+(defvar package-get-base nil "\
+List of packages that are installed at this site.
+For each element in the alist, car is the package name and the cdr is
+a plist containing information about the package. Typical fields
+kept in the plist are:
+
+version - version of this package
+provides - list of symbols provided
+requires - list of symbols that are required.
+ These in turn are provided by other packages.
+filename - name of the file.
+size - size of the file (aka the bundled package)
+md5sum - computed md5 checksum
+description - What this package is for.
+type - Whether this is a 'binary (default) or 'single file package
+
+More fields may be added as needed. An example:
+
+'(
+ (name
+ (version \"<version 2>\"
+ file \"filename\"
+ description \"what this package is about.\"
+ provides (<list>)
+ requires (<list>)
+ size <integer-bytes>
+ md5sum \"<checksum\"
+ type single
+ )
+ (version \"<version 1>\"
+ file \"filename\"
+ description \"what this package is about.\"
+ provides (<list>)
+ requires (<list>)
+ size <integer-bytes>
+ md5sum \"<checksum\"
+ type single
+ )
+ ...
+ ))
+
+For version information, it is assumed things are listed in most
+recent to least recent -- in other words, the version names don't have to
+be lexically ordered. It is debatable if it makes sense to have more than
+one version of a package available.")
+