>> Writing an ebuild is best, but sometimes you just want to give a >> program a try without writing an ebuild (like everyone else running >> Linux does) and a scruft script enables you to do that without making >> a mess of your system. > > Not to be picky, it's just an idea but in that case, isn't it way easier to > just ./configure --prefix=/some/dir/inside/yourhome or edit a makefile?
I have to say I know nothing about compiling or installing outside of portage. Does specifying a prefix like that work? You get a fully functional program with nothing installed outside of some/dir? - Grant