diff --git a/bldpkg b/bldpkg
index 27773e6..7843fba 100644
--- a/bldpkg
+++ b/bldpkg
@@ -24,17 +24,27 @@
 # -> Write code to log build output to a log file inside a particular directory
 # -> Email the user about the outcome of the build?
 # -> Increment warnings as they are issued during the build and show final warning total in the build summary
-# -> Determine if the staging directory is empty at the end of the build, and if it is, error out
-# -> Replace [INFO], [WARNING] and [ERROR] with suitable functions for efficient repetition
+
+err() {
+  printf "**ERROR**\n$@\n"
+  exit 1
+}
+
+info() {
+  printf "[INFO] $@\n"
+}
+
+warn() {
+  printf "[WARNING]\n$@\n"
+}
 
 # Determine whether we are using bash version 4 and later. If not, exit.
-if ((BASH_VERSINFO[0] < 4)) ; then
-  echo "[ERROR] bldpkg requires a minimum of bash shell version 4 to run"
-  exit 1
+if [[ -z $BASH_VERSINFO ]] ; then
+  err "Is this really a GNU bash shell?"
+elif ((BASH_VERSINFO[0] < 4)) ; then
+  err "Bldpkg requires a minimum of GNU bash shell version 4 to run"
 fi
 
-set -e
-
 # Time when the build commenced. Note: elapsed time is logged by the runtime function way below. 
 # This output goes into package build summary.
 commencedate=$(date '+%a, %d %b %Y, %T')
@@ -90,6 +100,8 @@ Usage:
   -s         Display build summary. A summary is produced whenever a build is either
              interrupted, exits cleanly or aborts due to a build error
 
+  -v         Increase compiler verbosity
+
   -x         Invoke bash shell command trace mode. This one isn't akin to running
              bash -x <script> but close enough, because the mode is inserted half-way
              while bldpkg is running
@@ -103,15 +115,12 @@ if [[ -f $HOME/.bldpkg.conf ]] ; then
 elif [[ -f /etc/bldpkg.conf ]] ; then
   source /etc/bldpkg.conf 
 else 
-  echo "[ERROR] /etc/bldpkg.conf not found!"
-  exit 1
+  err "Bldpkg configuration file '/etc/bldpkg.conf' not found!"
 fi
 
 # Error out if globalccache and globalsccache are set in the /etc/bldpkg.conf
 if [[ $globalccache = 1 ]] && [[ $globalsccache = 1 ]] ; then
-  echo "[ERROR] Please only enable either ccache or sccache in /etc/bldpkg.conf"
-  echo "[ERROR] at the same time, not both."
-  exit 1
+  err "Please only enable either ccache or sccache in /etc/bldpkg.conf at the same time, not both."
 fi
 
 # Function to validate the build file.
@@ -120,65 +129,40 @@ validatebldfile() {
   buildfile=$1
 
   if [[ ! -f $buildfile ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] No build file to validate from!"
-    exit 1
+    err "No build file to validate from!"
   fi
   
-  # Start a subshell. We don't want the build file variables in the environment just yet.
-  (
-  source "$buildfile"
-
-  # If any of the following variables are not set in the build file, abort.
-  # $download variable is optional but recommended
-  for buildvariables in app version build homepage desc requires ; do
-    if [[ ! ${!buildvariables} ]] ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Required variable '$buildvariables' is not set. Please check your build file."
-      exit 1
-    elif grep -E -q "$buildvariables='*'" "$buildfile" ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Please dont use single quotes to define the \"${buildvariables}\" variable"
-      exit 1
-    fi
-  done
-
   # Validate $app
-  if ! echo "$app" | grep -E -q '^[a-z0-9-]+$' ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Only lower case, numeric characters and dash allowed in the 'app' variable in the build file."
-    exit 1
+  if ! grep -E -q 'app=[a-z0-9-]' "$buildfile" ; then
+    err "Only lower case, numeric characters and dash allowed in the 'app' variable in the build file."
 
   # Validate $version 
-  elif ! echo "$version" | grep -E -q '^[a-z0-9.]+$' ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Only lower case, numeric characters and a period allowed in the 'version' variable in the build file."
-    exit 1
-
+  elif ! grep -E -q 'version=[a-z0-9.]' "$buildfile" ; then
+    err "Only lower case, numeric characters and a period allowed in the 'version' variable in the build file."
+  
   # Validate $homepage
-  elif ! echo "$homepage" | grep -E -q '^http://|^https://|^ftp://' ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Invalid URL in the 'homepage' variable in the build file."
-    exit 1
+  elif ! grep -E -q 'homepage="\(http|https|ftp)://' "$buildfile" ; then
+    err "Invalid URL in the 'homepage' variable in the build file."
 
   # Validate $download, first the URL type
-  elif [[ -n $download ]]; then
-    if ! echo "$download" | grep -E -q '^http://|^https://|^ftp://' ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Invalid URL in the 'download' variable in the build file."
-      exit 1
+  elif grep -E -q 'download=' "$buildfile" ; then
+    if ! grep -E -q 'download="\(http|https|ftp)://' "$buildfile" ; then
+      err "Invalid URL in the 'download' variable in the build file."
+    fi
 
     # Then check for single quotes
-    elif grep -E -q "download='*'" "$buildfile" ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Single quotes disallowed in the 'download' variable in the build file"
-      exit 1
+    if grep -E -q "download='*'" "$buildfile" ; then
+      err "Single quotes disallowed in the 'download' variable in the build file"
     fi
 
   # Validate $desc using bash shell's ability to count variable length
   elif [[ ${#desc} -gt 100 ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Package description should not exceed 100 characters in the build file."
-    exit 1
+    err "Package description should not exceed 100 characters in the build file."
 
   # Check if build() function exists in the build file
-  elif ! grep -E -q '^build()' "$buildfile" ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] 'build()' function does not exist in your build file."
-    exit 1
+  elif ! grep -q '^build() {' "$buildfile" ; then
+    err "'build()' function does not exist in your build file."
   fi
-  )
-  # End subshell
 }
 
 # Store the source directory path the build was initiated from 
@@ -194,13 +178,12 @@ rqfiles=( installpkg upgradepkg sha512sum patch find findmnt patch tput bc tar )
 # Run a for loop to find the files
 for requiredfile in "${rqfiles[@]}"; do
   if [[ ! -x $(type -p "$requiredfile") ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Could not find required program '$requiredfile'!"
-    exit 1
+    err "Could not find required program '$requiredfile'!"
   fi
 done
 
 # Function for providing handy arguments to users. Some will override bldpkg.conf.
-while getopts ':def:ghj:o:sx' option; do
+while getopts ':def:ghj:o:svx' option; do
   case "$option" in
     d) debug=1 ;; # Produce a debug build with -g3
     e) extractprompt=0; 
@@ -211,27 +194,28 @@ while getopts ':def:ghj:o:sx' option; do
     j) customcputhreads="$OPTARG" ;;
     o) origbuildfile="$OPTARG" ;;
     s) showsummary=1 ;; # Show build summary at the end of the build irrespective of the build status
+    v) getoptscompilerverbosity=1 ;;
     x) set -xv ;; # Invoke bash's -x option for command tracing
     *) help ;;
   esac
 done
 
+nopackagebuildfileerror() {
+  err "No package build file to source from!
+Was expecting '$buildfile' to be present inside this directory '$PWD'.
+Try -f <build_file> if your build file has a different name (Not recommended)"
+}
+
 # The getopts builtin sets the OPTIND environment variable whose value is set to 1 if no argument
 # is given. For every argument passed, the number is incremented by 1. In our case, if OPTIND equals
 # 1, no argument was passed. We therefore expect a package build file to be present which will be then sourced.
 if [[ $OPTIND = 1 ]] ; then
   if [[ ! -f $buildfile ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] No package build file to source from!"
-    echo "[ERROR] Was expecting '$buildfile' to be present inside this directory '$PWD'."
-    echo "[ERROR] Try -f <build_file> if your build file has a different name (Not recommended)"
-    exit 1
+    nopackagebuildfileerror
+  elif ! validatebldfile "$buildfile" ; then
+    err "'$buildfile' build file validation failed!"
   else
-    if ! validatebldfile "$buildfile" ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] '$buildfile' Build file validation failed!"
-      exit 1
-    else
-      source "$buildfile"
-    fi
+    source "$buildfile"
   fi
 
 # If OPTIND is greater than 1, perform various checks and actions
@@ -242,8 +226,7 @@ elif [[ $OPTIND -gt 1 ]] ; then
   if [[ -n $customcputhreads ]] ; then
     # And validate whether the value is a number
     if ! echo "$customcputhreads" | grep -E -q '^[0-9]+$' ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Invalid CPU job number '$customcputhreads'. Please provide a valid number."
-      exit 1
+      err "Invalid CPU job number '$customcputhreads'. Please provide a valid number."
     fi
     
     # Reset $customcputhreads as $cputhreads
@@ -253,54 +236,41 @@ elif [[ $OPTIND -gt 1 ]] ; then
   # If $origbuildfile is set and is a file, check if $setbuildfile and $origbuildfile are the same
   if [[ -n $origbuildfile ]] ; then
     if [[ ! -f $origbuildfile ]] ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Original build file '$origbuildfile' does not exist!"
-      exit 1
-    fi
+      err "Original build file '$origbuildfile' does not exist!"
 
-    if [[ -n $setbuildfile ]] && [[ -f $setbuildfile ]] ; then
+    elif [[ -n $setbuildfile ]] && [[ -f $setbuildfile ]] ; then
       if [[ $origbuildfile = "$setbuildfile" ]] ; then
-        echo "[ERROR] Original build file and alternate build file are the same!"
-	exit 1
+        err "Original build file and alternate build file are the same!"
       fi
-    fi
 
-    if ! validatebldfile "$origbuildfile" ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Alternative build file validation failed!"
-      exit 1
+    elif ! validatebldfile "$origbuildfile" ; then
+      err "Alternative build file validation failed!"
     fi
-  fi
-
     
   # If $setbuildfile is set and is a file, set buildfile to its value, source it and initialise the build
-  if [[ -n $setbuildfile ]] && [[ -f $setbuildfile ]] ; then
+  elif [[ -n $setbuildfile ]] && [[ -f $setbuildfile ]] ; then
     buildfile="$setbuildfile"
     if ! validatebldfile "$buildfile" ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] '$buildfile' validation failed!"
-      exit 1
+      err "'$buildfile' validation failed!"
     else
       source "$buildfile"
     fi
 
   # If $setbuildfile is set but a file passed as an argument is not found, give an error
   elif [[ -n $setbuildfile ]] && [[ ! -f $setbuildfile ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] '$setbuildfile' not found!"
-    exit 1
+    err "Build file '$setbuildfile' not found!"
 
   # If the above two conditions don't meet, get the presumed $buildfile value as a file and source it
   elif [[ -f "$buildfile" ]] ; then
     if ! validatebldfile "$buildfile" ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] '$buildfile' validation failed!"
-      exit 1
+      err "'$buildfile' validation failed!"
     else
       source "$buildfile"
     fi
 
   # If even that file is not found, throw an error and exit
   else
-    echo "[ERROR] No package build file to source from!"
-    echo "[ERROR] Was expecting '$buildfile' to be present inside this directory '$PWD'."
-    echo "[ERROR] Try -f <build_file> if your build file has a different name (Not recommended)"
-    exit 1
+    nopackagebuildfileerror
   fi
 fi
 
@@ -311,14 +281,14 @@ unset OPTIND OPTARG
 if [[ $genchecksum = 1 ]] ; then
 
   # File types whose checksums will go into the new build file
-  echo "[INFO] Discarding any old sha512sums from '$buildfile'"
+  info "Discarding any old sha512sums from '$buildfile'"
   sed -E -i \
     -e '/^sha512sums=".*"$/d' \
     -e '/^sha512sums="/,/"$/d' \
     -e "/^sha512sums='.*'\$/d" \
     "$buildfile"
 
-  echo "[INFO] Adding new sha512sums in '$buildfile'"
+  info "Adding new sha512sums in '$buildfile'"
   printf 'sha512sums="\n' >> "$buildfile"
 
   files=( *.tar.* *.zip *.t?z *.patch *.diff *.c *.h )
@@ -333,23 +303,22 @@ if [[ $genchecksum = 1 ]] ; then
   printf '"' >> "$buildfile"
 
   if [[ $(find . -type d -maxdepth 1 -print0 | wc -l) -ge 1 ]]; then
-    echo "[WARNING] SHA512 checksums not generated for files inside directories!"
+    warn "SHA512 checksums not generated for files inside directories!"
   fi
 
-  echo "[INFO] You may now run 'bldpkg' again"
+  info "You may now run 'bldpkg' again"
   exit 0
 fi
 
 # Display the package and its version we are building
-echo "[INFO] Building package '$app' version '$version' ..."
+info "Building package '$app' version '$version' ..."
 sleep 0.5
 
 # Invoke auditd if useauditd is set to 1 in bldpkg.conf
 if [[ $useauditd = 1 ]] ; then
   
   if [[ ! -x /bin/auditd ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Program 'auditd' not found!"
-    exit 1
+    err "Program 'auditd' not found!"
   fi
 
   # First clear out the log file
@@ -363,7 +332,7 @@ if [[ $useauditd = 1 ]] ; then
   auditpid=$!
 
   # Note: auditd writes about 6-8 lines for our setup when initialized.
-  echo "[INFO] /bin/auditd initialised."
+  info "/bin/auditd initialised."
 fi
 
 # Function to safely terminate auditd.
@@ -371,13 +340,13 @@ terminateauditd() {
   if [[ $useauditd = 1 ]] ; then
     # Terminate auditd, log number of lines inside a variable
     /bin/kill "$auditpid"
-    echo "[INFO] /bin/auditd stopped."
+    info "/bin/auditd stopped."
 
     auditlogtermsize=$(wc -l < $auditlogfile)
 
     if [[ $auditlogtermsize -gt 10 ]] ; then
-      echo "[WARNING] Auditd log file '$auditlogfile' is greater than 10 lines!"
-      echo "[WARNING] Highly recommend that you examine its file!"
+      warn "Auditd log file '$auditlogfile' is greater than 10 lines!
+Highly recommend that you examine its file!"
       sleep 5
     fi
   fi
@@ -385,21 +354,18 @@ terminateauditd() {
 
 # sha512sums variable is expected in every single package build file
 if [[ -z $sha512sums ]] ; then 
-  echo "[ERROR] SHA512 checksums don't exist in '$buildfile' !"
-  echo "[ERROR] Please run 'bldpkg -g' to add them"
-  exit 1
+  err "SHA512 checksums don't exist in '$buildfile'! Please run 'bldpkg -g' to add them"
 fi
   
 eval sums=\"\$sha512sums\"
 
-echo "[INFO] Verifying SHA512 checksums against source files..."
+info "Verifying SHA512 checksums against source files..."
   
 IFS=$'\n'
 
 for src in $sums; do
   if ! echo $src | sha512sum -c ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Checksums failed to match!"
-    exit 1
+    err "Checksums failed to match!"
   fi
 done
 
@@ -413,38 +379,35 @@ applypatch() {
 
   # Perform a simple check 
   if [[ -z $patchfile ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Please provide valid patch file name"
-    exit 1
+    err "Please provide valid patch file name"
   elif [[ ! -f $patchfile ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Patch file '$patchfile' not found inside $srcdir!"
-    exit 1
+    err "Patch file '$patchfile' not found inside $srcdir!"
   fi
 
   # Get relative path of the patch file
   relativepath=$(basename $patchfile)
-  echo "[INFO] Applying patch '$relativepath'.."
+  info "Applying patch '$relativepath'.."
   # We use if/else to determine if the patch applied successfully
   if ! patch -p1 < "$patchfile" ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Failed to apply patch file '$patchfile'"
+    err "Failed to apply patch file '$patchfile'"
   fi
 }
 
 # Do a preliminary package dependency check if $checkdependencies is set to 1 in bldpkg.conf
 if [[ $checkdependencies = 1 ]] ; then
   
-  echo "[INFO] Parsing $app 's dependency list..."
+  info "Parsing $app 's dependency list..."
   for packagedep in $requires; do
     depcount=$(find /share/doc -type f -name "$packagedep.SMBuild" | wc -l)
     # If count is 1, we are ok
     if [[ $depcount = 1 ]] ; then
-      echo "[INFO] Found dependency '$packagedep'"
+      info "Found dependency '$packagedep'"
     # If count is 0, we exit, because we are in trouble
     elif [[ $depcount = 0 ]] ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Did not find dependency '$packagedep'."
-      exit 1
+      err "Did not find dependency '$packagedep'"
     # If count is greater than or equal to 2, we are in slightly less trouble
     elif [[ $depcount -ge 2 ]] ; then
-      echo "[WARNING] Found multiple versions of '$packagedep' !"
+      warn "Found multiple versions of '$packagedep' !"
       sleep 0.5
     fi
   done
@@ -464,21 +427,18 @@ inarray() {
 
 # Check if $parenttmp is set and is a directory
 if [[ -z $parenttmp ]] ; then
-  echo "[ERROR] parenttmp variable not set in /etc/bldpkg.conf."
-  exit 1
+  err "parenttmp variable not set in /etc/bldpkg.conf."
 elif [[ ! -d $parenttmp ]] ; then
-  echo "[ERROR] parenttmp variable set to '$parenttmp' in /etc/bldpkg.conf is not a directory."
-  exit 1
+  err "parenttmp variable set to '$parenttmp' in /etc/bldpkg.conf is not a directory."
 fi
 
 # Attempt to write to the $parenttmp directory. This directory is used for everything related to the
 # build process outside the source directory $srcdir
 if ! touch "$parenttmp/.smlinuxwritetest" ; then
-  echo "[ERROR] Parent temp directory '$parenttmp' is not writable!"
-  exit 1
+  err "Parent temp directory '$parenttmp' is not writable!"
 else
   # Discard the test file
-  rm -f "$parenttmp/.smlinuxwritetest"
+  rm "$parenttmp/.smlinuxwritetest"
 fi
 
 # If htmloutput is set to 1, echo $app, $version and $build as file names inside the parent build directory. 
@@ -488,7 +448,7 @@ if [[ $htmloutput = 1 ]] ; then
 
   if [[ -n $autobuild ]] ; then
     cat << EOF >> "$parenttmp/BUILDMONITOR"
-<b>$commencedate | Building package # $currentpkgnumber / $totalpkgnumber: <i><a href="/smlinux/pkgresults?pkg=$app&amp;smver=1.0&amp;arch=all&amp;resultnum=25">$app $version</a></i></b>
+<b>$commencedate | Building package $currentpkgnumber / $totalpkgnumber: <i><a href="/smlinux/pkgresults?pkg=$app&amp;smver=1.0&amp;arch=all&amp;resultnum=25">$app $version</a></i></b>
 EOF
   else 
     cat << EOF >> "$parenttmp/BUILDMONITOR"
@@ -502,8 +462,7 @@ fi
 # Validate compressor and set extension
 validpkgextensions=( tgz tbz tlz txz )
 if ! inarray "${pkgext}" "${validpkgextensions[@]}" ; then
-  echo "[ERROR] '$pkgext' is not a valid pkg extension for an SMLinux installer file."
-  exit 1
+  err "'$pkgext' is not a valid pkg extension for an SMLinux installer file"
 fi
 
 # Figure out the compression tool to be used based on the $pkgext variable set in bldpkg.conf. 
@@ -531,8 +490,7 @@ esac
 
 # Borrowed from slackware's installpkg utility
 if ! "$compressor" --help > /dev/null 2>&1  ; then
-  echo "[ERROR] '$compressor' Compressor validation failed."
-  exit 1
+  err "'$compressor' Compressor validation failed."
 fi
 
 # Validate the TMPFS directory if usetmpfs is set to 1 and tmpfsdir variable is set. If it fails,
@@ -545,13 +503,13 @@ if [[ $usetmpfs = 1 ]] && [[ -n $tmpfsdir ]]; then
   fi
 
   # Discard the file used to test the tmp directory
-  [[ -e "$tmpfsdir/.smlinuxtmpwritetest" ]] && rm -f "$tmpfsdir/.smlinuxtmpwritetest"
+  [[ -e "$tmpfsdir/.smlinuxtmpwritetest" ]] && rm "$tmpfsdir/.smlinuxtmpwritetest"
 
   # Check the tmpfsdir for stale directories other than the current package about to be built. If found, issue a warning.
-  if [[ $(find "$tmpfsdir" -type d -maxdepth 1 -print0 | wc -l) -gt 1 ]]; then
+  if [[ $(find "$tmpfsdir" -type d -maxdepth 1 | wc -l) -gt 1 ]]; then
     if [[ ! -d $app.src ]] || [[ ! -d package-$app ]] ; then
-      echo "[WARNING] TMPFS directory '$tmpfsdir' has stale directories from previous builds!"
-      sleep 5
+      warn "TMPFS directory '$tmpfsdir' has stale directories from previous builds!"
+      #sleep 5
     fi
   fi
 fi
@@ -567,10 +525,8 @@ if [[ $swapcheck = 1 ]]; then
 
     swapcheck=$(grep "SwapFree" /proc/meminfo | awk '{print $2}')
     if [[ $swapcheck -lt $swapsize ]]; then
-      echo "[ERROR] Insufficient swap to build '$app' which is listed"
-      echo "[ERROR] in '$packagesrequiringswap'. Kindly add/increase"
-      echo "[ERROR] swap size on this system and try again."
-      exit 1
+      err "Insufficient swap to build '$app' which is listed in '$packagesrequiringswap'. 
+Kindly add/increase swap size on this system and try again."
     fi
   fi
 fi
@@ -620,15 +576,13 @@ fi
 
 if inarray "${pkg}" "${protecteddirectories[@]}" ; then
   echo "############ ATTENTION ############"
-  echo "[ERROR] 'pkg' VARIABLE IS SET TO '$pkg' WHICH IS A PROTECTED DIRECTORY! EXITING!"
-  exit 1
+  err "'pkg' VARIABLE IS SET TO '$pkg' WHICH IS A PROTECTED DIRECTORY! EXITING!"
 fi
 
 # Also check tmp directory in advance
 if inarray "${tmp}" "${protecteddirectories[@]}" ; then
   echo "############ ATTENTION ############"
-  echo "[ERROR] 'tmp' VARIABLE IS SET TO '$tmp' WHICH IS A PROTECTED DIRECTORY! EXITING!"
-  exit 1
+  err "'tmp' VARIABLE IS SET TO '$tmp' WHICH IS A PROTECTED DIRECTORY! EXITING!"
 fi
 
 # Validate and export $cputhreads as MAKEFLAGS variable 
@@ -666,8 +620,7 @@ EOF
     binaryoutput=$($parenttmp/$compiler-$maincompiler)
 
     if [[ $binaryoutput != $randomnum ]] ; then
-      echo "FAILED!"
-      exit 1
+      err "FAILED!"
     fi
 
     rm "$parenttmp/$compiler-$maincompiler.c" "$parenttmp/$compiler-$maincompiler"
@@ -680,20 +633,15 @@ EOF
 if [[ $globaldistcc = 1 ]] ; then
   # Check if distcc exists and is an executable
   if [[ ! -x $distccbinpath ]]; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Oops! Distcc binary was not found but building with it"
-    echo '[ERROR] was requested! Either ensure distcc is in your $PATH or'
-    echo "[ERROR] disable this option in bldpkg.conf file."
-    exit 1
+    err "Distcc binary was not found but building with it was requested! 
+Either ensure distcc is in your $PATH or disable its option in bldpkg.conf file."
 
   # Check if the symlinks are right
   elif [[ ! $(echo "$PATH" | grep "$distccsympath") ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] '$distccsympath' directory not found in your env PATH"
-    exit 1
+    err "'$distccsympath' directory not found in your env PATH"
   elif [[ ! -d $distccsympath ]] ; then 
-    echo "[ERROR] '$distccsympath' directory containing symlinks to distcc"
-    echo "[ERROR] does not exist! Kindly create it and create symlinks" 
-    echo "[ERROR] based on instructions in bldpkg.conf!"
-    exit 1
+    err "'$distccsympath' directory containing symlinks to distcc does not exist! 
+Kindly create it and create symlinks based on instructions in bldpkg.conf!"
   fi
      
   # Trace symlinks to the binary
@@ -701,13 +649,10 @@ if [[ $globaldistcc = 1 ]] ; then
     if [[ -e $distccsympath/$f ]] && [[ -L $distccsympath/$f ]]; then
       # We use "realpath" to follow the $distccsympath/$f symlink and act on the exit code.
       if [[ $(realpath -e "$distccsympath/$f") != "$distccbinpath" ]] ; then
-        echo "[ERROR] $distccsympath/$f does not point to '$distccbinpath'. "
-        echo "[ERROR] Kindly fix this!"
-        exit 1
+        err "'$distccsympath/$f' does not point to '$distccbinpath'. Kindly fix this!"
       fi
     else
-      echo "[ERROR] Symlink '$f' either does not exist or is not a symlink inside '$distccsympath'."
-      echo "[ERROR] Kindly fix this! "
+      err "Symlink '$f' either does not exist or is not a symlink inside '$distccsympath'. Kindly fix this! "
       exit 1
     fi
 
@@ -721,18 +666,18 @@ if [[ $globaldistcc = 1 ]] ; then
     PATH="${PATH//$distccsympath:/}"
   else
     # netcat hosts inside $DISTCC_HOSTS by checking for an open port
-    echo "[INFO] Validating distcc hosts..."
+    info "Validating distcc hosts..."
     # Check if we have nc
     if [[ ! -x /bin/nc ]] ; then
-      echo "[WARNING] nc does not exist! Ignoring this..."
+      warn "nc does not exist! Ignoring this..."
     else 
       # Remove the common options along with the slash and the numbers after it
       hosts=$(echo "$DISTCC_HOSTS" | sed -e 's@/[a-z0-9]*@@g' -e 's@--randomize@@' -e 's@localhost@@' -e 's@,lzo@@g')
       for host in ${hosts[@]} ; do
         # We only run distccd on TCP port 3632
         if ! /bin/nc -z -w 1 "$host" 3632 > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-          echo "[WARNING] Distcc host '$host' is OFFLINE"
-          echo "[WARNING] Rewriting DISTCC_HOSTS"
+          warn "Distcc host '$host' is OFFLINE!
+Rewriting DISTCC_HOSTS"
           DISTCC_HOSTS=$(echo "$DISTCC_HOSTS" | sed "s@$host/[a-z0-9,]*@@")
         fi
       done
@@ -748,34 +693,25 @@ fi
 # Validate everything related to ccache if globalccache is set
 if [[ $globalccache = 1 ]]; then
   if [[ ! -x $ccachebinpath ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Oops! ccache binary was not found but building with it" 
-    echo '[ERROR] was requested! Either ensure ccache is in your $PATH or'
-    echo "[ERROR] disable this option in bldpkg.conf."
-    exit 1
+    err "Ccache binary was not found but building with it was requested! 
+Either ensure ccache is in your $PATH or disable this option in bldpkg.conf."
   fi
 
   if [[ ! $(echo "$PATH" | grep "$ccachesympath") ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] '"$ccachesympath"' directory not found in your env PATH"
-    exit 1
+    err "'"$ccachesympath"' directory not found in your env PATH"
   elif [[ ! -d $ccachesympath ]] ; then 
-    echo "[ERROR] '$ccachesympath' directory containing symlinks to ccache"
-    echo "[ERROR] does not exist! Kindly create it and create symlinks"
-    echo "[ERROR] based on instructions in bldpkg.conf."
-    exit 1
+    err "'$ccachesympath' directory containing symlinks to ccache does not exist! 
+Kindly create it and create symlinks based on instructions in bldpkg.conf."
   fi
 
   for f in gcc g++ cc c++ ; do 
     if [[ -e $ccachesympath/$f ]] && [[ -L $ccachesympath/$f ]]; then
       # We use "realpath" to follow the $ccachesympath/$f symlink and act on the exit code
       if [[ $(realpath -e "$ccachesympath/$f") != "$ccachebinpath" ]] ; then
-        echo "[ERROR] '$ccachesympath/$f' does not point to '$ccachebinpath'. "
-        echo "[ERROR] Kindly fix this!"
-        exit 1
+        err "'$ccachesympath/$f' does not point to '$ccachebinpath'. Kindly fix this!"
       fi
     else
-        echo "[ERROR] Symlink '$f' either does not exist or is not a symlink inside '$ccachesympath'" 
-        echo "[ERROR] Kindly fix this!"
-        exit 1
+      err "Symlink '$f' either does not exist or is not a symlink inside '$ccachesympath'! Kindly fix this!"
     fi
 
     validatecompiler ccache $ccachesympath $f
@@ -796,20 +732,16 @@ fi
 if [[ $globalsccache = 1 ]]; then
    
   if [[ ! -x $sccachebinpath ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] Oops! sccache binary was not found but building with it" 
-    echo "[ERROR] was requested! Either ensure sccache is in your "'$PATH'" or"
-    echo "[ERROR] disable this option in bldpkg.conf."
+    err "Oops! sccache binary was not found but building with it was requested! 
+Either ensure sccache is in your '$PATH' or disable this option in bldpkg.conf."
     exit 1
   fi
 
   if [[ ! $(echo "$PATH" | grep "$sccachepath") ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] '"$sccachepath"' directory not found in your env PATH"
-    exit 1
+    err "'"$sccachepath"' directory not found in your env PATH"
   elif [[ ! -d $sccachepath ]] ; then 
-    echo "[ERROR] '$sccachepath' directory containing symlinks to ccache"
-    echo "[ERROR] does not exist! Kindly create it and create symlinks"
-    echo "[ERROR] based on instructions in bldpkg.conf."
-    exit 1
+    err "'$sccachepath' directory containing symlinks to ccache does not exist! 
+Kindly create it and create symlinks based on instructions in bldpkg.conf."
   fi
 
   for f in gcc g++ cc c++ ; do 
@@ -821,14 +753,10 @@ if [[ $globalsccache = 1 ]]; then
     sccache_hardlink_file_inode_num=$(stat --printf '%i\n' $sccachepath/$f)
 
     if [[ ! -e $sccachepath/$f ]] ; then
-        echo "[ERROR] '$f' either does not exist inside '"$sccachepath"'" 
-        echo "[ERROR] Kindly fix this!"
-        exit 1
+      err "'$f' either does not exist inside '"$sccachepath"'. Kindly fix this!"
     # If the hard link's inode number does not match the original binary's inode number, throw an error and exit
     elif [[ $sccache_hardlink_file_inode_num != "$sccache_binary_inode_num" ]] ; then
-        echo "[ERROR] File '"$f"' inside '"$sccachepath"' is not a hard link!"
-        echo "[ERROR] Kindly fix this!"
-        exit 1
+      err "File '"$f"' inside '"$sccachepath"' is not a hard link! Kindly fix this!"
     fi
 
     validatecompiler sccache $sccachepath $f
@@ -888,8 +816,7 @@ elif [[ $arch = x86_64 ]]; then
   export builddist CFLAGS CXXFLAGS
 
 else
-  echo "[ERROR] Sorry! '$arch' CPU architecture not supported by SMLinux!"
-  exit 1
+  err "Sorry! '$arch' CPU architecture not supported by SMLinux!"
 fi
   
 
@@ -903,6 +830,14 @@ if [[ -z $noautoconfsite ]] ; then
   fi
 fi
 
+# If compilerverbosity is set in /etc/bldpkg.conf or if verbosity is set to 1 from getopts, set V and
+# VERBOSE environment variables for make and cmake build systems to pick up.
+if [[ $compilerverbosity = 1 ]] || [[ $getoptscompilerverbosity = 1 ]] ; then
+  V=1 
+  VERBOSE=1
+  export V VERBOSE
+fi
+
 # Condition to reuse the autobuildtemp file if set from autobuild or make a new temporary file
 if [[ -n $autobuildtemp ]]; then
   tempfile="$autobuildtemp"
@@ -919,8 +854,7 @@ compileonlyfor() {
 
   if [[ $archname != "$archargument" ]]; then
     echo ""
-    echo "[INFO] '$app' not supported on '$archname' and hence not"
-    echo "[INFO] not being built. Exiting."
+    echo "[INFO]'$app' not supported on '$archname' and hence not not being built. Exiting."
     exit 0
   fi
 }
@@ -938,36 +872,35 @@ mkandenterbuilddir() {
   # Now create all essential build-related directories
   mkdir -p "$tmp" "$pkg/install" "$pkgdocs" "$pkgdest" 
 
-  echo "[INFO] Leaving source directory $srcdir"
-  echo "[INFO] Entering build directory $tmp"
+  info "Leaving source directory $srcdir"
+  info "Entering build directory $tmp"
   cd "$tmp"
 }
 
 # Function to fix permissions inside the build directory
 # To be invoked inside a package build file.
 fixbuilddirpermissions() {
-  echo -n "[INFO] Fixing permissions in the newly-created build directory..."
+  info "Fixing permissions in the newly-created build directory..."
   chown -R root.root .
   find -L .  -perm /111 -a \! -perm 755 -a -exec chmod 755 {} \+ -o \
    \! -perm /111 -a \! -perm 644 -a -exec chmod 644 {} \+ || true
-  echo " done."
 }
 
 # Function to calculate elapsed build time. runtime takes the $SECONDS variable as an argument. $SECONDS is an
 # environment variable set by bash to show the number of whole seconds the shell has been running.
 runtime() {
-  TIMER=$1
-  [[ -z $TIMER ]] && return 1
+  timer=$1
+  [[ -z $timer ]] && return 1
 
-  local DAY=$(( TIMER / 86400 ))
-  local HOUR=$(( (TIMER - (DAY * 86400)) / 3600 ))
-  local MINS=$(( (TIMER - (DAY * 86400) - (HOUR * 3600)) / 60 ))
-  local SECS=$(( TIMER - (DAY * 86400) - (HOUR * 3600) - (MINS * 60) ))
+  local day=$(( timer / 86400 ))
+  local hour=$(( (timer - (day * 86400)) / 3600 ))
+  local mins=$(( (timer - (day * 86400) - (hour * 3600)) / 60 ))
+  local secs=$(( timer - (day * 86400) - (hour * 3600) - (mins * 60) ))
 
-  if [[ $DAY -gt 0 ]]; then
-    echo -n "${DAY}d, ${HOUR}h ${MINS}m ${SECS}s"
+  if [[ $day -gt 0 ]]; then
+    echo -n "${day}d, ${hour}h ${mins}m ${secs}s"
   else
-    echo -n "${HOUR}h, ${MINS}m ${SECS}s"
+    echo -n "${hour}h, ${mins}m ${secs}s"
   fi
 
   return 0
@@ -996,8 +929,7 @@ preprunitservice() {
   if [[ -f $srcdir/$1.run ]] ; then
     cp "$srcdir/$1.run" "etc/service/$1/run"
   else
-    echo "[ERROR] Runit service file '$1.run' does not exist!"
-    exit 1
+    err "Runit service file '$1.run' does not exist!"
   fi
 
   # If the second argument is "down", or if the second argument is "finish", create that file inside etc/service/$1/
@@ -1020,7 +952,7 @@ preprunitservice() {
 # Function to perform post-compile tasks.
 # To be invoked inside a package build file.
 mkfinalpkg() {
-  
+
   # Now we attempt to split the total time we'll get when making the summary into two times: compile
   # time and packaging time. Here we store the value of $SECONDS variable the moment makefinalpkg is
   # invoked. We use this value as the compile time, because this is the next function that's called
@@ -1032,43 +964,41 @@ mkfinalpkg() {
   # compiletimeb will run the runtime function against compiletimea and store the resulting output
   compiletimeb=$(runtime $compiletimea)
 
-  echo "[INFO] Leaving build directory $tmp"
-  echo "[INFO] Entering staging directory $pkg"
+  info "Leaving build directory $tmp"
+  info "Entering staging directory $pkg"
   cd "$pkg"
-  echo "[INFO] Performing packaging tasks..."
+  info "Performing packaging tasks..."
    
   # Check if /lib64 was created inside $pkg
   if [[ -d $pkg/lib64 ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] '$app' has /lib64 directory. Musl does not support multilib."
-    echo "[ERROR] Please fix the build options and ensure the /lib64 is not created."
-    exit 1
+    err "'$app' has /lib64 directory. Musl does not support multilib.
+Please fix the build options and ensure the /lib64 is not created."
   fi
    
   # Check if /usr and /sbin were created inside $pkg only if allowusrdir=1 is not set in the package build file
   for directory in usr sbin ; do
     if [[ -d $pkg/$directory ]] ; then
-      echo "[ERROR] '$app' has '$directory' directory which is a symlink to /bin on SMLinux."
-      echo "[ERROR] Please fix the build options and ensure '$directory' is not created."
-      exit 1
+      err "'$app' has '$directory' directory which is a symlink to /bin on SMLinux.
+Please fix the build options and ensure '$directory' is not created."
     fi
   done
 
-  echo "[INFO] Copying post-install files..."
+  info "Copying post-install files..."
 
   [[ -e $srcdir/doinst.sh ]] && cp "$srcdir/doinst.sh" "$pkg/install/"
 
   # If /share/applications directory exists but there is no doinst.sh in the source directory, create one using cat
   if [[ -d $pkg/share/applications ]] && [[ ! -e $srcdir/doinst.sh ]] ; then
-    echo "[INFO] Found /share/applications but couldn't find any doinst.sh in the source directory."
-    echo "[INFO] Creating one automatically that refreshes GTK cache."
+    info "Found /share/applications but couldn't find any doinst.sh in the source directory.
+Creating one automatically that refreshes GTK cache."
     cat << EOF >> "$pkg/install/doinst.sh"
 [[ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.gtk ]] && /etc/rc.d/rc.gtk
 EOF
 
   # Or if /share/applications directory exists, and there is a doinst.sh file in the source directory, but there is no mention of rc.gtk, then too create one using cat
   elif [[ -d $pkg/share/applications ]] && [[ -e $srcdir/doinst.sh ]] && ! grep -q 'rc.gtk' "$srcdir/doinst.sh" ; then
-    echo "[INFO] Found /share/applications but couldn't find any rc.gtk lines inside doinst.sh in the source directory." 
-    echo "[INFO] Creating one automatically that refreshes GTK cache."
+    info "Found /share/applications but couldn't find any rc.gtk lines inside doinst.sh in the source directory.
+Creating one automatically that refreshes GTK cache."
     cat << EOF >> "$pkg/install/doinst.sh"
 [[ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.gtk ]] && /etc/rc.d/rc.gtk
 EOF
@@ -1076,7 +1006,7 @@ EOF
 
   # Compress and link manpages
   if [[ -d "$pkg/share/man" ]]; then
-    echo "[INFO] Compressing and linking man pages..."
+    info "Compressing and linking man pages..."
     ( cd "$pkg/share/man"
       for manpagedir in $(find . -type d -name "man*") ; do
         ( cd $manpagedir
@@ -1091,7 +1021,7 @@ EOF
   fi
    
   # Remove libtool archive files
-  echo "[INFO] Discarding any libtool archive (.la) files..."
+  info "Discarding any libtool archive (.la) files..."
   find "$pkg" -type f -name "*.la" -exec rm -v {} \;
 
   # Provide a copy of the package build file as a source of reference for users
@@ -1105,17 +1035,21 @@ EOF
   # We don't want multiple directories for documentation. Detect if $pkg/share/doc/<app-name> was created. 
   # If it has been created, move its contents into $pkgdocs and discard the old doc directory.
   if [[ -d "$pkg/share/doc/$app" ]] ; then
-    echo "[INFO] Found share/doc/$app documentation directory."
-    echo "[INFO] Moving its contents into share/doc/$app-$version/"
+    info "Found share/doc/$app documentation directory.
+Moving its contents into share/doc/$app-$version/"
     mv "$pkg/share/doc/$app/"* "$pkgdocs"/
     rmdir "$pkg/share/doc/$app"
   fi
 
   # We'd like pkgconfig files to only go into /lib; some packages have other ideas. 
   if [[ -d $pkg/share/pkgconfig ]] ; then
-    echo "[ERROR] '$app' has created /share/pkgconfig directory!"
-    echo "[ERROR] Please fix its build file!"
-    exit 1
+    warn "Moving /share/pkgconfig directory created by '$app' into /lib"
+    ( 
+      cd $pkg
+      mkdir -p lib/pkgconfig
+      mv share/pkgconfig/* lib/pkgconfig/
+      rmdir share/pkgconfig
+    )
   fi
 
   # Normally we'd expect some debug symbols in the newly-produced binaries. But that isn't always the
@@ -1146,7 +1080,7 @@ EOF
 
   # If $preservestaticlibs is not set in the package build file, delete all static libraries
   if [[ -z $preservestaticlibs ]] ; then
-    echo "[INFO] Discarding any static libraries..."
+    info "Discarding any static libraries..."
     find "$pkg" -type f -print0 | xargs -0 file -m /etc/file/magic/archive | \
     grep -E "current ar archive" | awk '{print $1}' | cut -d: -f1 | \
     xargs rm -v 2>/dev/null || true
@@ -1169,13 +1103,13 @@ EOF
   
   # https://gist.github.com/ruario/9672717
   # Create the SMLinux package
-  echo "[INFO] Generating SMLinux package..."
+  info "Generating SMLinux package..."
 
   # If $disablepkgsymlinks is not set in the package build file, change any symlinks into shell script code. An example is base/initfs wherein
   # we only want the doinst.sh file in the source directory to be copied, not manipulated.
   if [[ -z $disablepkgsymlinks ]] ; then
     if find . -type l | grep -qm1 .; then
-      echo "[INFO] Found symlinks, preparing install/doinst.sh..."
+      info "Found symlinks, preparing install/doinst.sh..."
       find . -type l -printf '( cd %h ; rm -f %f )\n( cd %h ; ln -sf %l %f )\n' -delete > install/symlinks
       if [[ -f install/doinst.sh ]]; then
         printf '\n' | cat - install/doinst.sh >> install/symlinks
@@ -1190,23 +1124,23 @@ EOF
   pkgstatus=$?
 
   echo ""
-  echo "[INFO] SMLinux package '$app-$version-$arch-$build.$pkgext' successfully generated in $pkgdest."
+  info "SMLinux package '$app-$version-$arch-$build.$pkgext' successfully generated in $pkgdest."
 
   # Terminate auditd daemon
   terminateauditd
   
   # Terminate sccache
   if [[ $globalsccache = 1  ]] ; then
-    echo "[INFO] Terminating sccache"
+    info "Terminating sccache"
     /bin/sccache --stop-server
   fi
 
-  echo "[INFO] Leaving staging directory $pkg"
+  info "Leaving staging directory $pkg"
 
   # cd back to $srcdir when preservepackagedir is set to 0 to prevent this error: 
   # shell-init: error retrieving current directory: getcwd: cannot access parent directories:
   # No such file or directory
-  echo "[INFO] Re-entering source directory $srcdir"
+  info "Re-entering source directory $srcdir"
   cd "$srcdir"
 
 
@@ -1254,7 +1188,7 @@ EOF
 
 buildfilecleanup() {
   # Discard all temporary files
-  rm -f "$parenttmp/BUILDING" 
+  rm "$parenttmp/BUILDING" 
 
   # Autobuild discards $tempfile automatically, so only discard $tempfile if $autobuildtemp is unset
   if [[ -z $autobuildtemp ]] ; then
@@ -1477,11 +1411,11 @@ promptuser() {
   
   # Extract package at the end of a build if autoextract is set to 1
   if [[ $autoextract = 1 ]] && [[ -z $autobuild ]] && [[ -n $newpkglocation ]] ; then
-    echo "[INFO] Extracting package installer inside $srcdir/test..."
+    info "Extracting package installer inside $srcdir/test..."
     mkdir -p "$srcdir/test"
     tar xvf "$newpkglocation" -C "$srcdir/test"
     echo ""
-    echo "[INFO] '$app' package installer file successfully extracted"
+    info "'$app' package installer file successfully extracted"
   fi
 
   # Prompt the user at the end of a build whether to extract contents of a newly-built installer
@@ -1499,13 +1433,13 @@ promptuser() {
       read -r -p "[NOTIFY] Old test directory, if it exists already, will be overwritten. (y/N) " yn
 
       case "$yn" in
-        [Yy]* ) echo "[INFO] Wise choice :-) ";
+        [Yy]* ) info "Wise choice :-) ";
                mkdir -p "$srcdir/test"
                tar xvf "$newpkglocation" -C "$srcdir/test"
                echo ""
-               echo "[INFO] '"$app"' package installer file successfully extracted"
+               info "'"$app"' package installer file successfully extracted"
                break;;
-             *) echo "[INFO] Nope? Alright." ; break ;;
+             *) info "Nope? Alright." ; break ;;
       esac
     done
   fi
@@ -1519,10 +1453,10 @@ promptuser() {
 
       read -r -p "[NOTIFY] Would you like to install/upgrade it? (y/N) " yn
       case "$yn" in 
-        [Yy]* ) echo "[INFO] Wise choice :-) "
+        [Yy]* ) info "Wise choice :-) "
                upgradepkg --install-new "$newpkglocation"
                break;;
-             *) echo "[INFO] Nope? Alright." ; exit 0 ;;
+             *) info "Nope? Alright." ; exit 0 ;;
       esac
     done
   fi
@@ -1536,7 +1470,7 @@ promptuser() {
 # on receiving ctrl-c from the user during a manual build.
 interruptoutput() {
   echo ""
-  echo "[INFO] Caught Keyboard Interrupt"
+  info "Caught Keyboard Interrupt"
   wasinterrupted="1"
 
   # Restore terminal colours
@@ -1547,7 +1481,7 @@ interruptoutput() {
 
   # Terminate sccache
   if [[ $globalsccache = 1 ]] ; then
-    echo "[INFO] Terminating sccache"
+    info "Terminating sccache"
     /bin/sccache --stop-server
   fi