Improve package and use-package configuration

init.el

@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@
 
 ;;; package.el
 
-(defvar minimal-emacs-configure-package t
-  "Non-nil to configure package.el and use-package.")
-
-(when minimal-emacs-configure-package
 (require 'package)
 
 (setq package-quickstart nil)
@@ -36,7 +32,12 @@
                         '(("gnu"    . 99)
                           ("nongnu" . 80)
                           ("stable" . 70)
-                            ("melpa"  . 0))))
+                          ("melpa"  . 0)))
+
+(when package-enable-at-startup
+  (package-initialize)
+  (unless package-archive-contents
+    (package-refresh-contents t)))
 
 ;;; use-package
 ;; Always ensure packages are installed