Install binary packages as non-root user

[groggily]

Like Homebrew (Linux):

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh

The bootstrap process needs sudo (root privileged), but after that you can install binary packages without being root or using sudo.

Can I make /raven writable to my non-root user account with chown -hR and expecting the installation of binary packages to work with my non-root user account?

[jrmarino]

no, because the package themselves may contain actions that can only be accomplished by one with root privileges. I've seen what "pkg" does for example -- it simple silently fails those actions, which don't make sense to me. Plus the sqlite databases that hold the current installation and catalog infomation are in an area only writeable by root.

I suppose there could be some work done to change who can modify those databases but that's
a) a bad idea from an sysadmin pov
b) still doesn't address those packages that trip triggers or have pre- and post- operation scripts that require root access.