(
+        env_install_path = spack.store.layout.build_env_path(
             self.spec)
-        packages_dir = spack.install_area.layout.build_packages_path(
+        packages_dir = spack.store.layout.build_packages_path(
             self.spec)
 
         # Remove first if we're overwriting another build
@@ -1345,7 +1346,8 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         check_paths(self.sanity_check_is_dir, 'directory', os.path.isdir)
 
         installed = set(os.listdir(self.prefix))
-        installed.difference_update(spack.install_area.layout.hidden_file_paths)
+        installed.difference_update(
+            spack.store.layout.hidden_file_paths)
         if not installed:
             raise InstallError(
                 "Install failed for %s.  Nothing was installed!" % self.name)
@@ -1353,7 +1355,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
     @property
     def build_log_path(self):
         if self.installed:
-            return spack.install_area.layout.build_log_path(self.spec)
+            return spack.store.layout.build_log_path(self.spec)
         else:
             return join_path(self.stage.source_path, 'spack-build.out')
 
@@ -1483,9 +1485,9 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         if not self.installed:
             # prefix may not exist, but DB may be inconsistent. Try to fix by
             # removing, but omit hooks.
-            specs = spack.install_area.db.query(self.spec, installed=True)
+            specs = spack.store.db.query(self.spec, installed=True)
             if specs:
-                spack.install_area.db.remove(specs[0])
+                spack.store.db.remove(specs[0])
                 tty.msg("Removed stale DB entry for %s" % self.spec.short_spec)
                 return
             else:
@@ -1502,7 +1504,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
             # Uninstalling in Spack only requires removing the prefix.
             self.remove_prefix()
             #
-            spack.install_area.db.remove(self.spec)
+            spack.store.db.remove(self.spec)
         tty.msg("Successfully uninstalled %s" % self.spec.short_spec)
 
         # Once everything else is done, run post install hooks
@@ -1536,8 +1538,8 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         """
         self._sanity_check_extension()
 
-        spack.install_area.layout.check_extension_conflict(self.extendee_spec,
-                                                      self.spec)
+        spack.store.layout.check_extension_conflict(
+            self.extendee_spec, self.spec)
 
         # Activate any package dependencies that are also extensions.
         if not force:
@@ -1548,7 +1550,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
 
         self.extendee_spec.package.activate(self, **self.extendee_args)
 
-        spack.install_area.layout.add_extension(self.extendee_spec, self.spec)
+        spack.store.layout.add_extension(self.extendee_spec, self.spec)
         tty.msg("Activated extension %s for %s" %
                 (self.spec.short_spec, self.extendee_spec.format("$_$@$+$%@")))
 
@@ -1563,7 +1565,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         """
 
         def ignore(filename):
-            return (filename in spack.install_area.layout.hidden_file_paths or
+            return (filename in spack.store.layout.hidden_file_paths or
                     kwargs.get('ignore', lambda f: False)(filename))
 
         tree = LinkTree(extension.prefix)
@@ -1581,9 +1583,11 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         # Allow a force deactivate to happen.  This can unlink
         # spurious files if something was corrupted.
         if not force:
-            spack.install_area.layout.check_activated(self.extendee_spec, self.spec)
+            spack.store.layout.check_activated(
+                self.extendee_spec, self.spec)
 
-            activated = spack.install_area.layout.extension_map(self.extendee_spec)
+            activated = spack.store.layout.extension_map(
+                self.extendee_spec)
             for name, aspec in activated.items():
                 if aspec == self.spec:
                     continue
@@ -1599,8 +1603,8 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         # redundant activation check -- makes SURE the spec is not
         # still activated even if something was wrong above.
         if self.activated:
-            spack.install_area.layout.remove_extension(self.extendee_spec,
-                                                  self.spec)
+            spack.store.layout.remove_extension(
+                self.extendee_spec, self.spec)
 
         tty.msg("Deactivated extension %s for %s" %
                 (self.spec.short_spec, self.extendee_spec.format("$_$@$+$%@")))
@@ -1616,7 +1620,7 @@ class PackageBase(object):
         """
 
         def ignore(filename):
-            return (filename in spack.install_area.layout.hidden_file_paths or
+            return (filename in spack.store.layout.hidden_file_paths or
                     kwargs.get('ignore', lambda f: False)(filename))
 
         tree = LinkTree(extension.prefix)
@@ -1717,7 +1721,7 @@ def flatten_dependencies(spec, flat_dir):
     for dep in spec.traverse(root=False):
         name = dep.name
 
-        dep_path = spack.install_area.layout.path_for_spec(dep)
+        dep_path = spack.store.layout.path_for_spec(dep)
         dep_files = LinkTree(dep_path)
 
         os.mkdir(flat_dir + '/' + name)
@@ -1746,7 +1750,7 @@ def dump_packages(spec, path):
         if node is not spec:
             # Locate the dependency package in the install tree and find
             # its provenance information.
-            source = spack.install_area.layout.build_packages_path(node)
+            source = spack.store.layout.build_packages_path(node)
             source_repo_root = join_path(source, node.namespace)
 
             # There's no provenance installed for the source package.  Skip it.
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/schema/install.py b/lib/spack/spack/schema/config.py
index 2c43ad1adf..7ae3b75c3e 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/schema/install.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/schema/config.py
@@ -30,13 +30,32 @@ schema = {
     'type': 'object',
     'additionalProperties': False,
     'patternProperties': {
-        'install': {
+        'config': {
             'type': 'object',
-            'default' : {},
+            'default': {},
             'additionalProperties': False,
             'properties': {
-                'path' : { 'type': 'string' },
-                'layout' : { 'type': 'string' }
+                'install_tree': {'type': 'string'},
+                'build_stage': {
+                    'oneOf': [
+                        {'type': 'string'},
+                        {'type': 'array',
+                         'items': {'type': 'string'}}],
+                },
+                'source_cache': {'type': 'string'},
+                'misc_cache': {'type': 'string'},
+                'verify_ssl': {
+                    'type': 'boolean',
+                    'default': True,
+                },
+                'checksum': {
+                    'type': 'boolean',
+                    'default': True,
+                },
+                'dirty': {
+                    'type': 'boolean',
+                    'default': False,
+                },
             }
         },
     },
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
index 1d9fd8d97a..17f206d81b 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ from llnl.util.tty.color import *
 
 import spack
 import spack.architecture
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 import spack.compilers as compilers
 import spack.error
 import spack.parse
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ class Spec(object):
 
     @property
     def prefix(self):
-        return Prefix(spack.install_area.layout.path_for_spec(self))
+        return Prefix(spack.store.layout.path_for_spec(self))
 
     def dag_hash(self, length=None):
         """Return a hash of the entire spec DAG, including connectivity."""
@@ -2329,7 +2329,7 @@ class Spec(object):
                 elif named_str == 'SPACK_ROOT':
                     out.write(fmt % spack.prefix)
                 elif named_str == 'SPACK_INSTALL':
-                    out.write(fmt % spack.install_area.path)
+                    out.write(fmt % spack.store.root)
                 elif named_str == 'PREFIX':
                     out.write(fmt % self.prefix)
                 elif named_str.startswith('HASH'):
@@ -2533,7 +2533,7 @@ class SpecParser(spack.parse.Parser):
     def spec_by_hash(self):
         self.expect(ID)
 
-        specs = spack.install_area.db.query()
+        specs = spack.store.db.query()
         matches = [spec for spec in specs if
                    spec.dag_hash()[:len(self.token.value)] == self.token.value]
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/store.py b/lib/spack/spack/store.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3f559315d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/store.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+##############################################################################
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2016, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
+# Produced at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
+#
+# This file is part of Spack.
+# Created by Todd Gamblin, tgamblin@llnl.gov, All rights reserved.
+# LLNL-CODE-647188
+#
+# For details, see https://github.com/llnl/spack
+# Please also see the LICENSE file for our notice and the LGPL.
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License (as
+# published by the Free Software Foundation) version 2.1, February 1999.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+# WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the terms and
+# conditions of the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+# License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+##############################################################################
+"""Components that manage Spack's installation tree.
+
+An install tree, or "build store" consists of two parts:
+
+  1. A package database that tracks what is installed.
+  2. A directory layout that determines how the installations
+     are laid out.
+
+The store contains all the install prefixes for packages installed by
+Spack.  The simplest store could just contain prefixes named by DAG hash,
+but we use a fancier directory layout to make browsing the store and
+debugging easier.
+
+The directory layout is currently hard-coded to be a YAMLDirectoryLayout,
+so called because it stores build metadata within each prefix, in
+`spec.yaml` files. In future versions of Spack we may consider allowing
+install trees to define their own layouts with some per-tree
+configuration.
+
+"""
+import os
+import spack
+import spack.config
+from spack.util.path import canonicalize_path
+from spack.database import Database
+from spack.directory_layout import YamlDirectoryLayout
+
+__author__ = "Benedikt Hegner (CERN)"
+__all__ = ['db', 'layout', 'root']
+
+#
+# Read in the config
+#
+config = spack.config.get_config("config")
+
+#
+# Set up the install path
+#
+root = canonicalize_path(
+    config.get('install_tree', os.path.join(spack.opt_path, 'spack')))
+
+#
+# Set up the installed packages database
+#
+db = Database(root)
+
+#
+# This controls how spack lays out install prefixes and
+# stage directories.
+#
+layout = YamlDirectoryLayout(root)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/uninstall.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/uninstall.py
index d839c00b62..6a86a1543f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/uninstall.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/uninstall.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 # Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
 ##############################################################################
 import spack.test.mock_database
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 from spack.cmd.uninstall import uninstall
 
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class TestUninstall(spack.test.mock_database.MockDatabase):
         args = MockArgs(['callpath'], all=True, dependents=True)
         uninstall(parser, args)
 
-        all_specs = spack.install_area.layout.all_specs()
+        all_specs = spack.store.layout.all_specs()
         self.assertEqual(len(all_specs), 7)
         # query specs with multiple configurations
         mpileaks_specs = [s for s in all_specs if s.satisfies('mpileaks')]
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py
index c0bb12ce10..1a1281e10e 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/database.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import multiprocessing
 import os.path
 
 import spack
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 from llnl.util.filesystem import join_path
 from llnl.util.tty.colify import colify
 from spack.test.mock_database import MockDatabase
@@ -41,16 +41,16 @@ def _print_ref_counts():
     recs = []
 
     def add_rec(spec):
-        cspecs = spack.install_area.db.query(spec, installed=any)
+        cspecs = spack.store.db.query(spec, installed=any)
 
         if not cspecs:
             recs.append("[ %-7s ] %-20s-" % ('', spec))
         else:
             key = cspecs[0].dag_hash()
-            rec = spack.install_area.db.get_record(cspecs[0])
+            rec = spack.store.db.get_record(cspecs[0])
             recs.append("[ %-7s ] %-20s%d" % (key[:7], spec, rec.ref_count))
 
-    with spack.install_area.db.read_transaction():
+    with spack.store.db.read_transaction():
         add_rec('mpileaks ^mpich')
         add_rec('callpath ^mpich')
         add_rec('mpich')
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
 
     def test_010_all_install_sanity(self):
         """Ensure that the install layout reflects what we think it does."""
-        all_specs = spack.install_area.layout.all_specs()
+        all_specs = spack.store.layout.all_specs()
         self.assertEqual(len(all_specs), 13)
 
         # query specs with multiple configurations
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
 
     def test_015_write_and_read(self):
         # write and read DB
-        with spack.install_area.db.write_transaction():
-            specs = spack.install_area.db.query()
-            recs = [spack.install_area.db.get_record(s) for s in specs]
+        with spack.store.db.write_transaction():
+            specs = spack.store.db.query()
+            recs = [spack.store.db.get_record(s) for s in specs]
 
         for spec, rec in zip(specs, recs):
-            new_rec = spack.install_area.db.get_record(spec)
+            new_rec = spack.store.db.get_record(spec)
             self.assertEqual(new_rec.ref_count, rec.ref_count)
             self.assertEqual(new_rec.spec,      rec.spec)
             self.assertEqual(new_rec.path,      rec.path)
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
 
     def _check_merkleiness(self):
         """Ensure the spack database is a valid merkle graph."""
-        all_specs = spack.install_area.db.query(installed=any)
+        all_specs = spack.store.db.query(installed=any)
 
         seen = {}
         for spec in all_specs:
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
 
     def _check_db_sanity(self):
         """Utiilty function to check db against install layout."""
-        expected = sorted(spack.install_area.layout.all_specs())
+        expected = sorted(spack.store.layout.all_specs())
         actual = sorted(self.install_db.query())
 
         self.assertEqual(len(expected), len(actual))
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
 
     def test_025_reindex(self):
         """Make sure reindex works and ref counts are valid."""
-        spack.install_area.db.reindex(spack.install_area.layout)
+        spack.store.db.reindex(spack.store.layout)
         self._check_db_sanity()
 
     def test_030_db_sanity_from_another_process(self):
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
     def test_050_basic_query(self):
         """Ensure querying database is consistent with what is installed."""
         # query everything
-        self.assertEqual(len(spack.install_area.db.query()), 13)
+        self.assertEqual(len(spack.store.db.query()), 13)
 
         # query specs with multiple configurations
         mpileaks_specs = self.install_db.query('mpileaks')
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
         self.assertTrue(concrete_spec not in remaining)
 
         # add it back and make sure everything is ok.
-        self.install_db.add(concrete_spec, spack.install_area.layout)
+        self.install_db.add(concrete_spec, spack.store.layout)
         installed = self.install_db.query()
         self.assertTrue(concrete_spec in installed)
         self.assertEqual(installed, original)
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class DatabaseTest(MockDatabase):
         self.assertEqual(self.install_db.get_record('mpich').ref_count, 1)
 
         # Put the spec back
-        self.install_db.add(rec.spec, spack.install_area.layout)
+        self.install_db.add(rec.spec, spack.store.layout)
 
         # record is present again
         self.assertEqual(
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py
index eb051e9301..0524c14cfd 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import shutil
 import tempfile
 
 import spack
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 from llnl.util.filesystem import *
 from spack.directory_layout import YamlDirectoryLayout
 from spack.database import Database
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ class InstallTest(MockPackagesTest):
         # Use a fake install directory to avoid conflicts bt/w
         # installed pkgs and mock packages.
         self.tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
-        self.orig_layout = spack.install_area.layout
-        self.orig_db = spack.install_area.db
+        self.orig_layout = spack.store.layout
+        self.orig_db = spack.store.db
 
-        spack.install_area.layout = YamlDirectoryLayout(self.tmpdir)
-        spack.install_area.db     = Database(self.tmpdir)
+        spack.store.layout = YamlDirectoryLayout(self.tmpdir)
+        spack.store.db     = Database(self.tmpdir)
 
     def tearDown(self):
         super(InstallTest, self).tearDown()
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ class InstallTest(MockPackagesTest):
         spack.do_checksum = True
 
         # restore spack's layout.
-        spack.install_area.layout = self.orig_layout
-        spack.install_area.db     = self.orig_db
+        spack.store.layout = self.orig_layout
+        spack.store.db     = self.orig_db
         shutil.rmtree(self.tmpdir, ignore_errors=True)
 
     def fake_fetchify(self, pkg):
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class InstallTest(MockPackagesTest):
             pkg.remove_prefix()
             raise
 
-    def test_install_area(self):
+    def test_store(self):
         spec = Spec('cmake-client').concretized()
 
         for s in spec.traverse():
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/mock_database.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/mock_database.py
index d1f9fb000b..1eaec2b598 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/mock_database.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/mock_database.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import shutil
 import tempfile
 
 import spack
-import spack.install_area
+import spack.store
 from spack.spec import Spec
 from spack.database import Database
 from spack.directory_layout import YamlDirectoryLayout
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class MockDatabase(MockPackagesTest):
         pkg.do_install(fake=True)
 
     def _mock_remove(self, spec):
-        specs = spack.install_area.db.query(spec)
+        specs = spack.store.db.query(spec)
         assert len(specs) == 1
         spec = specs[0]
         spec.package.do_uninstall(spec)
@@ -55,17 +55,17 @@ class MockDatabase(MockPackagesTest):
 
         # Make a fake install directory
         self.install_path = tempfile.mkdtemp()
-        self.spack_install_path = spack.install_area.path
-        spack.install_area.path = self.install_path
+        self.spack_install_path = spack.store.root
+        spack.store.root = self.install_path
 
         self.install_layout = YamlDirectoryLayout(self.install_path)
-        self.spack_install_layout = spack.install_area.layout
-        spack.install_area.layout = self.install_layout
+        self.spack_install_layout = spack.store.layout
+        spack.store.layout = self.install_layout
 
         # Make fake database and fake install directory.
         self.install_db = Database(self.install_path)
-        self.spack_install_db = spack.install_area.db
-        spack.install_area.db = self.install_db
+        self.spack_install_db = spack.store.db
+        spack.store.db = self.install_db
 
         # make a mock database with some packages installed note that
         # the ref count for dyninst here will be 3, as it's recycled
@@ -91,18 +91,18 @@ class MockDatabase(MockPackagesTest):
         #
 
         # Transaction used to avoid repeated writes.
-        with spack.install_area.db.write_transaction():
+        with spack.store.db.write_transaction():
             self._mock_install('mpileaks ^mpich')
             self._mock_install('mpileaks ^mpich2')
             self._mock_install('mpileaks ^zmpi')
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        with spack.install_area.db.write_transaction():
-            for spec in spack.install_area.db.query():
+        with spack.store.db.write_transaction():
+            for spec in spack.store.db.query():
                 spec.package.do_uninstall(spec)
 
         super(MockDatabase, self).tearDown()
         shutil.rmtree(self.install_path)
-        spack.install_area.path = self.spack_install_path
-        spack.install_area.layout = self.spack_install_layout
-        spack.install_area.db = self.spack_install_db
+        spack.store.root = self.spack_install_path
+        spack.store.layout = self.spack_install_layout
+        spack.store.db = self.spack_install_db