Emacs can also install your packages/plugins automagically via the wonderfully designed use-package combined with MELPA. It's a game changer when it comes to managing an emacs configuration, especially if you work across a range of servers. Just copy the .emacs, install use-package manually and you're off to the races with anything and everything you need.

By the time I discovered use-package I couldn't believe that I had been tar-balling a mess of crap around all these years.