I'll try to list some things such repository would make possible:
- find and obtain externals easily
- externals in the repository are considered more "official" than the code lurking around
- get the latest externals and/or versions automagically
- automated building and packaging of externals
(in some cases, I'd like to get a package that has all the major libraries and externals, prebuilt)
- ... ?
The major advantage of course is a versioning system, merging of many peoples' changes, etc.
Juha
So, things are scattered. Having a repository to actually host the externals would at least make it possible to avoid it, to centralize.
Yes, that would be a dream come true. The important thing is to have a critcal mass of developers that want to participate at the beginning.