There are some Magento Connect extensions that I find myself installing every time I create a new project, such as Fontis_Recaptcha, Mass_Product_Relater, HM_DeveloperToolbar, ModuleCreator, Alanstormdotcom_Layoutviewer, etc. What's on your list?
Does anyone know of a capability to automate the installation of a base set of modules? In the same way that Mage itself installs all its modules. I guess a bash or phing script to automate PEAR? Thoughts?
Cant you just use the auto installer script as provided and maintained here:
http://www.magentocommerce.com/wiki/groups/227/magento_bash_script_installer
and edit it to install your desired extensions
ie just add ./pear install xxxxxxx at the end of the script.
I would take another approach. Install a clean installation and add all your extension. When your done export the DB and zip all the files. Then you should be able to use the files and the DB as a base for all your magento installations...
I do the same with Joomla, have not tried that with magento yet, but it should work.