diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/.api
index 1d0b322..43bf001 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg android_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg android_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg android_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg android_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg android_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg android_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg android_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/android.go b/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/android.go
index 80e514b..631311e 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/android.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/android_profile/android.go
@@ -180,6 +180,19 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	var pkgs []string
+	switch runtime.GOOS {
+	case "linux":
+		pkgs = []string{"ant", "autoconf", "bzip2", "default-jdk", "gawk", "lib32z1", "lib32stdc++6"}
+	case "darwin":
+		pkgs = []string{"ant", "autoconf", "gawk"}
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported OS: %s", runtime.GOOS)
+	}
+	return pkgs, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	var err error
 	var baseEnv []string
@@ -241,19 +254,6 @@
 
 // installAndroidNDK installs the android NDK toolchain.
 func (m *Manager) installAndroidNDK(jirix *jiri.X, target profiles.Target) (e error) {
-	// Install dependencies.
-	var pkgs []string
-	switch runtime.GOOS {
-	case "linux":
-		pkgs = []string{"ant", "autoconf", "bzip2", "default-jdk", "gawk", "lib32z1", "lib32stdc++6"}
-	case "darwin":
-		pkgs = []string{"ant", "autoconf", "gawk"}
-	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported OS: %s", runtime.GOOS)
-	}
-	if err := profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, pkgs); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	// Download Android NDK.
 	installNdkFn := func() error {
 		s := jirix.NewSeq()
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/.api
index ec295b8..e581fed 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg base_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg base_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg base_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg base_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg base_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg base_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg base_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/base.go b/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/base.go
index 71d7c0a..0c3de5c 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/base.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/base_profile/base.go
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 	"v.io/jiri/profiles"
 	"v.io/jiri/profiles/profilesmanager"
 	"v.io/jiri/profiles/profilesreader"
-	"v.io/jiri/profiles/profilesutil"
 	"v.io/x/lib/envvar"
 )
 
@@ -83,14 +82,15 @@
 func (m *Manager) AddFlags(flags *flag.FlagSet, action profiles.Action) {
 }
 
-func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
-	// Install packages
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
 	if !target.CrossCompiling() && target.OS() == "linux" && (target.Version() == "1" || target.Version() == "2" || target.Version() == "3" || target.Version() == "4") {
 		// Version 5 onwards uses go 1.6+, where there is no need for "libssl-dev".
-		if err := profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, []string{"libssl-dev"}); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+		return []string{"libssl-dev"}, nil
 	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if err := m.versionInfo.Lookup(target.Version(), &m.spec); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/.api
index a40a9d2..ad10044 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg dart_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg dart_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg dart_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg dart_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg dart_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg dart_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg dart_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/dart.go b/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/dart.go
index 874612a..b3cc8c5 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/dart.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/dart_profile/dart.go
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if err := m.initForTarget(jirix, root, &target); err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/doc.go b/jiri-profile-v23/doc.go
index 500261e..f039925 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/doc.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/doc.go
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@
 
 The jiri profile-v23 commands are:
    install     Install the given profiles
+   os-packages List the commands to install the OS packages required by the
+               given profiles
    uninstall   Uninstall the given profiles
    update      Install the latest default version of the given profiles
    cleanup     Cleanup the locally installed profiles
@@ -129,6 +131,42 @@
  -v=false
    Print verbose output.
 
+Jiri profile-v23 os-packages - List the commands to install the OS packages required by the given profiles
+
+List or optionally run the commands to install the OS packages required by the
+given profiles.
+
+Usage:
+   jiri profile-v23 os-packages [flags] <profiles>
+
+<profiles> is a list of profiles to list OS packages for.
+
+The jiri profile-v23 os-packages flags are:
+ -all=false
+   print commands to install all required OS packages, not just those that are
+   missing
+ -env=
+   specify an environment variable in the form: <var>=[<val>],...
+ -go.sysroot-image=
+   sysroot image for cross compiling to the currently specified target
+ -go.sysroot-image-dirs-to-use=/lib:/usr/lib:/usr/include
+   a colon separated list of directories to use from the sysroot image
+ -install=false
+   install the requested packages. This may need to be run as root.
+ -mojodev.dir=
+   Path of mojo repo checkout.
+ -profiles-db=$JIRI_ROOT/.jiri_root/profile_db
+   the path, relative to JIRI_ROOT, that contains the profiles database.
+ -profiles-dir=.jiri_root/profiles
+   the directory, relative to JIRI_ROOT, that profiles are installed in
+ -target=<runtime.GOARCH>-<runtime.GOOS>
+   specifies a profile target in the following form: <arch>-<os>[@<version>]
+
+ -color=true
+   Use color to format output.
+ -v=false
+   Print verbose output.
+
 Jiri profile-v23 uninstall - Uninstall the given profiles
 
 Uninstall the given profiles.
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/.api
index 1ddc481..9710094 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg go_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg go_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg go_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg go_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg go_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg go_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg go_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/go.go b/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/go.go
index 6f2bc8e..3d70135 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/go.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/go_profile/go.go
@@ -59,6 +59,17 @@
 	},
 }
 
+var osPackages = map[xspec]map[xspec][]string{
+	xspec{"amd64", "darwin"}: {},
+	xspec{"amd64", "linux"}: {
+		xspec{"arm", "linux"}: []string{
+			"automake", "bison", "bzip2", "curl", "flex", "g++",
+			"gawk", "libexpat1-dev", "gettext", "gperf",
+			"libncurses5-dev", "libtool", "subversion", "texinfo",
+		},
+	},
+}
+
 type versionSpec struct {
 	gitRevision string
 	patchFiles  []string
@@ -94,6 +105,13 @@
 	return &goRelease{file, sha256}
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	t := osPackages[xspec{"foo", "bar"}][xspec{"baz", "boo"}]
+	t = osPackages[xspec{runtime.GOARCH, runtime.GOOS}][xspec{"baz", "boo"}]
+	_ = t
+	return osPackages[xspec{runtime.GOARCH, runtime.GOOS}][xspec{target.Arch(), target.OS()}], nil
+}
+
 func (g *goRelease) install(jirix *jiri.X, dir string) error {
 	s := jirix.NewSeq()
 	tmpDir, err := s.TempDir("", "")
@@ -429,14 +447,6 @@
 		}
 		return "", nil, nil
 	}
-	// Install dependencies.
-	pkgs := []string{
-		"automake", "bison", "bzip2", "curl", "flex", "g++", "gawk", "libexpat1-dev",
-		"gettext", "gperf", "libncurses5-dev", "libtool", "subversion", "texinfo",
-	}
-	if err := profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, pkgs); err != nil {
-		return "", nil, err
-	}
 
 	// Build and install crosstool-ng.
 	installNgFn := func() error {
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/.api
index 621dff1..76b7406 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg java_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg java_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg java_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg java_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg java_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg java_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg java_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/java.go b/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/java.go
index c0511c3..bee09db 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/java.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/java_profile/java.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 	"v.io/jiri/profiles"
 	"v.io/jiri/profiles/profilesmanager"
 	"v.io/jiri/profiles/profilesreader"
-	"v.io/jiri/profiles/profilesutil"
 	"v.io/x/lib/envvar"
 )
 
@@ -83,6 +82,15 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	switch target.OS() {
+	case "darwin", "linux":
+		return []string{"gradle"}, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("OS %q is not supported", target.OS())
+	}
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if err := m.initForTarget(root, target); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -146,9 +154,6 @@
 func (m *Manager) install(jirix *jiri.X, target profiles.Target) (string, error) {
 	switch target.OS() {
 	case "darwin":
-		if err := profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, []string{"gradle"}); err != nil {
-			return "", err
-		}
 		javaHome, err := getJDKDarwin(jirix, m.spec)
 		if err == nil {
 			return javaHome, nil
@@ -161,9 +166,6 @@
 		jirix.NewSeq().Last(javaHomeBin, "-t", "CommandLine", "--request")
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("Please follow the OS X prompt instructions to install JDK, then set JAVA_HOME and re-run the profile installation command.")
 	case "linux":
-		if err := profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, []string{"gradle"}); err != nil {
-			return "", err
-		}
 		javaHome, err := getJDKLinux(jirix, m.spec)
 		if err == nil {
 			return javaHome, nil
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/.api
index 38fcad8..fcb7a0c 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg mojo_dev_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg mojo_dev_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg mojo_dev_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg mojo_dev_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg mojo_dev_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg mojo_dev_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg mojo_dev_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/mojo-dev.go b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/mojo-dev.go
index 47c5635..128afef 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/mojo-dev.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_dev_profile/mojo-dev.go
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@
 	}
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if mojoDir == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("flag %q must be set", mojoDirFlagName)
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/.api
index 43e0fbd..b828e51 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg mojo_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg mojo_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg mojo_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg mojo_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg mojo_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg mojo_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg mojo_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/mojo.go b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/mojo.go
index e7db89d..5358b06 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/mojo.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/mojo_profile/mojo.go
@@ -446,6 +446,10 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if err := m.initForTarget(jirix, root, &target); err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/.api
index be9f484..5fbe338 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg nacl_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg nacl_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg nacl_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg nacl_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg nacl_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg nacl_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg nacl_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/nacl.go b/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/nacl.go
index 1112c9a..420910a 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/nacl.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/nacl_profile/nacl.go
@@ -93,6 +93,17 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	switch runtime.GOOS {
+	case "darwin":
+	case "linux":
+		return []string{"g++", "libc6-i386", "zip"}, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%q is not supported", target.OS)
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if err := m.initForTarget(jirix, "installed", root, &target); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -131,13 +142,6 @@
 
 // installNacl installs the nacl profile.
 func (m *Manager) installNacl(jirix *jiri.X, target profiles.Target, spec versionSpec) error {
-	switch runtime.GOOS {
-	case "darwin":
-	case "linux":
-		if err := profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, []string{"g++", "libc6-i386", "zip"}); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
 	naclSrcDir := m.naclSrcDir.Abs(jirix)
 	naclInstDir := m.naclInstDir.Abs(jirix)
 	cloneGoPpapiFn := func() error {
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/.api
index e98ab83..712779a 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg nodejs_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg nodejs_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg nodejs_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg nodejs_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg nodejs_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg nodejs_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg nodejs_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/nodejs.go b/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/nodejs.go
index bdf5ee5..bcf8b8c 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/nodejs.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/nodejs_profile/nodejs.go
@@ -75,6 +75,19 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	switch target.OS() {
+	case "darwin":
+	case "linux":
+		if target.Version() == "0.10.24" {
+			return []string{"g++"}, nil
+		}
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%q is not supported", target.OS)
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if err := m.initForTarget(root, target); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -166,15 +179,6 @@
 }
 
 func (m *Manager) installNodeFromSource(jirix *jiri.X, target profiles.Target) error {
-	switch target.OS() {
-	case "darwin":
-	case "linux":
-		if err := profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, []string{"g++"}); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("%q is not supported", target.OS)
-	}
 	// Build and install NodeJS.
 	installNodeFn := func() error {
 		return jirix.NewSeq().Pushd(m.nodeSrcDir.Abs(jirix)).
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/.api
index d5b54c0..6edbbf0 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg syncbase_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg syncbase_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg syncbase_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg syncbase_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg syncbase_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg syncbase_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg syncbase_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/syncbase.go b/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/syncbase.go
index 921a673..4abd1c3 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/syncbase.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/syncbase_profile/syncbase.go
@@ -122,11 +122,21 @@
 	return env.ToSlice(), nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	switch runtime.GOOS {
+	case "darwin":
+		return []string{"autoconf", "automake", "libtool", "pkg-config"}, nil
+	case "linux":
+		return []string{"autoconf", "automake", "g++", "g++-multilib",
+			"gcc-multilib", "libtool", "pkg-config"}, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%q is not supported", runtime.GOOS)
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	m.initForTarget(jirix, root, target)
-	if err := m.installDependencies(jirix, target.Arch(), target.OS()); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	if err := m.installCommon(jirix, pdb, root, target); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -153,23 +163,6 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *Manager) installDependencies(jirix *jiri.X, arch, OS string) error {
-	var pkgs []string
-	switch runtime.GOOS {
-	case "darwin":
-		pkgs = []string{
-			"autoconf", "automake", "libtool", "pkg-config",
-		}
-	case "linux":
-		pkgs = []string{
-			"autoconf", "automake", "g++", "g++-multilib", "gcc-multilib", "libtool", "pkg-config",
-		}
-	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("%q is not supported", runtime.GOOS)
-	}
-	return profilesutil.InstallPackages(jirix, pkgs)
-}
-
 // initXCC sets the environment variables in 'env' for use with cross-compilers.
 func (m *Manager) initXCC(env map[string]string, pdb *profiles.DB, target profiles.Target) error {
 	target.SetVersion("")
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/.api b/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/.api
index beb5e19..acda2f3 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/.api
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/.api
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 pkg terraform_profile, func Register(string, string)
 pkg terraform_profile, method (*Manager) AddFlags(*flag.FlagSet, profiles.Action)
 pkg terraform_profile, method (*Manager) Install(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
+pkg terraform_profile, method (*Manager) OSPackages(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) ([]string, error)
 pkg terraform_profile, method (*Manager) Uninstall(*jiri.X, *profiles.DB, jiri.RelPath, profiles.Target) error
 pkg terraform_profile, method (Manager) Info() string
 pkg terraform_profile, method (Manager) Installer() string
diff --git a/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/terraform.go b/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/terraform.go
index bc60a54..1353d8f 100644
--- a/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/terraform.go
+++ b/jiri-profile-v23/terraform_profile/terraform.go
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) OSPackages(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) ([]string, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) Install(jirix *jiri.X, pdb *profiles.DB, root jiri.RelPath, target profiles.Target) error {
 	if err := m.initForTarget(root, target); err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/jiridoc/doc.go b/jiridoc/doc.go
index d8727da..2b056a3 100644
--- a/jiridoc/doc.go
+++ b/jiridoc/doc.go
@@ -252,6 +252,8 @@
    list        List available or installed profiles
    env         Display profile environment variables
    install     Install the given profiles
+   os-packages List the commands to install the OS packages required by the
+               given profiles
    uninstall   Uninstall the given profiles
    update      Install the latest default version of the given profiles
    cleanup     Cleanup the locally installed profiles
@@ -370,6 +372,36 @@
  -v=false
    Print verbose output.
 
+Jiri profile os-packages - List the commands to install the OS packages required by the given profiles
+
+List or optionally run the commands to install the OS packages required by the
+given profiles.
+
+Usage:
+   jiri profile os-packages [flags] <profiles>
+
+<profiles> is a list of profiles to list OS packages for.
+
+The jiri profile os-packages flags are:
+ -all=false
+   print commands to install all required OS packages, not just those that are
+   missing
+ -env=
+   specify an environment variable in the form: <var>=[<val>],...
+ -install=false
+   install the requested packages. This may need to be run as root.
+ -profiles-db=$JIRI_ROOT/.jiri_root/profile_db
+   the path, relative to JIRI_ROOT, that contains the profiles database.
+ -profiles-dir=.jiri_root/profiles
+   the directory, relative to JIRI_ROOT, that profiles are installed in
+ -target=<runtime.GOARCH>-<runtime.GOOS>
+   specifies a profile target in the following form: <arch>-<os>[@<version>]
+
+ -color=true
+   Use color to format output.
+ -v=false
+   Print verbose output.
+
 Jiri profile uninstall - Uninstall the given profiles
 
 Uninstall the given profiles.
@@ -1288,6 +1320,8 @@
 
 The jiri profile-v23 commands are:
    install     Install the given profiles
+   os-packages List the commands to install the OS packages required by the
+               given profiles
    uninstall   Uninstall the given profiles
    update      Install the latest default version of the given profiles
    cleanup     Cleanup the locally installed profiles
@@ -1331,6 +1365,43 @@
  -v=false
    Print verbose output.
 
+Jiri profile-v23 os-packages - List the commands to install the OS packages
+required by the given profiles
+
+List or optionally run the commands to install the OS packages required by the
+given profiles.
+
+Usage:
+   jiri profile-v23 os-packages [flags] <profiles>
+
+<profiles> is a list of profiles to list OS packages for.
+
+The jiri profile-v23 os-packages flags are:
+ -all=false
+   print commands to install all required OS packages, not just those that are
+   missing
+ -env=
+   specify an environment variable in the form: <var>=[<val>],...
+ -go.sysroot-image=
+   sysroot image for cross compiling to the currently specified target
+ -go.sysroot-image-dirs-to-use=/lib:/usr/lib:/usr/include
+   a colon separated list of directories to use from the sysroot image
+ -install=false
+   install the requested packages. This may need to be run as root.
+ -mojodev.dir=
+   Path of mojo repo checkout.
+ -profiles-db=$JIRI_ROOT/.jiri_root/profile_db
+   the path, relative to JIRI_ROOT, that contains the profiles database.
+ -profiles-dir=.jiri_root/profiles
+   the directory, relative to JIRI_ROOT, that profiles are installed in
+ -target=<runtime.GOARCH>-<runtime.GOOS>
+   specifies a profile target in the following form: <arch>-<os>[@<version>]
+
+ -color=true
+   Use color to format output.
+ -v=false
+   Print verbose output.
+
 Jiri profile-v23 uninstall - Uninstall the given profiles
 
 Uninstall the given profiles.