diff --git a/tasks/build/go.yml b/tasks/build/go.yml
index 13f90a1..2c96661 100644
--- a/tasks/build/go.yml
+++ b/tasks/build/go.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
       ansible.builtin.get_url:
         dest: "{{ d_go_dl_tmp.path }}/{{ go_archive }}"
         url: "https://go.dev/dl/{{ go_archive }}"
-        checksum: "{{ pkgconfig_go[pkgconfig_go.version][ansible_system][arch] }}"
+        checksum: "{{ pkgconfig_go.sums[pkgconfig_go.version][ansible_system][arch] }}"
         decompress: false
 
     - name: ensure go install dir exists
diff --git a/tasks/build/neovim.yml b/tasks/build/neovim.yml
index 931fad1..c8eeed0 100644
--- a/tasks/build/neovim.yml
+++ b/tasks/build/neovim.yml
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
           CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE: "{{ pkgconfig_neovim.build_type }}"
           CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX: "{{ pkgconfig_neovim.install_prefix }}"
         target: install
-        become: "{{ pkgconfig_neovim.become }}"
-        become_user: "{% if pkgconfig_neovim.become %}{{ pkgconfig_neovim.owner }}{% else %}~{% endif %}"
+        become: "{{ pkgconfig_neovim.dobecome }}"
+        become_user: "{% if pkgconfig_neovim.dobecome %}{{ pkgconfig_neovim.owner }}{% else %}~{% endif %}"
   when: not pkgconfig_neovim.use_appimage
 
 - name: install neovim appimage
@@ -50,5 +50,5 @@
         path: "{{ pkgconfig_neovim.install_prefix }}/bin/nvim"
   when:
     - pkgconfig_neovim.use_appimage
-  become: "{{ pkgconfig_neovim.become }}"
-  become_user: "{% if pkgconfig_neovim.become %}{{ pkgconfig_neovim.owner }}{% else %}~{% endif %}"
+  become: "{{ pkgconfig_neovim.dobecome }}"
+  become_user: "{% if pkgconfig_neovim.dobecome %}{{ pkgconfig_neovim.owner }}{% else %}~{% endif %}"
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index c2a9be0..e18be32 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -2,52 +2,54 @@
 - name: generate package installation lists
   ansible.builtin.include_tasks:
     file: addpkg.yml
-  loop: "{{ packages }}"
+  loop: "{{ packages | unique }}"
   loop_control:
     loop_var: pkg
 
-- name: upgrade all packages
+- name: redhat based OS
   block:
     - name: upgrade dnf packages
       ansible.builtin.dnf:
         name: "*"
         state: latest
-      when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
+      become: true
+      when: full_upgrade
 
+    - name: install dnf packages
+      ansible.builtin.dnf:
+        name: "{{ syspkgs | unique }}"
+        state: "{{ install_state }}"
+      become: true
+      when:
+        - syspkgs|length > 0
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
+
+- name: debian based OS
+  block:
     - name: upgrade apt packages
       ansible.builtin.apt:
         name: "*"
         state: latest
-      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+      become: true
+      when: full_upgrade
 
+    - name: install apt packages
+      ansible.builtin.apt:
+        name: "{{ syspkgs | unique }}"
+        state: "{{ install_state }}"
+      become: true
+      when:
+        - syspkgs|length > 0
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+- name: darwin/macOS based OS
+  block:
     - name: upgrade homebrew packages
       community.general.homebrew:
         name: "*"
         state: latest
-      when: ansible_os_family == 'Darwin'
-  become: true
-  when: full_upgrade
+      when: full_upgrade
 
-- name: Linux specific installation
-  block:
-    - name: install dnf packages
-      ansible.builtin.dnf:
-        name: "{{ syspkgs }}"
-        state: "{{ install_state }}"
-      when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
-
-    - name: install apt packages
-      ansible.builtin.apt:
-        name: "{{ syspkgs }}"
-        state: "{{ install_state }}"
-      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
-  become: true
-  when:
-    - ansible_system == 'Linux'
-    - syspkgs|length > 0
-
-- name: Macos specific installation
-  block:
     - name: tap homebrew taps
       community.general.homebrew_tap:
         name: "{{ brewtaps | unique }}"
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@
 
     - name: install homebrew packages
       community.general.homebrew:
-        name: "{{ syspkgs }}"
+        name: "{{ syspkgs | unique }}"
         state: "{{ install_state }}"
       when: syspkgs|length > 0
 
@@ -69,15 +71,15 @@
     - name: workaround to install homebrew taps
       ansible.builtin.command:
         cmd: "brew install {{ tappkg }}"
-      loop: "{{ tappkgs }}"
+      loop: "{{ tappkgs | unique }}"
       loop_control:
         loop_var: tappkg
   when: ansible_os_family == 'Darwin'
- 
+
 - name: install srcpkgs
   ansible.builtin.include_tasks:
     file: "build/{{ srcpkg }}.yml"
-  loop: "{{ srcpkgs }}"
+  loop: "{{ srcpkgs | unique }}"
   loop_control:
     loop_var: srcpkg
   when: srcpkgs|length > 0
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@
     locked: "{{ cargopkg.locked | default(false) }}"
   become: true
   when: cargoversioned|length > 0
-  loop: "{{ cargoversioned }}"
+  loop: "{{ cargoversioned | unique }}"
   loop_control:
     loop_var: cargopkg
 
@@ -100,29 +102,27 @@
     state: latest
     locked: "{{ cargopkg.locked | default(false) }}"
   when: cargopkgs|length > 0
-  loop: "{{ cargopkgs }}"
+  loop: "{{ cargopkgs | unique }}"
   loop_control:
     loop_var: cargopkg
 
 - name: Install local npm packages
-  when: packages.npm is defined
   community.general.npm:
     global: true
     name: "{{ npmpkg }}"
     state: latest
-  loop: "{{ npmpkgs }}"
+  loop: "{{ npmpkgs | unique }}"
   loop_control:
     loop_var: npmpkg
   when: npmpkgs|length > 0
 
 - name: Install local go packages
-  become: true
   environment:
     GOROOT: /usr/local/go
     PATH: /usr/local/go/bin:$PATH
   ansible.builtin.command:
     cmd: "go install {{ gopkg }}"
-  loop: "{{ gopkgs }}"
+  loop: "{{ gopkgs | unique }}"
   loop_control:
     loop_var: gopkg
   when: gopkgs|length > 0
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
   ansible.builtin.pip:
     name: "{{ pipxpkg }}"
     state: latest
-  loop: "{{ pipxpkgs }}"
+  loop: "{{ pipxpkgs | unique }}"
   loop_control:
     loop_var: pipxpkg
   when: pipxpkgs|length > 0
diff --git a/vars/alacritty.yml b/vars/alacritty.yml
index 5dff5b1..e4eec35 100644
--- a/vars/alacritty.yml
+++ b/vars/alacritty.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 version: 0.15.0
-install_prefix: /usr/local
+install_prefix: "{{ default_config.install_prefix }}"
 
 # variables that aren't really configuration
 build_deps:
diff --git a/vars/go.yml b/vars/go.yml
index e8a6d4e..9286e15 100644
--- a/vars/go.yml
+++ b/vars/go.yml
@@ -1,15 +1,23 @@
 ---
-version: 1.23.5
-install_path: /usr/local
+version: 1.23.6
+install_path: "{{ default_config.install_prefix }}"
 
 # checksums by version and ansible_system
-1.23.5:
-  Darwin:
-    arm64: sha256:f819ed94939e08a5016b9a607ec84ebbde6cb3fe59750c59d97aa300c3fd02df
-    amd64: sha256:d2b06bf0b8299e0187dfe2d8ad39bd3dd96a6d93fe4d1cfd42c7872452f4a0a2
-  Linux:
-    amd64: sha256:cbcad4a6482107c7c7926df1608106c189417163428200ce357695cc7e01d091
-    arm64: sha256:47c84d332123883653b70da2db7dd57d2a865921ba4724efcdf56b5da7021db0
+sums:
+  1.23.6:
+    Darwin:
+      amd64: 7fa387c228b4dd69b518a5d9425638fa5c0d86ec8943de373e3802aff2e5b12a
+      arm64: a167758a44e08af6eddf844ed86a6acdbff1d3957248913bbca7ee4ef6ff07d0
+    Linux:
+      amd64: 561c780e8f4a8955d32bf72e46af0b5ee5e0debe1e4633df9a03781878219202
+      arm64: 561c780e8f4a8955d32bf72e46af0b5ee5e0debe1e4633df9a03781878219202
+  1.23.5:
+    Darwin:
+      amd64: d2b06bf0b8299e0187dfe2d8ad39bd3dd96a6d93fe4d1cfd42c7872452f4a0a2
+      arm64: f819ed94939e08a5016b9a607ec84ebbde6cb3fe59750c59d97aa300c3fd02df
+    Linux:
+      amd64: cbcad4a6482107c7c7926df1608106c189417163428200ce357695cc7e01d091
+      arm64: 47c84d332123883653b70da2db7dd57d2a865921ba4724efcdf56b5da7021db0
 
 # maps used in variables
 archmap:
diff --git a/vars/lua-language-server.yml b/vars/lua-language-server.yml
index 7b5438b..64cfb6f 100644
--- a/vars/lua-language-server.yml
+++ b/vars/lua-language-server.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 version: 3.13.5
-install_prefix: /usr/local
+install_prefix: "{{ default_config.install_prefix }}"
 install_path: /opt/lua-language-server
 base_url: https://github.com/LuaLS/lua-language-server/releases/download
 sysmap:
diff --git a/vars/neovide.yml b/vars/neovide.yml
index 6a03f38..57941e7 100644
--- a/vars/neovide.yml
+++ b/vars/neovide.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 version: 0.14.0
-install_prefix: /usr/local
+install_prefix: "{{ default_config.install_prefix }}"
 
 #required variables
 git_repo: https://github.com/neovide/neovide.git
diff --git a/vars/neovim.yml b/vars/neovim.yml
index 68a0b00..07b9585 100644
--- a/vars/neovim.yml
+++ b/vars/neovim.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
 version: v0.10.3
-install_prefix: /usr/local
+install_prefix: "{{ default_config.install_prefix }}"
 install_dir: /opt/nvim
 use_appimage: true
 use_syspkg: true
 build_type: Release
-become: true
+dobecome: true
 git_repo: https://github.com/neovim/neovim
 appimage_url_pfx: https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/download
 owner: root
diff --git a/vars/packer.yml b/vars/packer.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 525bcac..0000000
--- a/vars/packer.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-Darwin:
-  pkgs:
-    - hashicorp/tap/packer
-Linux:
-  pkgs:
-    - packer
diff --git a/vars/zig.yml b/vars/zig.yml
index 6077a8d..7642cc3 100644
--- a/vars/zig.yml
+++ b/vars/zig.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 version: 0.13.0
-install_prefix: /usr/local
+install_prefix: "{{ default_config.install_prefix }}"
 install_path: /opt/zig
 base_url: https://ziglang.org/download
 sysmap:
diff --git a/vars/zls.yml b/vars/zls.yml
index 3d4c3e7..d0a67cb 100644
--- a/vars/zls.yml
+++ b/vars/zls.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 version: 0.13.0
-install_prefix: /usr/local
+install_prefix: "{{ default_config.install_prefix }}"
 install_path: /opt/zls
 base_url: https://builds.zigtools.org
 sysmap: