gnu: Use 'modify-phases' syntax.

* gnu/packages/admin.scm (mingetty, clusterssh, wpa-supplicant-minimal,
wpa-supplicant, wakelan, acpica, tree, direvent, dstat)[arguments]: Use
'modify-phases' syntax.
* gnu/packages/algebra.scm (arb)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/apr.scm (apr-util)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/audio.scm (clalsadrv, fluidsynth, faad2, lv2-mda-piano,
lv2-mda-epiano, timidity++, vamp, soundtouch, portaudio, rsound,
zita-convolver, zita-alsa-pcmi)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/backup.scm (rdup, btar)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm (bedops, bwa, crossmap, express,
flexbar, grit, hisat, ngs-sdk, subread)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/bittorrent.scm (transmission)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/cdrom.scm (cd-discid)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/compression.scm (sharutils)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/conky.scm (conky)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/databases.scm (bdb, bdb-5.3)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/debug.scm (delta, c-reduce)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/display-managers.scm (slim)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/dns.scm (dnsmasq)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/emacs.scm (geiser, emacs-wget, bbdb)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/engineering.scm (pcb)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/firmware.scm (ath9k-htc-firmware)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/flashing-tools.scm (flashrom)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/fltk.scm (fltk)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm (python-pyxdg)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/gd.scm (perl-gd)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/gkrellm.scm (gkrellm)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/glib.scm (glibmm)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/gl.scm (glew)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/gnome.scm (icon-naming-utils, orbit2, libbonobo, gnome-vfs,
libgnome, libbonoboui, goffice-0.8, dconf)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/gprolog.scm (gprolog)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/gps.scm (gpscorrelate)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/graphics.scm (agg)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/gtk.scm (ganv, girara, gtksourceview-2, guile-present,
python2-pycairo)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/guile.scm (guile-1.8)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/guile-wm.scm (guile-wm)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/hugs.scm (hugs)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/hurd.scm (gnumach-headers, hurd-headers, hurd-minimal)
[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/image-viewers.scm (feh, sxiv)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/libcanberra.scm (libcanberra)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/linux.scm (bridge-utils, iw, fuse, unionfs-fuse/static,
lm-sensors, i2c-tools, xsensors, perf, mdadm, libaio, module-init-tools)
[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/lisp.scm (ccl)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/lout.scm (lout)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/lua.scm (luajit)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/machine-learning.scm (shogun)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/mail.scm (exim)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/man.scm (man-pages, txt2man)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/maths.scm (lapack, superlu-dist, openlibm, openspecfun)
[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/messaging.scm (bitlbee)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/mp3.scm (libmad, id3lib, mp3info)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/music.scm (solfege)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/noweb.scm (noweb)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/patchutils.scm (patchutils, quilt, colordiff)[arguments]:
Likewise.
* gnu/packages/pdf.scm (xpdf, zathura-cb, zathura-ps, zathura-djvu,
zathura-pdf-poppler, zathura, podofo, fbida)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/perl.scm (perl-file-list, perl-test-harness)[arguments]:
Likewise.
* gnu/packages/photo.scm (gphoto2)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/popt.scm (popt)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/pretty-print.scm (source-highlight, astyle)[arguments]:
Likewise.
* gnu/packages/pumpio.scm (pumpa)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/python.scm (python-passlib, python-pycrypto, python2-empy,
python-sqlalchemy, python-docopt)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/rdf.scm (lrdf)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/regex.scm (tre)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/rrdtool.scm (rrdtool)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/ruby.scm (ruby-2.1, ruby-1.8)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/sawfish.scm (sawfish)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/scheme.scm (racket)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/sdl.scm (guile-sdl)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/serveez.scm (serveez)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/skribilo.scm (skribilo)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/smalltalk.scm (smalltalk)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/suckless.scm (dmenu, slock)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/tcl.scm (expect)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/telephony.scm (commoncpp)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/textutils.scm (recode, libgtextutils)[arguments]:
Likewise.
* gnu/packages/time.scm (time)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/tor.scm (privoxy)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/uucp.scm (uucp)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/video.scm (libdvdnav-4)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/web-browsers.scm (lynx)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/web.scm (tinyproxy)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/wicd.scm (wicd)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/wm.scm (bspwm)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/xdisorg.scm (sxhkd, xcape)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/xfce.scm (xfconf)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/xfig.scm (transfig)[arguments]: Likewise.
* gnu/packages/xorg.scm (imake)[arguments]: Likewise.

81 files changed, 2114 insertions, 2140 deletions

diff --git a/gnu/packages/admin.scm b/gnu/packages/admin.scm
index 8e98174f47..612e4a7fff 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/admin.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/admin.scm
@@ -361,32 +361,31 @@ login, passwd, su, groupadd, and useradd.")
                "05yxrp44ky2kg6qknk1ih0kvwkgbn9fbz77r3vci7agslh5wjm8g"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-replace 'configure
-                               (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs
-                                         #:allow-other-keys)
-                                 (let* ((out    (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                                        (man8   (string-append
-                                                 out "/share/man/man8"))
-                                        (sbin   (string-append out "/sbin"))
-                                        (shadow (assoc-ref inputs "shadow"))
-                                        (login  (string-append shadow
-                                                               "/bin/login")))
-                                   (substitute* "Makefile"
-                                     (("^SBINDIR.*")
-                                      (string-append "SBINDIR = " out
-                                                     "/sbin\n"))
-                                     (("^MANDIR.*")
-                                      (string-append "MANDIR = " out
-                                                     "/share/man/man8\n")))
-
-                                   ;; Pick the right 'login' by default.
-                                   (substitute* "mingetty.c"
-                                     (("\"/bin/login\"")
-                                      (string-append "\"" login "\"")))
-
-                                   (mkdir-p sbin)
-                                   (mkdir-p man8)))
-                               %standard-phases)
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out    (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (man8   (string-append out "/share/man/man8"))
+                    (sbin   (string-append out "/sbin"))
+                    (shadow (assoc-ref inputs "shadow"))
+                    (login  (string-append shadow "/bin/login")))
+               (substitute* "Makefile"
+                 (("^SBINDIR.*")
+                  (string-append "SBINDIR = " out
+                                 "/sbin\n"))
+                 (("^MANDIR.*")
+                  (string-append "MANDIR = " out
+                                 "/share/man/man8\n")))
+
+               ;; Pick the right 'login' by default.
+               (substitute* "mingetty.c"
+                 (("\"/bin/login\"")
+                  (string-append "\"" login "\"")))
+
+               (mkdir-p sbin)
+               (mkdir-p man8))
+             #t)))
        #:tests? #f))                              ; no tests
     (inputs `(("shadow" ,shadow)))
 
@@ -725,25 +724,25 @@ by bandwidth they use.")
                          ("perl-x11-protocol" ,perl-x11-protocol)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'install 'set-load-paths
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          ;; Put the perl-tk and perl-x11-protocol modules in the perl inc
-          ;; path for PROG
-          (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                 (prog (string-append out "/bin/cssh"))
-                 (perl-ver ,(package-version perl))
-                 (x11-inc (string-append
-                           (assoc-ref inputs "perl-x11-protocol")
-                           "/lib/perl5/site_perl/" perl-ver))
-                 (tk-inc (string-append
-                          (assoc-ref inputs "perl-tk")
-                          "/lib/perl5/site_perl/" perl-ver
-                          "/x86_64-linux")))
-            (wrap-program
-             prog
-             `("PERL5LIB" ":" prefix (,x11-inc ,tk-inc)))))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'set-load-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Put the perl-tk and perl-x11-protocol modules in the perl inc
+             ;; path for PROG
+             (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (prog (string-append out "/bin/cssh"))
+                    (perl-ver ,(package-version perl))
+                    (x11-inc (string-append
+                              (assoc-ref inputs "perl-x11-protocol")
+                              "/lib/perl5/site_perl/" perl-ver))
+                    (tk-inc (string-append
+                             (assoc-ref inputs "perl-tk")
+                             "/lib/perl5/site_perl/" perl-ver
+                             "/x86_64-linux")))
+               (wrap-program
+                   prog
+                 `("PERL5LIB" ":" prefix (,x11-inc ,tk-inc))))
+             #t)))))
     ;; The clusterssh.sourceforge.net address requires login to view
     (home-page "https://sourceforge.net/projects/clusterssh/")
     (synopsis "Secure concurrent multi-server terminal control")
@@ -908,13 +907,14 @@ commands and their arguments.")
                 "0l0l5gz3d5j9bqjsbjlfcv4w4jwndllp9fmyai4x9kg6qhs6v4xl"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (chdir "wpa_supplicant")
-                   (copy-file "defconfig" ".config")
-                   (let ((port (open-file ".config" "al")))
-                     (display "
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (chdir "wpa_supplicant")
+             (copy-file "defconfig" ".config")
+             (let ((port (open-file ".config" "al")))
+               (display "
       CONFIG_DEBUG_SYSLOG=y
 
       # Choose GnuTLS (the default is OpenSSL.)
@@ -924,26 +924,23 @@ commands and their arguments.")
       CFLAGS += $(shell pkg-config libnl-3.0 --cflags)
       CONFIG_LIBNL32=y
       CONFIG_READLINE=y\n" port)
-                     (close-port port)))
-
-                 (alist-cons-after
-                  'install 'install-man-pages
-                  (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                           (man  (string-append out "/share/man"))
-                           (man5 (string-append man "/man5"))
-                           (man8 (string-append man "/man8")))
-                      (define (copy-man-page target)
-                        (lambda (file)
-                          (install-file file target)))
-
-                      (mkdir-p man5) (mkdir man8)
-                      (for-each (copy-man-page man5)
-                                (find-files "doc/docbook" "\\.5"))
-                      (for-each (copy-man-page man8)
-                                (find-files "doc/docbook" "\\.8"))
-                      #t))
-                  %standard-phases))
+               (close-port port))))
+         (add-after 'install 'install-man-pages
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (man  (string-append out "/share/man"))
+                    (man5 (string-append man "/man5"))
+                    (man8 (string-append man "/man8")))
+               (define (copy-man-page target)
+                 (lambda (file)
+                   (install-file file target)))
+
+               (mkdir-p man5) (mkdir man8)
+               (for-each (copy-man-page man5)
+                         (find-files "doc/docbook" "\\.5"))
+               (for-each (copy-man-page man8)
+                         (find-files "doc/docbook" "\\.8"))
+               #t))))
 
       #:make-flags (list "CC=gcc"
                          (string-append "BINDIR=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
@@ -980,25 +977,24 @@ This package provides the 'wpa_supplicant' daemon and the 'wpa_cli' command.")
     (arguments
      (substitute-keyword-arguments (package-arguments wpa-supplicant-minimal)
        ((#:phases phases)
-        `(alist-cons-after
-          'configure 'configure-for-dbus
-          (lambda _
-            (let ((port (open-file ".config" "al")))
-              (display "
+        `(modify-phases ,phases
+           (add-after 'configure 'configure-for-dbus
+             (lambda _
+               (let ((port (open-file ".config" "al")))
+                 (display "
       CONFIG_CTRL_IFACE_DBUS=y
       CONFIG_CTRL_IFACE_DBUS_NEW=y
       CONFIG_CTRL_IFACE_DBUS_INTRO=y\n" port)
-              (close-port port))
-            #t)
-          (alist-cons-after
-           'install-man-pages 'install-dbus-conf
-           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-             (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                    (dir (string-append out "/etc/dbus-1/system.d")))
-               (mkdir-p dir)
-               (copy-file "dbus/dbus-wpa_supplicant.conf"
-                          (string-append dir "/wpa_supplicant.conf"))))
-           ,phases)))))))
+                 (close-port port))
+               #t))
+          (add-after 'install-man-pages 'install-dbus-conf
+            (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+              (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                     (dir (string-append out "/etc/dbus-1/system.d")))
+                (mkdir-p dir)
+                (copy-file "dbus/dbus-wpa_supplicant.conf"
+                           (string-append dir "/wpa_supplicant.conf")))
+              #t))))))))
 
 (define-public wakelan
   (package
@@ -1014,22 +1010,22 @@ This package provides the 'wpa_supplicant' daemon and the 'wpa_cli' command.")
                 "0vydqpf44146ir6k87gmqaq6xy66xhc1gkr3nsd7jj3nhy7ypx9x"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                     (mkdir-p (string-append out "/bin"))
-                     (mkdir-p (string-append out "/share/man/man1"))
-
-                     ;; It's an old configure script that doesn't understand
-                     ;; the extra options we pass.
-                     (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash"))
-                     (zero?
-                      (system* "./configure"
-                               (string-append "--prefix=" out)
-                               (string-append "--mandir=" out
-                                              "/share/man")))))
-                 %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append out "/bin"))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append out "/share/man/man1"))
+
+               ;; It's an old configure script that doesn't understand
+               ;; the extra options we pass.
+               (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash"))
+               (zero?
+                (system* "./configure"
+                         (string-append "--prefix=" out)
+                         (string-append "--mandir=" out
+                                        "/share/man")))))))
        #:tests? #f))
     (home-page "http://kernel.org")               ; really, no home page
     (synopsis "Send a wake-on-LAN packet")
@@ -1088,7 +1084,7 @@ module slots, and the list of I/O ports (e.g. serial, parallel, USB).")
                           "HOST=_LINUX"
                           "OPT_CFLAGS=-Wall -fno-strict-aliasing")
        #:tests? #f  ; no 'check' target.
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "http://acpica.org/")
     (synopsis "Tools for the development and debug of ACPI tables")
     (description
@@ -1198,7 +1194,7 @@ recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again.")
                (base32 "04kviw799qxly08zb8n5mgxfd96gyis6x69q2qiw86jnh87c4mv9"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:tests? #f                      ; no check target
        #:make-flags (let ((out (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
                                (list (string-append "prefix=" out)))))
@@ -1227,23 +1223,23 @@ environment variable is set and output is to tty.")
                            "#!$SHELL")))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'build 'patch-/bin/sh
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Use the right shell when executing the watcher and
-                   ;; user-provided shell commands.
-                   (let ((bash (assoc-ref inputs "bash")))
-                     (substitute* '("src/direvent.c" "src/progman.c")
-                       (("\"/bin/sh\"")
-                        (string-append "\"" bash "/bin/sh\"")))
-
-                     ;; Adjust the 'shell.at' test accordingly.
-                     (substitute* "tests/testsuite"
-                       (("SHELL=/bin/sh")
-                        (string-append "SHELL=" bash "/bin/sh")))
-
-                     #t))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'patch-/bin/sh
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Use the right shell when executing the watcher and
+             ;; user-provided shell commands.
+             (let ((bash (assoc-ref inputs "bash")))
+               (substitute* '("src/direvent.c" "src/progman.c")
+                 (("\"/bin/sh\"")
+                  (string-append "\"" bash "/bin/sh\"")))
+
+               ;; Adjust the 'shell.at' test accordingly.
+               (substitute* "tests/testsuite"
+                 (("SHELL=/bin/sh")
+                  (string-append "SHELL=" bash "/bin/sh")))
+
+               #t))))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/direvent/")
     (synopsis "Daemon to monitor directories for events such as file removal")
     (description
@@ -1700,7 +1696,7 @@ results (ndiff), and a packet generation and response analysis tool (nping).")
                       (list (string-append "DESTDIR=" out)
                             "prefix=/"))
        ;; no configure script
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs `(("python-2" ,python-2)))
     (synopsis "Versatile resource statistics tool")
     (description "Dstat is a versatile replacement for @command{vmstat},
diff --git a/gnu/packages/algebra.scm b/gnu/packages/algebra.scm
index e4f30a5791..08940e4f90 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/algebra.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/algebra.scm
@@ -334,22 +334,21 @@ fast arithmetic.")
       ("mpfr" ,mpfr)))
    (arguments
     `(#:phases
-        (alist-replace
-         'configure
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                 (flint (assoc-ref inputs "flint"))
-                 (gmp (assoc-ref inputs "gmp"))
-                 (mpfr (assoc-ref inputs "mpfr")))
-             ;; do not pass "--enable-fast-install", which makes the
-             ;; homebrew configure process fail
-             (zero? (system*
-                     "./configure"
-                     (string-append "--prefix=" out)
-                     (string-append "--with-flint=" flint)
-                     (string-append "--with-gmp=" gmp)
-                     (string-append "--with-mpfr=" mpfr)))))
-         %standard-phases)))
+      (modify-phases %standard-phases
+        (replace 'configure
+          (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+            (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                  (flint (assoc-ref inputs "flint"))
+                  (gmp (assoc-ref inputs "gmp"))
+                  (mpfr (assoc-ref inputs "mpfr")))
+              ;; do not pass "--enable-fast-install", which makes the
+              ;; homebrew configure process fail
+              (zero? (system*
+                      "./configure"
+                      (string-append "--prefix=" out)
+                      (string-append "--with-flint=" flint)
+                      (string-append "--with-gmp=" gmp)
+                      (string-append "--with-mpfr=" mpfr)))))))))
    (synopsis "Arbitrary precision floating-point ball arithmetic")
    (description
     "Arb is a C library for arbitrary-precision floating-point ball
diff --git a/gnu/packages/apr.scm b/gnu/packages/apr.scm
index 17945c0390..baadb41b60 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/apr.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/apr.scm
@@ -80,19 +80,18 @@ around or take advantage of platform-specific deficiencies or features.")
      `(("expat" ,expat)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((out   (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                (apr   (assoc-ref inputs  "apr"))
-                (expat (assoc-ref inputs  "expat")))
-            (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash"))
-            (zero?
-             (system* "./configure"
-                      (string-append "--prefix=" out)
-                      (string-append "--with-apr=" apr)
-                      (string-append "--with-expat=" expat)))))
-        %standard-phases)
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out   (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (apr   (assoc-ref inputs  "apr"))
+                   (expat (assoc-ref inputs  "expat")))
+               (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash"))
+               (zero?
+                (system* "./configure"
+                         (string-append "--prefix=" out)
+                         (string-append "--with-apr=" apr)
+                         (string-append "--with-expat=" expat)))))))
 
        ;; There are race conditions during 'make check'.  Typically, the
        ;; 'testall' executable is not built yet by the time 'make check' tries
diff --git a/gnu/packages/audio.scm b/gnu/packages/audio.scm
index 1b7950cf00..e33f5e33b7 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/audio.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/audio.scm
@@ -617,23 +617,21 @@ language and software synthesizer.")
      `(#:tests? #f ; no "check" target
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'patch-makefile-and-enter-directory
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "libs/Makefile"
-            (("/sbin/ldconfig") "true")
-            (("^LIBDIR =.*") "LIBDIR = lib\n"))
-          (chdir "libs")
-          #t)
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install
-         'install-symlink
-         (lambda _
-           (symlink "libclalsadrv.so"
-                    (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
-                                   "/lib/libclalsadrv.so.2")))
-         ;; no configure script
-         (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'patch-makefile-and-enter-directory
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "libs/Makefile"
+               (("/sbin/ldconfig") "true")
+               (("^LIBDIR =.*") "LIBDIR = lib\n"))
+             (chdir "libs")
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'install-symlink
+           (lambda _
+             (symlink "libclalsadrv.so"
+                      (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
+                                     "/lib/libclalsadrv.so.2")))
+           ;; no configure script
+           (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))))
     (inputs
      `(("alsa-lib" ,alsa-lib)
        ("fftw" ,fftw)))
@@ -972,11 +970,9 @@ follower.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack
-        'remove-broken-symlinks
-        (lambda _ (delete-file-recursively "m4") #t)
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'remove-broken-symlinks
+           (lambda _ (delete-file-recursively "m4") #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("libsndfile" ,libsndfile)
        ("alsa-lib" ,alsa-lib)
@@ -1015,12 +1011,11 @@ also play midifiles using a Soundfont.")
        ("unzip" ,unzip)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'bootstrap
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "bootstrap" (("\r\n") "\n"))
-          (zero? (system* "sh" "bootstrap")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'bootstrap
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "bootstrap" (("\r\n") "\n"))
+             (zero? (system* "sh" "bootstrap")))))))
     (home-page "http://www.audiocoding.com/faad2.html")
     (synopsis "MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 AAC decoder")
     (description
@@ -1674,7 +1669,7 @@ software.")
                      "TYPE=mdaPiano"
                      (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
        #:tests? #f ; no check target
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("lv2" ,lv2)
        ("lvtk" ,lvtk)))
@@ -1697,7 +1692,7 @@ software.")
                      "TYPE=mdaEPiano"
                      (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
        #:tests? #f ; no check target
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "http://elephly.net/lv2/mdaepiano.html")
     (synopsis "LV2 port of the mda EPiano plugin")
     (description "An LV2 port of the mda EPiano VSTi.")))
@@ -2090,19 +2085,19 @@ Suil currently supports every combination of Gtk 2, Qt 4, and X11.")
              (string-append "--with-default-path="
                             (assoc-ref %outputs "out") "/etc/timidity"))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'install 'install-config
-        (lambda _
-          (let ((out (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
-                                    "/etc/timidity")))
-            (mkdir-p out)
-            (call-with-output-file
-                (string-append out "/timidity.cfg")
-              (lambda (port)
-                (format port (string-append "source "
-                                            (assoc-ref %build-inputs "freepats")
-                                            "/share/freepats/freepats.cfg"))))))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'install-config
+           (lambda _
+             (let ((out (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
+                                       "/etc/timidity")))
+               (mkdir-p out)
+               (call-with-output-file
+                   (string-append out "/timidity.cfg")
+                 (lambda (port)
+                   (format port (string-append "source "
+                                               (assoc-ref %build-inputs "freepats")
+                                               "/share/freepats/freepats.cfg")))))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("alsa-lib" ,alsa-lib)
        ("ao" ,ao)
@@ -2141,16 +2136,15 @@ disks as various audio file formats.")
     (arguments
      `(#:tests? #f                      ; no check target
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'install 'remove-libvamp-hostsdk.la
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          ;; https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vamp-plugin-sdk/+bug/1253656
-          (for-each delete-file
-                    (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                      (list (string-append out "/lib/libvamp-sdk.la")
-                            (string-append out "/lib/libvamp-hostsdk.la"))))
-          #t)
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'remove-libvamp-hostsdk.la
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vamp-plugin-sdk/+bug/1253656
+             (for-each delete-file
+                       (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+                         (list (string-append out "/lib/libvamp-sdk.la")
+                               (string-append out "/lib/libvamp-hostsdk.la"))))
+             #t)s))))
     (inputs
      `(("libsndfile" ,libsndfile)))
     (native-inputs
@@ -2312,11 +2306,10 @@ Tracker 3 S3M and Impulse Tracker IT files.")
        ("file" ,file)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'bootstrap
-        (lambda _
-          (zero? (system* "sh" "bootstrap")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'bootstrap
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "sh" "bootstrap")))))))
     (home-page "http://www.surina.net/soundtouch/")
     (synopsis
      "Audio processing library for changing tempo, pitch and playback rate")
@@ -2450,11 +2443,10 @@ portions of LAME.")
      '(#:phases
        ;; Autoreconf is necessary because the audacity-compat patch modifies
        ;; .in files.
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'autoreconf
-        (lambda _
-          (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vif")))
-        %standard-phases)
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'autoreconf
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vif")))))
        #:tests? #f))                    ;no 'check' target
     (home-page "http://www.portaudio.com/")
     (synopsis "Audio I/O library")
@@ -2518,14 +2510,13 @@ synthesizer written in C++.")
        ("pulseaudio" ,pulseaudio)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (setenv "CC" "gcc")
-          (zero?
-           (system* "./configure"
-                    (string-append "--prefix=" (assoc-ref outputs "out")))))
-        %standard-phases)
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (setenv "CC" "gcc")
+             (zero?
+              (system* "./configure"
+                       (string-append "--prefix=" (assoc-ref outputs "out")))))))
        ;; No 'check' target.
        #:tests? #f))
     (home-page "http://themaister.net/rsound.html")
@@ -2592,22 +2583,20 @@ result.")
      `(#:tests? #f ; no "check" target
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'patch-makefile-and-enter-directory
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "libs/Makefile"
-            (("ldconfig") "true")
-            (("^LIBDIR =.*") "LIBDIR = lib\n"))
-          (chdir "libs") #t)
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install
-         'install-symlink
-         (lambda _
-           (symlink "libzita-convolver.so"
-                    (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
-                                   "/lib/libzita-convolver.so.3")))
-         ;; no configure script
-         (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'patch-makefile-and-enter-directory
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "libs/Makefile"
+               (("ldconfig") "true")
+               (("^LIBDIR =.*") "LIBDIR = lib\n"))
+             (chdir "libs") #t)
+           (add-after 'install 'install-symlink
+             (lambda _
+               (symlink "libzita-convolver.so"
+                        (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
+                                       "/lib/libzita-convolver.so.3"))))
+           ;; no configure script
+           (delete 'configure)))))
     (inputs `(("fftwf" ,fftwf)))
     (home-page "http://kokkinizita.linuxaudio.org")
     (synopsis "Fast, partitioned convolution engine library")
@@ -2682,23 +2671,21 @@ provide high-quality sample rate conversion.")
      `(#:tests? #f ; no "check" target
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'patch-makefile-and-enter-directory
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "libs/Makefile"
-            (("ldconfig") "true")
-            (("^LIBDIR =.*") "LIBDIR = lib\n"))
-          (chdir "libs")
-          #t)
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install
-         'install-symlink
-         (lambda _
-           (symlink "libzita-alsa-pcmi.so"
-                    (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
-                                   "/lib/libzita-alsa-pcmi.so.0")))
-         ;; no configure script
-         (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'patch-makefile-and-enter-directory
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "libs/Makefile"
+               (("ldconfig") "true")
+               (("^LIBDIR =.*") "LIBDIR = lib\n"))
+             (chdir "libs")
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'install-symlink
+           (lambda _
+             (symlink "libzita-alsa-pcmi.so"
+                      (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
+                                     "/lib/libzita-alsa-pcmi.so.0"))))
+          ;; no configure script
+          (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("alsa-lib" ,alsa-lib)
        ("fftw" ,fftw)))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/backup.scm b/gnu/packages/backup.scm
index 006d00ef0c..9f7921ad76 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/backup.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/backup.scm
@@ -293,20 +293,20 @@ random access nor for in-place modification.")
        ("nettle" ,nettle)))
     (arguments
      `(#:parallel-build? #f             ;race conditions
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'build 'remove-Werror
-                 ;; rdup uses a deprecated function from libarchive
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute* "GNUmakefile"
-                     (("^(CFLAGS=.*)-Werror" _ front) front)))
-                 (alist-cons-before
-                  'check 'pre-check
-                  (lambda _
-                    (setenv "HOME" (getcwd))
-                    (substitute* "testsuite/rdup/rdup.rdup-up-t-with-file.exp"
-                      (("/bin/cat") (which "cat"))))
-
-                  %standard-phases))))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'remove-Werror
+           ;; rdup uses a deprecated function from libarchive
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "GNUmakefile"
+               (("^(CFLAGS=.*)-Werror" _ front) front))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'check 'pre-check
+           (lambda _
+             (setenv "HOME" (getcwd))
+             (substitute* "testsuite/rdup/rdup.rdup-up-t-with-file.exp"
+               (("/bin/cat") (which "cat")))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://archive.miek.nl/projects/rdup/index.html")
     (synopsis "Provide a list of files to backup")
     (description
@@ -336,9 +336,9 @@ list and implement the backup strategy.")
                       "CC=gcc")
        #:tests? #f                      ;test input not distributed
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete
-        'configure                      ;no configure phase
-        %standard-phases)))
+       ;; no configure phase
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "http://viric.name/cgi-bin/btar/doc/trunk/doc/home.wiki")
     (synopsis "Tar-compatible archiver")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm b/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm
index 33b58f44bc..d94b297723 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/bioinformatics.scm
@@ -369,32 +369,33 @@ transparently with both VCFs and BCFs, both uncompressed and BGZF-compressed.")
      '(#:tests? #f
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "BINDIR=" %output "/bin"))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-         'unpack 'unpack-tarballs
-         (lambda _
-           ;; FIXME: Bedops includes tarballs of minimally patched upstream
-           ;; libraries jansson, zlib, and bzip2.  We cannot just use stock
-           ;; libraries because at least one of the libraries (zlib) is
-           ;; patched to add a C++ function definition (deflateInit2cpp).
-           ;; Until the Bedops developers offer a way to link against system
-           ;; libraries we have to build the in-tree copies of these three
-           ;; libraries.
-
-           ;; See upstream discussion:
-           ;; https://github.com/bedops/bedops/issues/124
-
-           ;; Unpack the tarballs to benefit from shebang patching.
-           (with-directory-excursion "third-party"
-             (and (zero? (system* "tar" "xvf" "jansson-2.6.tar.bz2"))
-                  (zero? (system* "tar" "xvf" "zlib-1.2.7.tar.bz2"))
-                  (zero? (system* "tar" "xvf" "bzip2-1.0.6.tar.bz2"))))
-           ;; Disable unpacking of tarballs in Makefile.
-           (substitute* "system.mk/Makefile.linux"
-             (("^\tbzcat .*") "\t@echo \"not unpacking\"\n")
-             (("\\./configure") "CONFIG_SHELL=bash ./configure"))
-           (substitute* "third-party/zlib-1.2.7/Makefile.in"
-             (("^SHELL=.*$") "SHELL=bash\n")))
-         (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'unpack-tarballs
+           (lambda _
+             ;; FIXME: Bedops includes tarballs of minimally patched upstream
+             ;; libraries jansson, zlib, and bzip2.  We cannot just use stock
+             ;; libraries because at least one of the libraries (zlib) is
+             ;; patched to add a C++ function definition (deflateInit2cpp).
+             ;; Until the Bedops developers offer a way to link against system
+             ;; libraries we have to build the in-tree copies of these three
+             ;; libraries.
+
+             ;; See upstream discussion:
+             ;; https://github.com/bedops/bedops/issues/124
+
+             ;; Unpack the tarballs to benefit from shebang patching.
+             (with-directory-excursion "third-party"
+               (and (zero? (system* "tar" "xvf" "jansson-2.6.tar.bz2"))
+                    (zero? (system* "tar" "xvf" "zlib-1.2.7.tar.bz2"))
+                    (zero? (system* "tar" "xvf" "bzip2-1.0.6.tar.bz2"))))
+             ;; Disable unpacking of tarballs in Makefile.
+             (substitute* "system.mk/Makefile.linux"
+               (("^\tbzcat .*") "\t@echo \"not unpacking\"\n")
+               (("\\./configure") "CONFIG_SHELL=bash ./configure"))
+             (substitute* "third-party/zlib-1.2.7/Makefile.in"
+               (("^SHELL=.*$") "SHELL=bash\n"))
+             #t))
+         (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "https://github.com/bedops/bedops")
     (synopsis "Tools for high-performance genomic feature operations")
     (description
@@ -1325,20 +1326,21 @@ splice junctions between exons.")
     (arguments
      '(#:tests? #f ;no "check" target
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'install
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((bin (string-append
-                      (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin"))
-                (doc (string-append
-                      (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/share/doc/bwa"))
-                (man (string-append
-                      (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/share/man/man1")))
-            (install-file "bwa" bin)
-            (install-file "README.md" doc)
-            (install-file "bwa.1" man)))
-        ;; no "configure" script
-        (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((bin (string-append
+                         (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin"))
+                   (doc (string-append
+                         (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/share/doc/bwa"))
+                   (man (string-append
+                         (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/share/man/man1")))
+               (install-file "bwa" bin)
+               (install-file "README.md" doc)
+               (install-file "bwa.1" man))
+             #t))
+           ;; no "configure" script
+          (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs `(("zlib" ,zlib)))
     ;; Non-portable SSE instructions are used so building fails on platforms
     ;; other than x86_64.
@@ -1815,10 +1817,9 @@ time.")
     (arguments
      `(#:python ,python-2
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'set-env
-        (lambda _ (setenv "CROSSMAP_USE_SYSTEM_PYSAM" "1"))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'set-env
+           (lambda _ (setenv "CROSSMAP_USE_SYSTEM_PYSAM" "1") #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("python-numpy" ,python2-numpy)
        ("python-pysam" ,python2-pysam)
@@ -2365,19 +2366,18 @@ dynamic programming or a variety of heuristics.")
     (arguments
      `(#:tests? #f ;no "check" target
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'use-shared-boost-libs-and-set-bamtools-paths
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (substitute* "CMakeLists.txt"
-            (("set\\(Boost_USE_STATIC_LIBS ON\\)")
-             "set(Boost_USE_STATIC_LIBS OFF)")
-            (("\\$\\{CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR\\}/bamtools/include")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "bamtools") "/include/bamtools")))
-          (substitute* "src/CMakeLists.txt"
-            (("\\$\\{CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR\\}/\\.\\./bamtools/lib")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "bamtools") "/lib/bamtools")))
-          #t)
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'use-shared-boost-libs-and-set-bamtools-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "CMakeLists.txt"
+               (("set\\(Boost_USE_STATIC_LIBS ON\\)")
+                "set(Boost_USE_STATIC_LIBS OFF)")
+               (("\\$\\{CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR\\}/bamtools/include")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "bamtools") "/include/bamtools")))
+             (substitute* "src/CMakeLists.txt"
+               (("\\$\\{CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR\\}/\\.\\./bamtools/lib")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "bamtools") "/lib/bamtools")))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("boost" ,boost)
        ("bamtools" ,bamtools)
@@ -2544,15 +2544,15 @@ results.  The FASTX-Toolkit tools perform some of these preprocessing tasks.")
                                          (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
                                          "/bin/"))
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'check
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (setenv "PATH" (string-append
-                          (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin:"
-                          (getenv "PATH")))
-          (chdir "../flexbar_v2.5_src/test")
-          (zero? (system* "bash" "flexbar_validate.sh")))
-        (alist-delete 'install %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'check
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (setenv "PATH" (string-append
+                             (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin:"
+                             (getenv "PATH")))
+             (chdir "../flexbar_v2.5_src/test")
+             (zero? (system* "bash" "flexbar_validate.sh"))))
+         (delete 'install))))
     (inputs
      `(("tbb" ,tbb)
        ("zlib" ,zlib)))
@@ -2788,21 +2788,21 @@ association studies (GWAS).")
     (arguments
      `(#:python ,python-2
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'generate-from-cython-sources
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          ;; Delete these C files to force fresh generation from pyx sources.
-          (delete-file "grit/sparsify_support_fns.c")
-          (delete-file "grit/call_peaks_support_fns.c")
-          (substitute* "setup.py"
-            (("Cython.Setup") "Cython.Build")
-            ;; Add numpy include path to fix compilation
-            (("pyx\", \\]")
-             (string-append "pyx\", ], include_dirs = ['"
-                            (assoc-ref inputs "python-numpy")
-                            "/lib/python2.7/site-packages/numpy/core/include/"
-                            "']"))) #t)
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'generate-from-cython-sources
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Delete these C files to force fresh generation from pyx sources.
+             (delete-file "grit/sparsify_support_fns.c")
+             (delete-file "grit/call_peaks_support_fns.c")
+             (substitute* "setup.py"
+               (("Cython.Setup") "Cython.Build")
+               ;; Add numpy include path to fix compilation
+               (("pyx\", \\]")
+                (string-append "pyx\", ], include_dirs = ['"
+                               (assoc-ref inputs "python-numpy")
+                               "/lib/python2.7/site-packages/numpy/core/include/"
+                               "']")))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("python-scipy" ,python2-scipy)
        ("python-numpy" ,python2-numpy)
@@ -2845,28 +2845,29 @@ estimates transcript expression.")
                             '()
                             '("POPCNT_CAPABILITY=0")))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'patch-sources
-        (lambda _
-          ;; XXX Cannot use snippet because zip files are not supported
-          (substitute* "Makefile"
-            (("^CC = .*$") "CC = gcc")
-            (("^CPP = .*$") "CPP = g++")
-            ;; replace BUILD_HOST and BUILD_TIME for deterministic build
-            (("-DBUILD_HOST=.*") "-DBUILD_HOST=\"\\\"guix\\\"\"")
-            (("-DBUILD_TIME=.*") "-DBUILD_TIME=\"\\\"0\\\"\""))
-          (substitute* '("hisat-build" "hisat-inspect")
-            (("/usr/bin/env") (which "env"))))
-        (alist-replace
-         'install
-         (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let ((bin (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin/")))
-             (for-each (lambda (file)
-                         (install-file file bin))
-                       (find-files
-                        "."
-                        "hisat(-(build|align|inspect)(-(s|l)(-debug)*)*)*$"))))
-         (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'patch-sources
+           (lambda _
+             ;; XXX Cannot use snippet because zip files are not supported
+             (substitute* "Makefile"
+               (("^CC = .*$") "CC = gcc")
+               (("^CPP = .*$") "CPP = g++")
+               ;; replace BUILD_HOST and BUILD_TIME for deterministic build
+               (("-DBUILD_HOST=.*") "-DBUILD_HOST=\"\\\"guix\\\"\"")
+               (("-DBUILD_TIME=.*") "-DBUILD_TIME=\"\\\"0\\\"\""))
+             (substitute* '("hisat-build" "hisat-inspect")
+               (("/usr/bin/env") (which "env")))
+             #t))
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((bin (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin/")))
+               (for-each (lambda (file)
+                           (install-file file bin))
+                         (find-files
+                          "."
+                          "hisat(-(build|align|inspect)(-(s|l)(-debug)*)*)*$")))
+             #t))
+         (delete 'configure))))
     (native-inputs
      `(("unzip" ,unzip)))
     (inputs
@@ -4680,23 +4681,21 @@ Roche 454, Ion Torrent and Pacific BioSciences SMRT.")
      `(#:parallel-build? #f ; not supported
        #:tests? #f ; no "check" target
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-            ;; Allow 'konfigure.perl' to find 'package.prl'.
-            (setenv "PERL5LIB"
-                    (string-append ".:" (getenv "PERL5LIB")))
-
-            ;; The 'configure' script doesn't recognize things like
-            ;; '--enable-fast-install'.
-            (zero? (system* "./configure"
-                            (string-append "--build-prefix=" (getcwd) "/build")
-                            (string-append "--prefix=" out)))))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'unpack 'enter-dir
-         (lambda _ (chdir "ngs-sdk") #t)
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               ;; Allow 'konfigure.perl' to find 'package.prl'.
+               (setenv "PERL5LIB"
+                       (string-append ".:" (getenv "PERL5LIB")))
+
+               ;; The 'configure' script doesn't recognize things like
+               ;; '--enable-fast-install'.
+               (zero? (system* "./configure"
+                               (string-append "--build-prefix=" (getcwd) "/build")
+                               (string-append "--prefix=" out))))))
+         (add-after 'unpack 'enter-dir
+           (lambda _ (chdir "ngs-sdk") #t)))))
     (native-inputs `(("perl" ,perl)))
     ;; According to the test
     ;;   unless ($MARCH =~ /x86_64/i || $MARCH =~ /i?86/i)
@@ -5460,17 +5459,16 @@ sequences.")
              "-f" "Makefile.Linux"
              "CC=gcc ${CCFLAGS}")
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'enter-dir
-        (lambda _ (chdir "src") #t)
-        (alist-replace
-         'install
-         (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let ((bin (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin/")))
-             (mkdir-p bin)
-             (copy-recursively "../bin" bin)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'enter-dir
+           (lambda _ (chdir "src") #t))
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((bin (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin/")))
+               (mkdir-p bin)
+               (copy-recursively "../bin" bin))))
          ;; no "configure" script
-         (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))))
+         (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs `(("zlib" ,zlib)))
     (home-page "http://bioinf.wehi.edu.au/subread-package/")
     (synopsis "Tool kit for processing next-gen sequencing data")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/bittorrent.scm b/gnu/packages/bittorrent.scm
index 79a87dc8bf..9bd89d9085 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/bittorrent.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/bittorrent.scm
@@ -74,23 +74,24 @@
                "gui"))                    ; graphical user interface
     (arguments
      '(#:glib-or-gtk-wrap-excluded-outputs '("out")
-       #:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'install 'move-gui
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Move the GUI to its own output, so that "out" doesn't
-                   ;; depend on GTK+.
-                   (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                         (gui (assoc-ref outputs "gui")))
-                     (mkdir-p (string-append gui "/bin"))
-                     (rename-file (string-append out "/bin/transmission-gtk")
-                                  (string-append gui
-                                                 "/bin/transmission-gtk"))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'move-gui
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Move the GUI to its own output, so that "out" doesn't
+             ;; depend on GTK+.
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (gui (assoc-ref outputs "gui")))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append gui "/bin"))
+               (rename-file (string-append out "/bin/transmission-gtk")
+                            (string-append gui
+                                           "/bin/transmission-gtk"))
 
-                     ;; Move the '.desktop' file as well.
-                     (mkdir (string-append gui "/share"))
-                     (rename-file (string-append out "/share/applications")
-                                  (string-append gui "/share/applications"))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+               ;; Move the '.desktop' file as well.
+               (mkdir (string-append gui "/share"))
+               (rename-file (string-append out "/share/applications")
+                            (string-append gui "/share/applications")))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("inotify-tools" ,inotify-tools)
        ("libevent" ,libevent)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/cdrom.scm b/gnu/packages/cdrom.scm
index 2f708f0c0b..ddc035c1b0 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/cdrom.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/cdrom.scm
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ the data.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      '(#:tests? #f
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:make-flags (list "CC=gcc"
                           (string-append "PREFIX="
                                          (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/compression.scm b/gnu/packages/compression.scm
index c96c51a346..fb1b489ded 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/compression.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/compression.scm
@@ -521,14 +521,14 @@ decompressors when faced with corrupted input.")
      `(("which" ,which)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'patch-source-shebangs 'unpatch-source-shebang
-         ;; revert the patch-shebang phase on a script which is
-         ;; in fact test data
-         (lambda _
-           (substitute* "tests/shar-1.ok"
-             (((which "sh")) "/bin/sh")))
-         %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'patch-source-shebangs 'unpatch-source-shebang
+           ;; revert the patch-shebang phase on a script which is
+           ;; in fact test data
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "tests/shar-1.ok"
+               (((which "sh")) "/bin/sh"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/sharutils/")
     (synopsis "Archives in shell scripts, uuencode/uudecode")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/conky.scm b/gnu/packages/conky.scm
index 1f5b38eef4..f0f19c5a0e 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/conky.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/conky.scm
@@ -50,22 +50,21 @@
          ;; TODO: add 'ncurses.pc' to the ncurses package.
          "-DBUILD_NCURSES=false")
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'add-freetype-to-search-path
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (substitute* "cmake/ConkyPlatformChecks.cmake"
-            (("set\\(INCLUDE_SEARCH_PATH")
-             (string-append
-              "set(INCLUDE_SEARCH_PATH "
-              (assoc-ref inputs "freetype") "/include/freetype2 ")))
-          #t)
-        (alist-replace
-         'install
-         (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let ((bin (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin")))
-             (mkdir-p bin)
-             (install-file "src/conky" bin)))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'add-freetype-to-search-path
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "cmake/ConkyPlatformChecks.cmake"
+               (("set\\(INCLUDE_SEARCH_PATH")
+                (string-append
+                 "set(INCLUDE_SEARCH_PATH "
+                 (assoc-ref inputs "freetype") "/include/freetype2 ")))
+             #t))
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((bin (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/bin")))
+               (mkdir-p bin)
+               (install-file "src/conky" bin))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("freetype" ,freetype)
        ("ncurses" ,ncurses)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/databases.scm b/gnu/packages/databases.scm
index 6ce58985ea..dc1f5ecac3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/databases.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/databases.scm
@@ -167,34 +167,33 @@ and provides interfaces to the traditional file format.")
      '(#:tests? #f                            ; no check target available
        #:disallowed-references ("doc")
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                (doc (assoc-ref outputs "doc")))
-            ;; '--docdir' is not honored, so we need to patch.
-            (substitute* "dist/Makefile.in"
-              (("docdir[[:blank:]]*=.*")
-               (string-append "docdir = " doc "/share/doc/bdb")))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (doc (assoc-ref outputs "doc")))
+               ;; '--docdir' is not honored, so we need to patch.
+               (substitute* "dist/Makefile.in"
+                 (("docdir[[:blank:]]*=.*")
+                  (string-append "docdir = " doc "/share/doc/bdb")))
 
-            (zero?
-             (system* "./dist/configure"
-                      (string-append "--prefix=" out)
-                      (string-append "CONFIG_SHELL=" (which "bash"))
-                      (string-append "SHELL=" (which "bash"))
+               (zero?
+                (system* "./dist/configure"
+                         (string-append "--prefix=" out)
+                         (string-append "CONFIG_SHELL=" (which "bash"))
+                         (string-append "SHELL=" (which "bash"))
 
-                      ;; Remove 7 MiB of .a files.
-                      "--disable-static"
+                         ;; Remove 7 MiB of .a files.
+                         "--disable-static"
 
-                      ;; The compatibility mode is needed by some packages,
-                      ;; notably iproute2.
-                      "--enable-compat185"
+                         ;; The compatibility mode is needed by some packages,
+                         ;; notably iproute2.
+                         "--enable-compat185"
 
-                      ;; The following flag is needed so that the inclusion
-                      ;; of db_cxx.h into C++ files works; it leads to
-                      ;; HAVE_CXX_STDHEADERS being defined in db_cxx.h.
-                      "--enable-cxx"))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+                         ;; The following flag is needed so that the inclusion
+                         ;; of db_cxx.h into C++ files works; it leads to
+                         ;; HAVE_CXX_STDHEADERS being defined in db_cxx.h.
+                         "--enable-cxx"))))))))
     (synopsis "Berkeley database")
     (description
      "Berkeley DB is an embeddable database allowing developers the choice of
@@ -222,39 +221,38 @@ SQL, Key/Value, XML/XQuery or Java Object storage for their data model.")
      `(#:tests? #f                            ; no check target available
        #:disallowed-references ("doc")
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                (doc (assoc-ref outputs "doc")))
-            ;; '--docdir' is not honored, so we need to patch.
-            (substitute* "dist/Makefile.in"
-              (("docdir[[:blank:]]*=.*")
-               (string-append "docdir = " doc "/share/doc/bdb")))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (doc (assoc-ref outputs "doc")))
+               ;; '--docdir' is not honored, so we need to patch.
+               (substitute* "dist/Makefile.in"
+                 (("docdir[[:blank:]]*=.*")
+                  (string-append "docdir = " doc "/share/doc/bdb")))
 
-            (zero?
-             (system* "./dist/configure"
-                      (string-append "--prefix=" out)
-                      (string-append "CONFIG_SHELL=" (which "bash"))
-                      (string-append "SHELL=" (which "bash"))
+               (zero?
+                (system* "./dist/configure"
+                         (string-append "--prefix=" out)
+                         (string-append "CONFIG_SHELL=" (which "bash"))
+                         (string-append "SHELL=" (which "bash"))
 
-                      ;; Bdb doesn't recognize aarch64 as an architecture.
-                      ,@(if (string=? "aarch64-linux" (%current-system))
-                            '("--build=aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu")
-                            '())
+                         ;; Bdb doesn't recognize aarch64 as an architecture.
+                         ,@(if (string=? "aarch64-linux" (%current-system))
+                               '("--build=aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu")
+                               '())
 
-                      ;; Remove 7 MiB of .a files.
-                      "--disable-static"
+                         ;; Remove 7 MiB of .a files.
+                         "--disable-static"
 
-                      ;; The compatibility mode is needed by some packages,
-                      ;; notably iproute2.
-                      "--enable-compat185"
+                         ;; The compatibility mode is needed by some packages,
+                         ;; notably iproute2.
+                         "--enable-compat185"
 
-                      ;; The following flag is needed so that the inclusion
-                      ;; of db_cxx.h into C++ files works; it leads to
-                      ;; HAVE_CXX_STDHEADERS being defined in db_cxx.h.
-                      "--enable-cxx"))))
-                 %standard-phases)))))
+                         ;; The following flag is needed so that the inclusion
+                         ;; of db_cxx.h into C++ files works; it leads to
+                         ;; HAVE_CXX_STDHEADERS being defined in db_cxx.h.
+                         "--enable-cxx"))))))))))
 
 (define-public leveldb
   (package
diff --git a/gnu/packages/debug.scm b/gnu/packages/debug.scm
index 43bfd9e514..83346a4eb3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/debug.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/debug.scm
@@ -58,23 +58,24 @@
      `(("perl" ,perl)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'install
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          ;; Makefile contains no install target
-          (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                 (bin (string-append out "/bin"))
-                 (doc (string-append out "/share/doc/delta-" ,version)))
-            (begin
-              (mkdir-p bin)
-              (mkdir-p doc)
-              (for-each (lambda (h)
-                          (install-file h doc))
-                        `("License.txt" ,@(find-files "www" ".*\\.html")))
-              (for-each (lambda (b)
-                          (install-file b bin))
-                        `("delta" "multidelta" "topformflat")))))
-        (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Makefile contains no install target
+             (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (bin (string-append out "/bin"))
+                    (doc (string-append out "/share/doc/delta-" ,version)))
+               (begin
+                 (mkdir-p bin)
+                 (mkdir-p doc)
+                 (for-each (lambda (h)
+                             (install-file h doc))
+                           `("License.txt" ,@(find-files "www" ".*\\.html")))
+                 (for-each (lambda (b)
+                             (install-file b bin))
+                           `("delta" "multidelta" "topformflat"))))
+             #t))
+         (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "http://delta.tigris.org/")
     (synopsis "Heuristical file minimizer")
     (description
@@ -114,23 +115,24 @@ program to exhibit a bug.")
        ("sys-cpu"         ,perl-sys-cpu)
        ("term-readkey"    ,perl-term-readkey)))
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'install 'set-load-paths
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Tell creduce where to find the perl modules it needs.
-                   (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                          (prog (string-append out "/bin/creduce")))
-                     (wrap-program
-                      prog
-                      `("PERL5LIB" ":" prefix
-                        ,(map (lambda (p)
-                                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs p)
-                                               "/lib/perl5/site_perl/"
-                                               ,(package-version perl)))
-                              '("term-readkey"    "exporter-lite"
-                                "file-which"      "getopt-tabular"
-                                "regex-common"    "sys-cpu"))))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'set-load-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Tell creduce where to find the perl modules it needs.
+             (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (prog (string-append out "/bin/creduce")))
+               (wrap-program
+                   prog
+                 `("PERL5LIB" ":" prefix
+                   ,(map (lambda (p)
+                           (string-append (assoc-ref inputs p)
+                                          "/lib/perl5/site_perl/"
+                                          ,(package-version perl)))
+                         '("term-readkey"    "exporter-lite"
+                           "file-which"      "getopt-tabular"
+                           "regex-common"    "sys-cpu")))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://embed.cs.utah.edu/creduce")
     (synopsis "Reducer for interesting code")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/display-managers.scm b/gnu/packages/display-managers.scm
index 9f8d7b8250..3537acdead 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/display-managers.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/display-managers.scm
@@ -337,17 +337,18 @@ GTK+, lets you select a desktop session and log in to it.")
     (native-inputs
      `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)))
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-		 'configure 'set-new-etc-location
-		 (lambda _
-		   (substitute* "CMakeLists.txt"
-		     (("/etc")
-		      (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out") "/etc"))
-                     (("install.*systemd.*")
-                      ;; The build system's logic here is: if "Linux", then
-                      ;; "systemd".  Strip that.
-                      "")))
-		 %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'set-new-etc-location
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "CMakeLists.txt"
+               (("/etc")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref %outputs "out") "/etc"))
+               (("install.*systemd.*")
+               ;; The build system's logic here is: if "Linux", then
+                ;; "systemd".  Strip that.
+                ""))
+             #t)))
        #:configure-flags '("-DUSE_PAM=yes"
                            "-DUSE_CONSOLEKIT=no")
        #:tests? #f))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/dns.scm b/gnu/packages/dns.scm
index 1716ca748c..4096a0a827 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/dns.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/dns.scm
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
      `(("dbus" ,dbus)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out"))
                           "CC=gcc"
                           "COPTS=\"-DHAVE_DBUS\"")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/emacs.scm b/gnu/packages/emacs.scm
index 91c6c8c41c..6faa01548b 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/emacs.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/emacs.scm
@@ -305,14 +305,15 @@ editor (without an X toolkit)" )
                "0phz9d8wjk4p13vqannv0003fwh8qqrp0gfzcs2hgq1mrmv1srss"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'install 'post-install
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (symlink "geiser-install.el"
-                            (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                                           "/share/emacs/site-lisp/"
-                                           "geiser-autoloads.el")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (symlink "geiser-install.el"
+                      (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                                     "/share/emacs/site-lisp/"
+                                     "geiser-autoloads.el"))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs `(("guile" ,guile-2.0)))
     (native-inputs `(("emacs" ,emacs-minimal)))
     (home-page "http://nongnu.org/geiser/")
@@ -771,25 +772,25 @@ provides an optional IDE-like error list.")
                            (guix build emacs-utils))
        #:tests? #f  ; no check target
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (substitute* "Makefile"
-            (("/usr/local") (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-            (("/site-lisp/emacs-wget") "/site-lisp")))
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'build 'patch-exec-paths
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let ((wget (assoc-ref inputs "wget")))
-             (emacs-substitute-variables "wget.el"
-               ("wget-command" (string-append wget "/bin/wget")))))
-         (alist-cons-after
-          'install 'post-install
-          (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-            (emacs-generate-autoloads
-             "wget" (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                                   "/share/emacs/site-lisp/")))
-          %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "Makefile"
+               (("/usr/local") (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+               (("/site-lisp/emacs-wget") "/site-lisp"))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'patch-exec-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((wget (assoc-ref inputs "wget")))
+               (emacs-substitute-variables "wget.el"
+                 ("wget-command" (string-append wget "/bin/wget"))))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (emacs-generate-autoloads
+              "wget" (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                                    "/share/emacs/site-lisp/"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/EmacsWget")
     (synopsis "Simple file downloader for Emacs based on wget")
     (description
@@ -993,15 +994,16 @@ within a specified width.  It is useful for displaying long track titles.")
                    "doc_DATA =\n")))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'install 'post-install
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Add an autoloads file with the right name for guix.el.
-                   (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                          (site (string-append out "/share/emacs/site-lisp")))
-                     (with-directory-excursion site
-                       (symlink "bbdb-loaddefs.el" "bbdb-autoloads.el"))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Add an autoloads file with the right name for guix.el.
+             (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (site (string-append out "/share/emacs/site-lisp")))
+               (with-directory-excursion site
+                 (symlink "bbdb-loaddefs.el" "bbdb-autoloads.el")))
+             #t)))))
     (native-inputs `(("emacs" ,emacs-minimal)))
     (home-page "http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/bbdb/")
     (synopsis "Contact management utility for Emacs")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/engineering.scm b/gnu/packages/engineering.scm
index 0955bb4ae3..af1ea3328a 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/engineering.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/engineering.scm
@@ -191,28 +191,27 @@ utilities.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'use-wish8.6
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "configure"
-            (("wish85") "wish8.6")))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install 'wrap
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           ;; FIXME: Mesa tries to dlopen libudev.so.0 and fails.  Pending a
-           ;; fix of the mesa package we wrap the pcb executable such that
-           ;; Mesa can find libudev.so.0 through LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
-           (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                  (path (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "udev") "/lib")))
-             (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/pcb")
-               `("LD_LIBRARY_PATH" ":" prefix (,path)))))
-         (alist-cons-before
-          'check 'pre-check
-          (lambda _
-            (system "Xvfb :1 &")
-            (setenv "DISPLAY" ":1")
-            #t)
-          %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'use-wish8.6
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "configure"
+               (("wish85") "wish8.6"))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'wrap
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; FIXME: Mesa tries to dlopen libudev.so.0 and fails.  Pending a
+             ;; fix of the mesa package we wrap the pcb executable such that
+             ;; Mesa can find libudev.so.0 through LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
+             (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (path (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "udev") "/lib")))
+               (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/pcb")
+                 `("LD_LIBRARY_PATH" ":" prefix (,path))))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'check 'pre-check
+           (lambda _
+             (system "Xvfb :1 &")
+             (setenv "DISPLAY" ":1")
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("dbus" ,dbus)
        ("mesa" ,mesa)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/firmware.scm b/gnu/packages/firmware.scm
index 8d0b824784..7a57300b41 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/firmware.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/firmware.scm
@@ -52,31 +52,31 @@
               (patches (search-patches "ath9k-htc-firmware-objcopy.patch"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'pre-configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (chdir "target_firmware")
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'pre-configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (chdir "target_firmware")
 
-                   ;; 'configure' is a simple script that runs 'cmake' with
-                   ;; the right flags.
-                   (substitute* "configure"
-                     (("^TOOLCHAIN=.*$")
-                      (string-append "TOOLCHAIN="
-                                     (assoc-ref inputs "cross-gcc")
-                                     "\n"))))
-                 (alist-replace
-                  'install
-                  (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    (let* ((out    (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                           (fw-dir (string-append out "/lib/firmware")))
-                      (mkdir-p fw-dir)
-                      (for-each (lambda (file)
-                                  (copy-file file
-                                             (string-append fw-dir "/"
-                                                            (basename file))))
-                                (find-files "." "\\.fw$"))
-                      #t))
-                  %standard-phases))
+             ;; 'configure' is a simple script that runs 'cmake' with
+             ;; the right flags.
+             (substitute* "configure"
+               (("^TOOLCHAIN=.*$")
+                (string-append "TOOLCHAIN="
+                               (assoc-ref inputs "cross-gcc")
+                               "\n")))
+             #t))
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out    (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (fw-dir (string-append out "/lib/firmware")))
+               (mkdir-p fw-dir)
+               (for-each (lambda (file)
+                           (copy-file file
+                                      (string-append fw-dir "/"
+                                                     (basename file))))
+                         (find-files "." "\\.fw$"))
+              #t))))
        #:tests? #f))
 
     ;; The firmware is cross-compiled using a "bare bones" compiler (no libc.)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/flashing-tools.scm b/gnu/packages/flashing-tools.scm
index 127fc795a3..e76865798d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/flashing-tools.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/flashing-tools.scm
@@ -62,17 +62,16 @@
                           "CONFIG_ENABLE_LIBUSB0_PROGRAMMERS=no")
        #:tests? #f   ; no 'check' target
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete
-        'configure
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'build 'patch-exec-paths
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (substitute* "dmi.c"
-             (("\"dmidecode\"")
-              (format #f "~S"
-                      (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "dmidecode")
-                                     "/sbin/dmidecode")))))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (delete 'configure)
+         (add-before 'build 'patch-exec-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "dmi.c"
+               (("\"dmidecode\"")
+                (format #f "~S"
+                        (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "dmidecode")
+                                       "/sbin/dmidecode"))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://flashrom.org/")
     (synopsis "Identify, read, write, erase, and verify ROM/flash chips")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/fltk.scm b/gnu/packages/fltk.scm
index 0ca77cfa40..1c257abbec 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/fltk.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/fltk.scm
@@ -63,27 +63,27 @@
        (list "--enable-shared"
              (string-append "DSOFLAGS=-Wl,-rpath=" %output "/lib"))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'patch-makeinclude
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "makeinclude.in"
-            (("/bin/sh") (which "sh"))))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install 'patch-config
-         ;; Provide -L flags for image libraries when querying fltk-config to
-         ;; avoid propagating inputs.
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (use-modules (srfi srfi-26))
-           (let* ((conf (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                                      "/bin/fltk-config"))
-                  (jpeg (assoc-ref inputs "libjpeg"))
-                  (png  (assoc-ref inputs "libpng"))
-                  (zlib (assoc-ref inputs "zlib")))
-             (substitute* conf
-               (("-ljpeg") (string-append "-L" jpeg "/lib -ljpeg"))
-               (("-lpng") (string-append "-L" png "/lib -lpng"))
-               (("-lz") (string-append "-L" zlib "/lib -lz")))))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'patch-makeinclude
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "makeinclude.in"
+               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'patch-config
+           ;; Provide -L flags for image libraries when querying fltk-config to
+           ;; avoid propagating inputs.
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (use-modules (srfi srfi-26))
+             (let* ((conf (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                                         "/bin/fltk-config"))
+                    (jpeg (assoc-ref inputs "libjpeg"))
+                    (png  (assoc-ref inputs "libpng"))
+                    (zlib (assoc-ref inputs "zlib")))
+               (substitute* conf
+                 (("-ljpeg") (string-append "-L" jpeg "/lib -ljpeg"))
+                 (("-lpng") (string-append "-L" png "/lib -lpng"))
+                 (("-lz") (string-append "-L" zlib "/lib -lz"))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://www.fltk.org")
     (synopsis "3D C++ GUI library")
     (description "FLTK is a C++ GUI toolkit providing modern GUI functionality
diff --git a/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm b/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm
index 84fa104038..b9a2b4e895 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/freedesktop.scm
@@ -357,23 +357,22 @@ manager for the current system.")
     (build-system python-build-system)
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'check
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (setenv "XDG_DATA_DIRS"
-                  (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "shared-mime-info")
-                                 "/share/"))
-          (substitute* "test/test-icon.py"
-            (("/usr/share/icons/hicolor/index.theme")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "hicolor-icon-theme")
-                            "/share/icons/hicolor/index.theme")))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'check
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (setenv "XDG_DATA_DIRS"
+                     (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "shared-mime-info")
+                                    "/share/"))
+             (substitute* "test/test-icon.py"
+               (("/usr/share/icons/hicolor/index.theme")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "hicolor-icon-theme")
+                               "/share/icons/hicolor/index.theme")))
 
-          ;; One test fails with:
-          ;; AssertionError: 'x-apple-ios-png' != 'png'
-          (substitute* "test/test-mime.py"
-            (("self.check_mimetype\\(imgpng, 'image', 'png'\\)") "#"))
-          (zero? (system* "nosetests" "-v")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+             ;; One test fails with:
+             ;; AssertionError: 'x-apple-ios-png' != 'png'
+             (substitute* "test/test-mime.py"
+               (("self.check_mimetype\\(imgpng, 'image', 'png'\\)") "#"))
+             (zero? (system* "nosetests" "-v")))))))
     (native-inputs
      `(("shared-mime-info" ,shared-mime-info) ;for tests
        ("hicolor-icon-theme" ,hicolor-icon-theme) ;for tests
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gd.scm b/gnu/packages/gd.scm
index f9864d7784..3b1def55e1 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gd.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gd.scm
@@ -122,15 +122,16 @@ most common applications of GD involve website development.")
                                                   (assoc-ref %build-inputs i)))
                                  '("zlib" "png" "ft" "jpeg" "fontconfig"))
        #:tests? #f ;; Failed 1/2 test programs. 1/12 subtests failed.
-       #:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'configure 'clear-autogenerated-files
-                 (lambda _
-                   ;; This file is autogenerated by its .PLS script at build
-                   ;; time, but file creation fails because that file already
-                   ;; exists in the distribution with non-writable
-                   ;; permissions, so delete it first.
-                   (delete-file "bdf_scripts/bdf2gdfont.pl"))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'configure 'clear-autogenerated-files
+           (lambda _
+             ;; This file is autogenerated by its .PLS script at build
+             ;; time, but file creation fails because that file already
+             ;; exists in the distribution with non-writable
+             ;; permissions, so delete it first.
+             (delete-file "bdf_scripts/bdf2gdfont.pl")
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://search.cpan.org/dist/GD")
     (synopsis "Perl interface to the GD graphics library")
     (description "GD.pm is an autoloadable interface module for libgd, a
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gkrellm.scm b/gnu/packages/gkrellm.scm
index 68853eb8fc..6ad4fe6ff3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gkrellm.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gkrellm.scm
@@ -49,10 +49,7 @@
      `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)))
     (arguments
      `(#:tests? #f ; there is no check target
-       #:phases
-       (alist-delete
-        'configure
-        %standard-phases)
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:make-flags
        (let ((out (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
          (list (string-append "INSTALLROOT=" out)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gl.scm b/gnu/packages/gl.scm
index 9ce97dbcc2..9b18d06491 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gl.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gl.scm
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ glxgears, glxheads, and glxinfo.")
                   (("/lib64") "/lib")))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "GLEW_PREFIX="
                                          (assoc-ref %outputs "out"))
                           (string-append "GLEW_DEST="
diff --git a/gnu/packages/glib.scm b/gnu/packages/glib.scm
index 8408b54ea2..bacc63270a 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/glib.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/glib.scm
@@ -504,22 +504,23 @@ has an ease of use unmatched by other C++ callback libraries.")
                "1926b3adx903hzvdp8glblsgjyadzqnwgkj8hg605d4wv98m1n0z"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'build 'pre-build
-                 (lambda _
-                   ;; This test uses /etc/fstab as an example file to read
-                   ;; from; choose a better example.
-                   (substitute* "tests/giomm_simple/main.cc"
-                     (("/etc/fstab")
-                      (string-append (getcwd)
-                                     "/tests/giomm_simple/main.cc")))
-
-                   ;; This test does a DNS lookup, and then expects to be able
-                   ;; to open a TLS session; just skip it.
-                   (substitute* "tests/giomm_tls_client/main.cc"
-                     (("Gio::init.*$")
-                      "return 77;\n")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'pre-build
+           (lambda _
+             ;; This test uses /etc/fstab as an example file to read
+             ;; from; choose a better example.
+             (substitute* "tests/giomm_simple/main.cc"
+               (("/etc/fstab")
+                (string-append (getcwd)
+                               "/tests/giomm_simple/main.cc")))
+
+             ;; This test does a DNS lookup, and then expects to be able
+             ;; to open a TLS session; just skip it.
+             (substitute* "tests/giomm_tls_client/main.cc"
+               (("Gio::init.*$")
+                "return 77;\n"))
+             #t)))))
     (native-inputs `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)
                      ("glib" ,glib "bin")))
     (propagated-inputs
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
index 252cf670d2..b3624d6dca 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
@@ -809,16 +809,16 @@ for settings shared by various components of the GNOME desktop.")
        ("perl-xml-simple" ,perl-xml-simple)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'install 'set-load-paths
-        ;; Tell 'icon-name-mapping' where XML::Simple is.
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                 (prog (string-append out "/libexec/icon-name-mapping")))
-            (wrap-program
-             prog
-             `("PERL5LIB" = ,(list (getenv "PERL5LIB"))))))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'set-load-paths
+           ;; Tell 'icon-name-mapping' where XML::Simple is.
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (prog (string-append out "/libexec/icon-name-mapping")))
+               (wrap-program
+                   prog
+                 `("PERL5LIB" = ,(list (getenv "PERL5LIB")))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://tango.freedesktop.org/Standard_Icon_Naming_Specification")
     (synopsis
      "Utility to implement the Freedesktop Icon Naming Specification")
@@ -1260,12 +1260,12 @@ functionality was designed to be as reusable and portable as possible.")
        '("DISABLE_DEPRECATED_CFLAGS=-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS")
        ;; ... which they then completly ignore !!
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'ignore-deprecations
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "linc2/src/Makefile.in"
-            (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'ignore-deprecations
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "linc2/src/Makefile.in"
+               (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS"))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs `(("glib" ,glib)
               ("libidl" ,libidl)))
     (native-inputs
@@ -1300,12 +1300,12 @@ featuring mature C, C++ and Python bindings.")
        '("DISABLE_DEPRECATED_CFLAGS=-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS")
        ;; ... which they then completly ignore !!
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'ignore-deprecations
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "activation-server/Makefile.in"
-            (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'ignore-deprecations
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "activation-server/Makefile.in"
+               (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS"))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs `(("popt" ,popt)
               ("libxml2" ,libxml2)))
     ;; The following are Required by the .pc file
@@ -1408,19 +1408,18 @@ designed to be accessed through the MIME functions in GnomeVFS.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'ignore-deprecations
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* '("libgnomevfs/Makefile.in"
-                         "daemon/Makefile.in")
-            (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS"))
-          #t)
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'configure 'patch-test-async-cancel-to-never-fail
-         (lambda _
-           (substitute* "test/test-async-cancel.c"
-             (("EXIT_FAILURE") "77")))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'ignore-deprecations
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* '("libgnomevfs/Makefile.in"
+                            "daemon/Makefile.in")
+               (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS"))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'configure 'patch-test-async-cancel-to-never-fail
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "test/test-async-cancel.c"
+               (("EXIT_FAILURE") "77"))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs `(("libxml2" ,libxml2)
               ("dbus-glib" ,dbus-glib)
               ("gconf" ,gconf)
@@ -1455,12 +1454,12 @@ to access local and remote files with a single consistent API.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'enable-deprecated
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "libgnome/Makefile.in"
-            (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'enable-deprecated
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "libgnome/Makefile.in"
+               (("-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "-DGLIB_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS"))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs `(("libxml2" ,libxml2)))
     (native-inputs
      `(("glib" ,glib "bin")             ; for glib-mkenums, etc.
@@ -1695,18 +1694,17 @@ since ca. 2006, when GTK+ itself incorporated printing support.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'check 'start-xserver
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((xorg-server (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-server"))
-                (disp ":1"))
-
-            (setenv "HOME" (getcwd))
-            (setenv "DISPLAY" disp)
-            ;; There must be a running X server and make check doesn't start one.
-            ;; Therefore we must do it.
-            (zero? (system (format #f "~a/bin/Xvfb ~a &" xorg-server disp)))))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'start-xserver
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((xorg-server (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-server"))
+                   (disp ":1"))
+
+               (setenv "HOME" (getcwd))
+               (setenv "DISPLAY" disp)
+               ;; There must be a running X server and make check doesn't start one.
+               ;; Therefore we must do it.
+               (zero? (system (format #f "~a/bin/Xvfb ~a &" xorg-server disp)))))))))
     ;; Mentioned as Required by the .pc file
     (propagated-inputs `(("libxml2" ,libxml2)))
     (inputs
@@ -1820,14 +1818,13 @@ Hints specification (EWMH).")
                (base32 "05fvzbs5bin05bbsr4dp79aiva3lnq0a3a40zq55i13vnsz70l0n"))))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'fix-pcre-check
-        (lambda _
-          ;; Only glib.h can be included directly.  See
-          ;; https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=670316
-          (substitute* "configure"
-            (("glib/gregex\\.h") "glib.h")) #t)
-        %standard-phases)
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'fix-pcre-check
+           (lambda _
+             ;; Only glib.h can be included directly.  See
+             ;; https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=670316
+             (substitute* "configure"
+               (("glib/gregex\\.h") "glib.h")) #t)))
 
        ,@(package-arguments goffice)))
     (propagated-inputs
@@ -2200,19 +2197,19 @@ and RDP protocols.")
                             (assoc-ref %outputs "out") "/lib")
              "--disable-gtk-doc-html") ; FIXME: requires gtk-doc
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'fix-docbook
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (substitute* "docs/Makefile.in"
-            (("http://docbook.sourceforge.net/release/xsl/current/manpages/docbook.xsl")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "docbook-xsl")
-                            "/xml/xsl/docbook-xsl-"
-                            ,(package-version docbook-xsl)
-                            "/manpages/docbook.xsl")))
-          (setenv "XML_CATALOG_FILES"
-                  (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "docbook-xml")
-                                 "/xml/dtd/docbook/catalog.xml")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'fix-docbook
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "docs/Makefile.in"
+               (("http://docbook.sourceforge.net/release/xsl/current/manpages/docbook.xsl")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "docbook-xsl")
+                               "/xml/xsl/docbook-xsl-"
+                               ,(package-version docbook-xsl)
+                               "/manpages/docbook.xsl")))
+             (setenv "XML_CATALOG_FILES"
+                     (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "docbook-xml")
+                                    "/xml/dtd/docbook/catalog.xml"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://developer.gnome.org/dconf")
     (synopsis "Low-level GNOME configuration system")
     (description "Dconf is a low-level configuration system.  Its main purpose
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gprolog.scm b/gnu/packages/gprolog.scm
index 87c833e947..b27b080ca7 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gprolog.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gprolog.scm
@@ -41,14 +41,15 @@
      `(#:configure-flags
        (list (string-append
               "--with-install-dir=" %output "/share/gprolog"))
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'change-dir-n-fix-shells
-                 (lambda _
-                   (chdir "src")
-                   (substitute* "configure"
-                     (("-/bin/sh")  (string-append "-"  (which "sh")))
-                     (("= /bin/sh") (string-append "= " (which "sh")))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'change-dir-n-fix-shells
+           (lambda _
+             (chdir "src")
+             (substitute* "configure"
+               (("-/bin/sh")  (string-append "-"  (which "sh")))
+               (("= /bin/sh") (string-append "= " (which "sh"))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/gprolog/")
     (synopsis "Prolog compiler")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gps.scm b/gnu/packages/gps.scm
index 0a9038b7a4..10592c23ec 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gps.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gps.scm
@@ -102,15 +102,16 @@ manipulate maps.")
                   "006a6l8p38a4h7y2959sqrmjjn29d8pd50zj9nypcp5ph18nybjb"))))
       (build-system gnu-build-system)
       (arguments
-       `(#:phases (alist-replace
-                   'configure
-                   (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                     ;; This is a rudimentary build system.
-                     (substitute* "Makefile"
-                       (("prefix[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
-                        (string-append "prefix = " (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                                       "\n"))))
-                   %standard-phases)
+       `(#:phases
+         (modify-phases %standard-phases
+           (replace 'configure
+             (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+               ;; This is a rudimentary build system.
+               (substitute* "Makefile"
+                 (("prefix[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
+                  (string-append "prefix = " (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                                 "\n")))
+               #t)))
          #:tests? #f))
       (inputs
        `(("gtk+" ,gtk+-2)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/graphics.scm b/gnu/packages/graphics.scm
index 2a52c4c697..8e3c5563f6 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/graphics.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/graphics.scm
@@ -630,13 +630,12 @@ and understanding different BRDFs (and other component functions).")
              (string-append "--x-libraries=" (assoc-ref %build-inputs "libx11")
                             "/lib"))
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'autoreconf
-        (lambda _
-          ;; let's call configure from configure phase and not now
-          (substitute* "autogen.sh" (("./configure") "# ./configure"))
-          (zero? (system* "sh" "autogen.sh")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'autoreconf
+           (lambda _
+             ;; let's call configure from configure phase and not now
+             (substitute* "autogen.sh" (("./configure") "# ./configure"))
+             (zero? (system* "sh" "autogen.sh")))))))
     (native-inputs
      `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)
        ("libtool" ,libtool)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gtk.scm b/gnu/packages/gtk.scm
index 0c717eafeb..ff8509fd93 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gtk.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gtk.scm
@@ -279,16 +279,17 @@ functions which were removed.")
                 "0g7s5mp14qgbfjdql0k1s8464r21g47ssn5dws6jazsnw6njhl0l"))))
     (build-system waf-build-system)
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'set-flags
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Compile with C++11, required by gtkmm.
-                   (setenv "CXXFLAGS" "-std=c++11")
-                   ;; Allow 'bin/ganv_bench' to find libganv-1.so.
-                   (setenv "LDFLAGS"
-                           (string-append "-Wl,-rpath="
-                                          (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/lib")))
-                 %standard-phases)
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'set-flags
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Compile with C++11, required by gtkmm.
+             (setenv "CXXFLAGS" "-std=c++11")
+             ;; Allow 'bin/ganv_bench' to find libganv-1.so.
+             (setenv "LDFLAGS"
+                     (string-append "-Wl,-rpath="
+                                    (assoc-ref outputs "out") "/lib"))
+             #t)))
        #:tests? #f)) ; no check target
     (inputs
      `(("gtk" ,gtk+-2)
@@ -349,24 +350,24 @@ diagrams.")
      `(#:phases
        ;; Unfortunately, some of the tests in "make check" are highly dependent
        ;; on the environment therefore, some black magic is required.
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'check 'start-xserver
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((xorg-server (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-server"))
-                (mime (assoc-ref inputs "shared-mime-info")))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'start-xserver
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((xorg-server (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-server"))
+                   (mime (assoc-ref inputs "shared-mime-info")))
 
-            ;; There must be a running X server and make check doesn't start one.
-            ;; Therefore we must do it.
-            (system (format #f "~a/bin/Xvfb :1 &" xorg-server))
-            (setenv "DISPLAY" ":1")
+               ;; There must be a running X server and make check doesn't start one.
+               ;; Therefore we must do it.
+               (system (format #f "~a/bin/Xvfb :1 &" xorg-server))
+               (setenv "DISPLAY" ":1")
 
-            ;; The .lang files must be found in $XDG_DATA_HOME/gtksourceview-2.0
-            (system "ln -s gtksourceview gtksourceview-2.0")
-            (setenv "XDG_DATA_HOME" (getcwd))
+               ;; The .lang files must be found in $XDG_DATA_HOME/gtksourceview-2.0
+               (system "ln -s gtksourceview gtksourceview-2.0")
+               (setenv "XDG_DATA_HOME" (getcwd))
 
-            ;; Finally, the mimetypes must be available.
-            (setenv "XDG_DATA_DIRS" (string-append mime "/share/")) ))
-        %standard-phases)))
+               ;; Finally, the mimetypes must be available.
+               (setenv "XDG_DATA_DIRS" (string-append mime "/share/")))
+             #t)))))
     (synopsis "Widget that extends the standard GTK+ 2.x 'GtkTextView' widget")
     (description
      "GtkSourceView is a portable C library that extends the standard GTK+
@@ -875,18 +876,19 @@ images onto Cairo surfaces.")
                    "godir = $(moddir)\n")))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'install 'post-install
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (let* ((out   (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                          (bin   (string-append out "/bin"))
-                          (guile (assoc-ref inputs "guile")))
-                     (substitute* (find-files bin ".*")
-                       (("guile")
-                        (string-append guile "/bin/guile -L "
-                                       out "/share/guile/site/2.0 -C "
-                                       out "/share/guile/site/2.0 ")))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out   (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (bin   (string-append out "/bin"))
+                    (guile (assoc-ref inputs "guile")))
+               (substitute* (find-files bin ".*")
+                 (("guile")
+                  (string-append guile "/bin/guile -L "
+                                 out "/share/guile/site/2.0 -C "
+                                 out "/share/guile/site/2.0 "))))
+             #t)))))
     (native-inputs `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)))
     (inputs `(("guile" ,guile-2.2)))
     (propagated-inputs
@@ -1160,7 +1162,7 @@ extensive documentation, including API reference and a tutorial.")
      `(#:python ,python-2
        ,@(substitute-keyword-arguments (package-arguments python-pycairo)
            ((#:phases phases)
-            `(alist-delete 'patch-waf ,phases))
+            `(modify-phases ,phases (delete 'patch-waf)))
            ((#:native-inputs native-inputs)
             `(alist-delete "python-waf" ,native-inputs)))))
     ;; Dual-licensed under LGPL 2.1 or Mozilla Public License 1.1
@@ -1254,7 +1256,7 @@ write GNOME applications.")
        #:test-target "test"
        #:tests? #f ; Tests fail with "Gtk cannot open display:"
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (home-page "https://pwmt.org/projects/girara/")
     (synopsis "Library for minimalistic gtk+3 user interfaces")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/guile-wm.scm b/gnu/packages/guile-wm.scm
index 4a484b9de4..c28c4753cc 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/guile-wm.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/guile-wm.scm
@@ -83,50 +83,51 @@ dependencies.")
        #:configure-flags (list (string-append "--datadir="
                                               (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
                                               "/share/guile/site/2.0"))
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'set-go-directory
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Install .go files to $out/share/guile/site/2.0.
-                   (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                     (substitute* "module/Makefile.in"
-                       (("^wmdir = .*$")
-                        (string-append "wmdir = " out
-                                       "/share/guile/site/2.0\n")))))
-                 (alist-cons-after
-                  'install 'set-load-path
-                  (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    ;; Put Guile-XCB's and Guile-WM's modules in the
-                    ;; search path of PROG.
-                    (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                           (prog (string-append out "/bin/guile-wm"))
-                           (mods (string-append
-                                  out "/share/guile/site/2.0"))
-                           (xcb  (string-append
-                                  (assoc-ref inputs "guile-xcb")
-                                  "/share/guile/site/2.0")))
-                      (wrap-program
-                          prog
-                        `("GUILE_LOAD_PATH" ":" prefix (,mods ,xcb))
-                        `("GUILE_LOAD_COMPILED_PATH" ":" prefix
-                          (,mods ,xcb)))))
-                  (alist-cons-after
-                   'install 'install-xsession
-                   (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                     ;; add a .desktop file to xsessions
-                     (let ((xsessions (string-append
-                                       %output "/share/xsessions")))
-                       (mkdir-p xsessions)
-                       (call-with-output-file (string-append
-                                               xsessions "/guile-wm.desktop")
-                         (lambda (port)
-                           (format port
-                                   "[Desktop Entry]~@
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'set-go-directory
+          (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+            ;; Install .go files to $out/share/guile/site/2.0.
+            (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+              (substitute* "module/Makefile.in"
+                (("^wmdir = .*$")
+                 (string-append "wmdir = " out
+                                "/share/guile/site/2.0\n"))))
+            #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'set-load-path
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Put Guile-XCB's and Guile-WM's modules in the
+             ;; search path of PROG.
+             (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (prog (string-append out "/bin/guile-wm"))
+                    (mods (string-append
+                           out "/share/guile/site/2.0"))
+                    (xcb  (string-append
+                           (assoc-ref inputs "guile-xcb")
+                           "/share/guile/site/2.0")))
+               (wrap-program
+                   prog
+                 `("GUILE_LOAD_PATH" ":" prefix (,mods ,xcb))
+                 `("GUILE_LOAD_COMPILED_PATH" ":" prefix
+                   (,mods ,xcb))))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'install-xsession
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; add a .desktop file to xsessions
+             (let ((xsessions (string-append
+                               %output "/share/xsessions")))
+               (mkdir-p xsessions)
+               (call-with-output-file (string-append
+                                       xsessions "/guile-wm.desktop")
+                 (lambda (port)
+                   (format port
+                          "[Desktop Entry]~@
                                     Name=~a~@
                                     Comment=~a~@
                                     Exec=~a/bin/guile-wm~@
                                     Type=Application~%"
-                            ,name ,synopsis %output)))))
-                   %standard-phases)))))
+                          ,name ,synopsis %output))))
+             #t)))))
     (native-inputs `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)))
     (inputs `(("guile" ,guile-2.0)
               ("guile-xcb" ,guile-xcb)))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/guile.scm b/gnu/packages/guile.scm
index 0bcc524ed7..4f024258cb 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/guile.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/guile.scm
@@ -94,24 +94,24 @@
    (arguments '(#:configure-flags '("--disable-error-on-warning")
 
                 ;; Insert a phase before `configure' to patch things up.
-                #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                           'configure
-                           'patch-stuff
-                           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                             ;; Add a call to `lt_dladdsearchdir' so that
-                             ;; `libguile-readline.so' & co. are in the
-                             ;; loader's search path.
-                             (substitute* "libguile/dynl.c"
-                               (("lt_dlinit.*$" match)
-                                (format #f
-                                        "  ~a~%  lt_dladdsearchdir(\"~a/lib\");~%"
-                                        match
-                                        (assoc-ref outputs "out"))))
-
-                             ;; The usual /bin/sh...
-                             (substitute* "ice-9/popen.scm"
-                               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh"))))
-                           %standard-phases)))
+                #:phases
+                (modify-phases %standard-phases
+                  (add-before 'configure 'patch-stuff
+                    (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+                      ;; Add a call to `lt_dladdsearchdir' so that
+                      ;; `libguile-readline.so' & co. are in the
+                      ;; loader's search path.
+                      (substitute* "libguile/dynl.c"
+                        (("lt_dlinit.*$" match)
+                         (format #f
+                                 "  ~a~%  lt_dladdsearchdir(\"~a/lib\");~%"
+                                 match
+                                 (assoc-ref outputs "out"))))
+
+                      ;; The usual /bin/sh...
+                      (substitute* "ice-9/popen.scm"
+                        (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+                      #t)))))
    (inputs `(("gawk" ,gawk)
              ("readline" ,readline)))
 
diff --git a/gnu/packages/hugs.scm b/gnu/packages/hugs.scm
index 2367d5bc6d..a14b8a8583 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/hugs.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/hugs.scm
@@ -39,36 +39,37 @@
         "1mdy4aq4campgmnpc2qwq7bsbfhaxfsqdghbyyz2wms4lnfcmyma"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'fix-sh-n-cp
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute*
-                       '("configure"
-                         "libraries/configure"
-                         "packages/time/configure"
-                         "packages/base/configure"
-                         "packages/X11/configure"
-                         "packages/HGL/configure"
-                         "packages/OpenAL/configure"
-                         "packages/OpenGL/configure"
-                         "packages/network/configure"
-                         "packages/unix/configure"
-                         "packages/Cabal/tests/HSQL/configure"
-                         "packages/ALUT/configure"
-                         "packages/GLUT/configure"
-                         "packages/base/cbits/execvpe.c"
-                         "packages/base/System/Process/Internals.hs"
-                         "packages/Cabal/Distribution/attic"
-                         "packages/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/Register.hs"
-                         "packages/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/Hugs.hs"
-                         "tools/hugs-hc"
-                         "src/machdep.c"
-                         "libraries/Makefile.in")
-                     (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
-                   (substitute* '("demos/Makefile.in"
-                                  "libraries/Makefile.in")
-                     (("/bin/cp") (which "cp"))))
-                  %standard-phases)
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'fix-sh-n-cp
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute*
+                 '("configure"
+                   "libraries/configure"
+                   "packages/time/configure"
+                   "packages/base/configure"
+                   "packages/X11/configure"
+                   "packages/HGL/configure"
+                   "packages/OpenAL/configure"
+                   "packages/OpenGL/configure"
+                   "packages/network/configure"
+                   "packages/unix/configure"
+                   "packages/Cabal/tests/HSQL/configure"
+                   "packages/ALUT/configure"
+                   "packages/GLUT/configure"
+                   "packages/base/cbits/execvpe.c"
+                   "packages/base/System/Process/Internals.hs"
+                   "packages/Cabal/Distribution/attic"
+                   "packages/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/Register.hs"
+                   "packages/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/Hugs.hs"
+                   "tools/hugs-hc"
+                   "src/machdep.c"
+                   "libraries/Makefile.in")
+               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+             (substitute* '("demos/Makefile.in"
+                            "libraries/Makefile.in")
+               (("/bin/cp") (which "cp")))
+             #t)))
        #:tests? #f)) ; no test target
     ;; FIXME: Fails to build with GCC 5.
     (native-inputs `(("gcc" ,gcc-4.9)))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/hurd.scm b/gnu/packages/hurd.scm
index bd1eb4b085..a29e5bafd2 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/hurd.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/hurd.scm
@@ -56,14 +56,13 @@
         "02hygsfpd2dljl5lg1vjjg9pizi9jyxd4aiiqzjshz6jax62jm9f"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-    `(#:phases (alist-replace
-                'install
-                (lambda _
-                  (zero?
-                   (system* "make" "install-data")))
-                (alist-delete
-                 'build
-                 %standard-phases))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda _
+             (zero?
+              (system* "make" "install-data"))))
+         (delete 'build))
 
       ;; GNU Mach supports only IA32 currently, so cheat so that we can at
       ;; least install its headers.
@@ -125,11 +124,12 @@ communication.")
     (native-inputs
      `(("mig" ,mig)))
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'install
-                 (lambda _
-                   (zero? (system* "make" "install-headers" "no_deps=t")))
-                 (alist-delete 'build %standard-phases))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "make" "install-headers" "no_deps=t"))))
+         (delete 'build))
 
        #:configure-flags '(;; Pretend we're on GNU/Hurd; 'configure' wants
                            ;; that.
@@ -164,24 +164,22 @@ Library and other user programs.")
     (arguments
      (substitute-keyword-arguments (package-arguments hurd-headers)
        ((#:phases _)
-        '(alist-replace
-          'install
-          (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-            (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-              ;; We need to copy libihash.a to the output directory manually,
-              ;; since there is no target for that in the makefile.
-              (mkdir-p (string-append out "/include"))
-              (copy-file "libihash/ihash.h"
-                         (string-append out "/include/ihash.h"))
-              (mkdir-p (string-append out "/lib"))
-              (copy-file "libihash/libihash.a"
-                         (string-append out "/lib/libihash.a"))
-              #t))
-          (alist-replace
-           'build
-           (lambda _
-             (zero? (system* "make" "-Clibihash" "libihash.a")))
-           %standard-phases)))))
+        '(modify-phases %standard-phases
+           (replace 'install
+             (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+               (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+                 ;; We need to copy libihash.a to the output directory manually,
+                 ;; since there is no target for that in the makefile.
+                 (mkdir-p (string-append out "/include"))
+                 (copy-file "libihash/ihash.h"
+                            (string-append out "/include/ihash.h"))
+                 (mkdir-p (string-append out "/lib"))
+                 (copy-file "libihash/libihash.a"
+                            (string-append out "/lib/libihash.a"))
+                 #t)))
+           (replace 'build
+             (lambda _
+               (zero? (system* "make" "-Clibihash" "libihash.a"))))))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/hurd.html")
     (synopsis "GNU Hurd libraries")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/image-viewers.scm b/gnu/packages/image-viewers.scm
index dfb68488ee..9d705939e3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/image-viewers.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/image-viewers.scm
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@
                 "02vhdv16nf4kjna4inpbfy4k3p40bhl7xpc4kh4xvily14146l2b"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-      '(#:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
-        #:tests? #f ;FIXME: Requires 'perl-test-command'.
-        #:make-flags
-          (list "CC=gcc" (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))))
+     '(#:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
+       #:tests? #f ;FIXME: Requires 'perl-test-command'.
+       #:make-flags
+       (list "CC=gcc" (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))))
     (inputs `(("imlib2" ,imlib2)
               ("curl" ,curl)
               ("libpng" ,libpng)
@@ -178,9 +178,8 @@ It is the default image viewer on LXDE desktop environment.")
      '(#:tests? #f                      ; no check target
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" %output)
                           "CC=gcc")
-       #:phases (alist-delete
-                 'configure             ; no configure phase
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       ;; no configure phase
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("libx11" ,libx11)
        ("imlib2" ,imlib2)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/libcanberra.scm b/gnu/packages/libcanberra.scm
index 6bac0bcd5b..941d3dcc45 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/libcanberra.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/libcanberra.scm
@@ -79,15 +79,15 @@
      `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'build 'patch-default-sounds-directory
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (substitute* "src/sound-theme-spec.c"
-            (("@SOUND_THEME_DIRECTORY@")
-             (string-append
-              (assoc-ref inputs "sound-theme-freedesktop")
-              "/share"))))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'patch-default-sounds-directory
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "src/sound-theme-spec.c"
+               (("@SOUND_THEME_DIRECTORY@")
+                (string-append
+                 (assoc-ref inputs "sound-theme-freedesktop")
+                 "/share")))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://0pointer.de/lennart/projects/libcanberra/")
     (synopsis
      "Implementation of the XDG Sound Theme and Name Specifications")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/linux.scm b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
index cd003c35fb..e860e40f56 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/linux.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
@@ -1435,22 +1435,22 @@ Linux-based operating systems.")
     (native-inputs `(("autoconf" ,autoconf)
                      ("automake" ,automake)))
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'unpack 'bootstrap
-                 (lambda _
-                   ;; Fix "field ‘ip6’ has incomplete type" errors.
-                   (substitute* "libbridge/libbridge.h"
-                     (("#include <linux/if_bridge.h>")
-                      "#include <linux/in6.h>\n#include <linux/if_bridge.h>"))
-
-                   ;; Ensure that the entire build fails if one of the
-                   ;; sub-Makefiles fails.
-                   (substitute* "Makefile.in"
-                     (("\\$\\(MAKE\\) \\$\\(MFLAGS\\) -C \\$\\$x ;")
-                      "$(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) -C $$x || exit 1;"))
-
-                   (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vf")))
-                 %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'bootstrap
+           (lambda _
+             ;; Fix "field ‘ip6’ has incomplete type" errors.
+             (substitute* "libbridge/libbridge.h"
+               (("#include <linux/if_bridge.h>")
+                "#include <linux/in6.h>\n#include <linux/if_bridge.h>"))
+
+             ;; Ensure that the entire build fails if one of the
+             ;; sub-Makefiles fails.
+             (substitute* "Makefile.in"
+               (("\\$\\(MAKE\\) \\$\\(MFLAGS\\) -C \\$\\$x ;")
+                "$(MAKE) $(MFLAGS) -C $$x || exit 1;"))
+
+             (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vf")))))
        #:tests? #f))                              ; no 'check' target
 
     (home-page
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ configuration and monitoring interfaces.")
     (arguments
      `(#:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out"))
                           "CC=gcc")
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/")
     (synopsis "Tool for configuring wireless devices")
     (description
@@ -1688,27 +1688,28 @@ processes currently causing I/O.")
                                (string-append "UDEV_RULES_PATH="
                                               (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
                                               "/lib/udev/rules.d"))
-      #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                'build 'set-file-names
-                (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                  ;; libfuse calls out to mount(8) and umount(8).  Make sure
-                  ;; it refers to the right ones.
-                  (substitute* '("lib/mount_util.c" "util/mount_util.c")
-                    (("/bin/(u?)mount" _ maybe-u)
-                     (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "util-linux")
-                                    "/bin/" maybe-u "mount")))
-                  (substitute* '("util/mount.fuse.c")
-                    (("/bin/sh")
-                     (which "sh")))
-
-                  ;; This hack leads libfuse to search for 'fusermount' in
-                  ;; $PATH, where it may find a setuid-root binary, instead of
-                  ;; trying solely $out/sbin/fusermount and failing because
-                  ;; it's not setuid.
-                  (substitute* "lib/Makefile"
-                    (("-DFUSERMOUNT_DIR=[[:graph:]]+")
-                     "-DFUSERMOUNT_DIR=\\\"/var/empty\\\"")))
-                %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'set-file-names
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; libfuse calls out to mount(8) and umount(8).  Make sure
+             ;; it refers to the right ones.
+             (substitute* '("lib/mount_util.c" "util/mount_util.c")
+               (("/bin/(u?)mount" _ maybe-u)
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "util-linux")
+                               "/bin/" maybe-u "mount")))
+             (substitute* '("util/mount.fuse.c")
+               (("/bin/sh")
+                (which "sh")))
+
+             ;; This hack leads libfuse to search for 'fusermount' in
+             ;; $PATH, where it may find a setuid-root binary, instead of
+             ;; trying solely $out/sbin/fusermount and failing because
+             ;; it's not setuid.
+             (substitute* "lib/Makefile"
+               (("-DFUSERMOUNT_DIR=[[:graph:]]+")
+                "-DFUSERMOUNT_DIR=\\\"/var/empty\\\""))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://github.com/libfuse/libfuse")
     (synopsis "Support file systems implemented in user space")
     (description
@@ -1786,20 +1787,20 @@ UnionFS-FUSE additionally supports copy-on-write.")
     (arguments
      '(#:tests? #f
        #:configure-flags '("-DCMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS=-static")
-       #:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'install 'post-install
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                          (exe (string-append out "/bin/unionfs")))
-                     ;; By default, 'unionfs' keeps references to
-                     ;; $glibc/share/locale and similar stuff.  Remove them.
-                     (remove-store-references exe)
-
-                     ;; 'unionfsctl' has references to glibc as well.  Since
-                     ;; we don't need it, remove it.
-                     (delete-file (string-append out "/bin/unionfsctl"))
-                     #t))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (exe (string-append out "/bin/unionfs")))
+               ;; By default, 'unionfs' keeps references to
+               ;; $glibc/share/locale and similar stuff.  Remove them.
+               (remove-store-references exe)
+
+               ;; 'unionfsctl' has references to glibc as well.  Since
+               ;; we don't need it, remove it.
+               (delete-file (string-append out "/bin/unionfsctl"))
+               #t))))))
     (inputs `(("fuse" ,fuse-static)))))
 
 (define-public sshfs-fuse
@@ -2374,43 +2375,42 @@ country-specific regulations for the wireless spectrum.")
                           (string-append "ETCDIR=" %output "/etc")
                           (string-append "MANDIR=" %output "/share/man"))
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete
-        'configure
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'build 'patch-exec-paths
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (substitute* "prog/detect/sensors-detect"
-             (("`uname")
-              (string-append "`" (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
-                             "/bin/uname"))
-             (("(`|\")modprobe" all open-quote)
-              (string-append open-quote
-                             (assoc-ref inputs "kmod")
-                             "/bin/modprobe")))
-           (substitute* '("prog/pwm/pwmconfig"
-                          "prog/pwm/fancontrol")
-             (("gnuplot")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "gnuplot")
-                             "/bin/gnuplot"))
-             (("cat ")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
-                             "/bin/cat "))
-             (("egrep ")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "grep")
-                             "/bin/egrep "))
-             (("sed -e")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "sed")
-                             "/bin/sed -e"))
-             (("cut -d")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
-                             "/bin/cut -d"))
-             (("sleep ")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
-                             "/bin/sleep "))
-             (("readlink -f")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
-                             "/bin/readlink -f"))))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (delete 'configure)
+         (add-before 'build 'patch-exec-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "prog/detect/sensors-detect"
+               (("`uname")
+                (string-append "`" (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
+                               "/bin/uname"))
+               (("(`|\")modprobe" all open-quote)
+                (string-append open-quote
+                               (assoc-ref inputs "kmod")
+                               "/bin/modprobe")))
+             (substitute* '("prog/pwm/pwmconfig"
+                            "prog/pwm/fancontrol")
+               (("gnuplot")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "gnuplot")
+                               "/bin/gnuplot"))
+               (("cat ")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
+                               "/bin/cat "))
+               (("egrep ")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "grep")
+                               "/bin/egrep "))
+               (("sed -e")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "sed")
+                               "/bin/sed -e"))
+               (("cut -d")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
+                               "/bin/cut -d"))
+               (("sleep ")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
+                               "/bin/sleep "))
+               (("readlink -f")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")
+                               "/bin/readlink -f")))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://jdelvare.nerim.net/devel.html#lmsensors")
     (synopsis "Utilities to read temperature/voltage/fan sensors")
     (description
@@ -2437,7 +2437,7 @@ It works with most newer systems.")
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "prefix=" %output)
                           "CC=gcc")
        ;; no configure script
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("perl" ,perl)))
     (home-page "http://jdelvare.nerim.net/devel.html#i2ctools")
@@ -2466,18 +2466,19 @@ SMBus access.")
               ("gtk" ,gtk+-2)))
     (native-inputs `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)))
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'enable-deprecated
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute* "src/Makefile.in"
-                     (("-DGDK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "")
-                     (("-DGTK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "")))
-                 (alist-cons-before
-                  'configure 'remove-Werror
-                  (lambda _
-                    (substitute* '("configure" "src/Makefile.in")
-                      (("-Werror") "")))
-                  %standard-phases))))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'enable-deprecated
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "src/Makefile.in"
+               (("-DGDK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") "")
+               (("-DGTK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED") ""))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'configure 'remove-Werror
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* '("configure" "src/Makefile.in")
+               (("-Werror") ""))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://www.linuxhardware.org/xsensors/")
     (synopsis "Hardware health information viewer")
     (description
@@ -2493,12 +2494,13 @@ in a digital read-out.")
     (source (package-source linux-libre))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (setenv "SHELL_PATH" (which "bash"))
-                   (chdir "tools/perf"))
-                 %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (setenv "SHELL_PATH" (which "bash"))
+             (chdir "tools/perf")
+             #t)))
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "DESTDIR="
                                          (assoc-ref %outputs "out"))
                           "WERROR=0"
@@ -2837,22 +2839,23 @@ MPEG-2 and audio over Linux IEEE 1394.")
                             (string-append "BINDIR=" out "/sbin")
                             (string-append "MANDIR=" out "/share/man")
                             (string-append "UDEVDIR=" out "/lib/udev")))
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'build 'patch-program-paths
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (let ((coreutils (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")))
-                     (substitute* "udev-md-raid-arrays.rules"
-                       (("/usr/bin/(readlink|basename)" all program)
-                        (string-append coreutils "/bin/" program)))))
-                 (alist-cons-before
-                  'build 'remove-W-error
-                  (lambda _
-                    ;; We cannot build with -Werror on i686 due to a
-                    ;; 'sign-compare' warning in util.c.
-                    (substitute* "Makefile"
-                      (("-Werror") ""))
-                    #t)
-                  (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'patch-program-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((coreutils (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils")))
+               (substitute* "udev-md-raid-arrays.rules"
+                 (("/usr/bin/(readlink|basename)" all program)
+                  (string-append coreutils "/bin/" program))))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'remove-W-error
+           (lambda _
+             ;; We cannot build with -Werror on i686 due to a
+             ;; 'sign-compare' warning in util.c.
+             (substitute* "Makefile"
+               (("-Werror") ""))
+             #t))
+         (delete 'configure))
        ;;tests must be done as root
        #:tests? #f))
     (home-page "http://neil.brown.name/blog/mdadm")
@@ -2987,7 +2990,7 @@ Linux Device Mapper multipathing driver:
        (list "CC=gcc" (string-append "prefix=" %output))
        #:test-target "partcheck" ; need root for a full 'check'
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases))) ; no configure script
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure)))) ; no configure script
     (home-page "http://lse.sourceforge.net/io/aio.html")
     (synopsis "Linux-native asynchronous I/O access library")
     (description
@@ -3642,13 +3645,14 @@ the default @code{nsswitch} and the experimental @code{umich_ldap}.")
      ;; FIXME: The upstream tarball lacks man pages, and building them would
      ;; require DocBook & co.  We used to use Gentoo's pre-built man pages,
      ;; but they vanished.  In the meantime, fake it.
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'fake-docbook
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute* "Makefile.in"
-                     (("^DOCBOOKTOMAN.*$")
-                      "DOCBOOKTOMAN = true\n")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'fake-docbook
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "Makefile.in"
+               (("^DOCBOOKTOMAN.*$")
+                "DOCBOOKTOMAN = true\n"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/kernel/module-init-tools/")
     (synopsis "Tools for loading and managing Linux kernel modules")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/lisp.scm b/gnu/packages/lisp.scm
index 224cea56f6..59e095cd89 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/lisp.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/lisp.scm
@@ -445,36 +445,33 @@ statistical profiler, a code coverage tool, and many other extensions.")
                   (guix build utils)
                   (guix build gnu-build-system))
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'unpack
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (and (zero? (system* "tar" "xzvf" (assoc-ref inputs "ccl")))
-               (begin (chdir "ccl") #t)))
-        (alist-delete
-         'configure
-         (alist-cons-before
-          'build 'pre-build
-          ;; Enter the source directory for the current platform's lisp
-          ;; kernel, and run 'make clean' to remove the precompiled one.
-          (lambda _
-            (chdir (string-append
-                    "lisp-kernel/"
-                    ,(match (or (%current-target-system) (%current-system))
-                       ("i686-linux"   "linuxx8632")
-                       ("x86_64-linux" "linuxx8664")
-                       ("armhf-linux"  "linuxarm")
-                       ;; Prevent errors when querying this package
-                       ;; on unsupported platforms, e.g. when running
-                       ;; "guix package --search="
-                       (_              "UNSUPPORTED"))))
-            (substitute* '("Makefile")
-              (("/bin/rm") "rm"))
-            (setenv "CC" "gcc")
-            (zero? (system* "make" "clean")))
-          ;; XXX Do we need to recompile the heap image as well for Guix?
-          ;; For now just use the one we already got in the tarball.
-          (alist-replace
-           'install
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'unpack
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (and (zero? (system* "tar" "xzvf" (assoc-ref inputs "ccl")))
+                  (begin (chdir "ccl") #t))))
+         (delete 'configure)
+         (add-before 'build 'pre-build
+           ;; Enter the source directory for the current platform's lisp
+           ;; kernel, and run 'make clean' to remove the precompiled one.
+           (lambda _
+             (chdir (string-append
+                     "lisp-kernel/"
+                     ,(match (or (%current-target-system) (%current-system))
+                        ("i686-linux"   "linuxx8632")
+                        ("x86_64-linux" "linuxx8664")
+                        ("armhf-linux"  "linuxarm")
+                        ;; Prevent errors when querying this package
+                        ;; on unsupported platforms, e.g. when running
+                        ;; "guix package --search="
+                        (_              "UNSUPPORTED"))))
+             (substitute* '("Makefile")
+               (("/bin/rm") "rm"))
+             (setenv "CC" "gcc")
+             (zero? (system* "make" "clean"))))
+         ;; XXX Do we need to recompile the heap image as well for Guix?
+         ;; For now just use the one we already got in the tarball.
+         (replace 'install
            (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys)
              ;; The lisp kernel built by running 'make' in lisp-kernel/$system
              ;; is put back into the original directory, so go back.  The heap
@@ -513,8 +510,8 @@ statistical profiler, a code coverage tool, and many other extensions.")
                      "CCL_DEFAULT_DIRECTORY=" libdir "\n"
                      "export CCL_DEFAULT_DIRECTORY\n"
                      "exec " libdir kernel "\n"))))
-               (chmod wrapper #o755)))
-           %standard-phases))))))
+               (chmod wrapper #o755))
+             #t)))))
     (supported-systems '("i686-linux" "x86_64-linux" "armhf-linux"))
     (home-page "http://ccl.clozure.com/")
     (synopsis "Common Lisp implementation")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/lout.scm b/gnu/packages/lout.scm
index f2c724ae07..b71abd83fe 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/lout.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/lout.scm
@@ -28,53 +28,11 @@
   ;; rules.  Instead, it has a makefile that has to be patched to set the
   ;; prefix, etc., and it has no makefile rules to build its doc.
   (let ((configure-phase
-         '(lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-            (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                  (doc (assoc-ref outputs "doc")))
-              (substitute* "makefile"
-                (("^PREFIX[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
-                 (string-append "PREFIX = " out "\n"))
-                (("^LOUTLIBDIR[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
-                 (string-append "LOUTLIBDIR = " out "/lib/lout\n"))
-                (("^LOUTDOCDIR[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
-                 (string-append "LOUTDOCDIR = " doc "/share/doc/lout\n"))
-                (("^MANDIR[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
-                 (string-append "MANDIR = " out "/man\n")))
-              (mkdir out)
-              (mkdir (string-append out "/bin"))
-              (mkdir (string-append out "/lib"))
-              (mkdir (string-append out "/man"))
-              (mkdir-p (string-append doc "/share/doc/lout")))))
+         ')
         (install-man-phase
-         '(lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-            (zero? (system* "make" "installman"))))
+         ')
         (doc-phase
-         '(lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-            (define out
-              (assoc-ref outputs "doc"))
-
-            (setenv "PATH"
-                    (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                                   "/bin:" (getenv "PATH")))
-            (chdir "doc")
-            (every (lambda (doc)
-                     (format #t "doc: building `~a'...~%" doc)
-                     (with-directory-excursion doc
-                       (let ((file (string-append out "/share/doc/lout/"
-                                                  doc ".ps")))
-                         (and (or (file-exists? "outfile.ps")
-                                  (zero? (system* "lout" "-r4" "-o"
-                                                  "outfile.ps" "all")))
-                              (begin
-                                (copy-file "outfile.ps" file)
-                                #t)
-                              (zero? (system* "ps2pdf"
-                                              "-dPDFSETTINGS=/prepress"
-                                              "-sPAPERSIZE=a4"
-                                              file
-                                              (string-append out "/share/doc/lout/"
-                                                             doc ".pdf")))))))
-                   '("design" "expert" "slides" "user")))))
+         '))
    (package
     (name "lout")
     (version "3.40")
@@ -89,23 +47,64 @@
     (outputs '("out" "doc"))
     (native-inputs
      `(("ghostscript" ,ghostscript)))
-    (arguments `(#:modules ((guix build utils)
-                            (guix build gnu-build-system)
-                            (srfi srfi-1))        ; we need SRFI-1
-                 #:tests? #f                      ; no "check" target
-
-                 ;; Customize the build phases.
-                 #:phases (alist-replace
-                           'configure ,configure-phase
+    (arguments
+     `(#:modules ((guix build utils)
+                  (guix build gnu-build-system)
+                  (srfi srfi-1))        ; we need SRFI-1
+       #:tests? #f                      ; no "check" target
 
-                           (alist-cons-after
-                            'install 'install-man-pages
-                            ,install-man-phase
+       ;; Customize the build phases.
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (doc (assoc-ref outputs "doc")))
+               (substitute* "makefile"
+                 (("^PREFIX[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
+                  (string-append "PREFIX = " out "\n"))
+                 (("^LOUTLIBDIR[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
+                  (string-append "LOUTLIBDIR = " out "/lib/lout\n"))
+                 (("^LOUTDOCDIR[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
+                  (string-append "LOUTDOCDIR = " doc "/share/doc/lout\n"))
+                 (("^MANDIR[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
+                  (string-append "MANDIR = " out "/man\n")))
+               (mkdir out)
+               (mkdir (string-append out "/bin"))
+               (mkdir (string-append out "/lib"))
+               (mkdir (string-append out "/man"))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append doc "/share/doc/lout")))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'install-man-pages
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (zero? (system* "make" "installman"))))
+         (add-after 'install 'install-doc
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (define out
+               (assoc-ref outputs "doc"))
 
-                            (alist-cons-after
-                             'install 'install-doc
-                             ,doc-phase
-                             %standard-phases)))))
+             (setenv "PATH"
+                     (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                                    "/bin:" (getenv "PATH")))
+             (chdir "doc")
+             (every (lambda (doc)
+                      (format #t "doc: building `~a'...~%" doc)
+                      (with-directory-excursion doc
+                        (let ((file (string-append out "/share/doc/lout/"
+                                                   doc ".ps")))
+                          (and (or (file-exists? "outfile.ps")
+                                   (zero? (system* "lout" "-r4" "-o"
+                                                   "outfile.ps" "all")))
+                               (begin
+                                 (copy-file "outfile.ps" file)
+                                 #t)
+                               (zero? (system* "ps2pdf"
+                                               "-dPDFSETTINGS=/prepress"
+                                               "-sPAPERSIZE=a4"
+                                               file
+                                               (string-append out "/share/doc/lout/"
+                                                              doc ".pdf")))))))
+                    '("design" "expert" "slides" "user")))))))
     (synopsis "Document layout system")
     (description
 "The Lout document formatting system reads a high-level description of
diff --git a/gnu/packages/lua.scm b/gnu/packages/lua.scm
index c3cb700be2..c8bc4ef85e 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/lua.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/lua.scm
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ for configuration, scripting, and rapid prototyping.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      '(#:tests? #f                      ;luajit is distributed without tests
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))))
     (home-page "http://www.luajit.org/")
     (synopsis "Just in time compiler for Lua programming language version 5.1")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/machine-learning.scm b/gnu/packages/machine-learning.scm
index 58b47dacd1..291146bab4 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/machine-learning.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/machine-learning.scm
@@ -376,54 +376,50 @@ sample proximities between pairs of cases.")
     (arguments
      '(#:tests? #f ;no check target
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'delete-broken-symlinks
-        (lambda _
-          (for-each delete-file '("applications/arts/data"
-                                  "applications/asp/data"
-                                  "applications/easysvm/data"
-                                  "applications/msplicer/data"
-                                  "applications/ocr/data"
-                                  "examples/documented/data"
-                                  "examples/documented/matlab_static"
-                                  "examples/documented/octave_static"
-                                  "examples/undocumented/data"
-                                  "examples/undocumented/matlab_static"
-                                  "examples/undocumented/octave_static"
-                                  "tests/integration/data"
-                                  "tests/integration/matlab_static"
-                                  "tests/integration/octave_static"
-                                  "tests/integration/python_modular/tests"))
-          #t)
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'unpack 'change-R-target-path
-         (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (substitute* '("src/interfaces/r_modular/CMakeLists.txt"
-                          "src/interfaces/r_static/CMakeLists.txt"
-                          "examples/undocumented/r_modular/CMakeLists.txt")
-             (("\\$\\{R_COMPONENT_LIB_PATH\\}")
-              (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                             "/lib/R/library/")))
-           #t)
-         (alist-cons-after
-          'unpack 'fix-octave-modules
-          (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-            (substitute* '("src/interfaces/octave_modular/CMakeLists.txt"
-                           "src/interfaces/octave_static/CMakeLists.txt")
-              (("^include_directories\\(\\$\\{OCTAVE_INCLUDE_DIRS\\}")
-               "include_directories(${OCTAVE_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${OCTAVE_INCLUDE_DIRS}/octave"))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'delete-broken-symlinks
+           (lambda _
+             (for-each delete-file '("applications/arts/data"
+                                     "applications/asp/data"
+                                     "applications/easysvm/data"
+                                     "applications/msplicer/data"
+                                     "applications/ocr/data"
+                                     "examples/documented/data"
+                                     "examples/documented/matlab_static"
+                                     "examples/documented/octave_static"
+                                     "examples/undocumented/data"
+                                     "examples/undocumented/matlab_static"
+                                     "examples/undocumented/octave_static"
+                                     "tests/integration/data"
+                                     "tests/integration/matlab_static"
+                                     "tests/integration/octave_static"
+                                     "tests/integration/python_modular/tests"))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'unpack 'change-R-target-path
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* '("src/interfaces/r_modular/CMakeLists.txt"
+                            "src/interfaces/r_static/CMakeLists.txt"
+                            "examples/undocumented/r_modular/CMakeLists.txt")
+               (("\\$\\{R_COMPONENT_LIB_PATH\\}")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                               "/lib/R/library/")))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'unpack 'fix-octave-modules
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* '("src/interfaces/octave_modular/CMakeLists.txt"
+                            "src/interfaces/octave_static/CMakeLists.txt")
+               (("^include_directories\\(\\$\\{OCTAVE_INCLUDE_DIRS\\}")
+                "include_directories(${OCTAVE_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${OCTAVE_INCLUDE_DIRS}/octave"))
 
-            ;; change target directory
-            (substitute* "src/interfaces/octave_modular/CMakeLists.txt"
-              (("\\$\\{OCTAVE_OCT_LOCAL_API_FILE_DIR\\}")
-               (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                              "/share/octave/packages")))
-            #t)
-          (alist-cons-before
-           'build 'set-HOME
+             ;; change target directory
+             (substitute* "src/interfaces/octave_modular/CMakeLists.txt"
+               (("\\$\\{OCTAVE_OCT_LOCAL_API_FILE_DIR\\}")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                               "/share/octave/packages")))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'set-HOME
            ;; $HOME needs to be set at some point during the build phase
-           (lambda _ (setenv "HOME" "/tmp") #t)
-           %standard-phases))))
+           (lambda _ (setenv "HOME" "/tmp") #t)))
        #:configure-flags
        (list "-DCMAKE_BUILD_WITH_INSTALL_RPATH=TRUE"
              "-DUSE_SVMLIGHT=OFF" ;disable proprietary SVMLIGHT
diff --git a/gnu/packages/mail.scm b/gnu/packages/mail.scm
index 8c376b1e45..72e1bb179c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/mail.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/mail.scm
@@ -1034,51 +1034,51 @@ delivery.")
        ("perl" ,perl)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        ;; We'd use #:make-flags but the top-level Makefile calls others
-        ;; recursively, so just set all variables this way.
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (substitute* '("Makefile" "OS/Makefile-Default")
-            (("(RM_COMMAND=).*" all var)
-             (string-append var "rm\n")))
-          (copy-file "src/EDITME" "Local/Makefile")
-          (copy-file "exim_monitor/EDITME" "Local/eximon.conf")
-          (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                (gzip (assoc-ref inputs "gzip"))
-                (bzip2 (assoc-ref inputs "bzip2"))
-                (xz (assoc-ref inputs "xz")))
-            (substitute* '("Local/Makefile")
-              (("(BIN_DIRECTORY=).*" all var)
-               (string-append var out "/bin\n"))
-              (("(CONFIGURE_FILE=).*" all var)
-               (string-append var out "/etc/exim.conf\n"))
-              (("(EXIM_USER=).*" all var)
-               (string-append var "nobody\n"))
-              (("(FIXED_NEVER_USERS=).*" all var)
-               (string-append var "\n"))  ;XXX no root in build environment
-              (("(COMPRESS_COMMAND=).*" all var)
-               (string-append var gzip "/bin/gzip\n"))
-              (("(ZCAT_COMMAND=).*" all var)
-               (string-append var gzip "/bin/zcat\n")))
-            ;; This file has hardcoded names for tools despite the zcat
-            ;; configuration above.
-            (substitute* '("src/exigrep.src")
-              (("'zcat'") (string-append "'" gzip "/bin/zcat'"))
-              (("'bzcat'") (string-append "'" bzip2 "/bin/bzcat'"))
-              (("'xzcat'") (string-append "'" xz "/bin/xzcat'"))
-              (("'lzma'") (string-append "'" xz "/bin/lzma'")))))
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'build 'fix-sh-paths
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (substitute* '("scripts/lookups-Makefile" "scripts/reversion")
-             (("SHELL=/bin/sh") "SHELL=sh"))
-           (substitute* '("scripts/Configure-config.h")
-             (("\\| /bin/sh") "| sh"))
-           (let ((bash (assoc-ref inputs "bash")))
-             (substitute* '("scripts/Configure-eximon")
-               (("#!/bin/sh") (string-append "#!" bash "/bin/sh")))))
-         %standard-phases))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           ;; We'd use #:make-flags but the top-level Makefile calls others
+           ;; recursively, so just set all variables this way.
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* '("Makefile" "OS/Makefile-Default")
+               (("(RM_COMMAND=).*" all var)
+                (string-append var "rm\n")))
+             (copy-file "src/EDITME" "Local/Makefile")
+             (copy-file "exim_monitor/EDITME" "Local/eximon.conf")
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (gzip (assoc-ref inputs "gzip"))
+                   (bzip2 (assoc-ref inputs "bzip2"))
+                   (xz (assoc-ref inputs "xz")))
+               (substitute* '("Local/Makefile")
+                 (("(BIN_DIRECTORY=).*" all var)
+                  (string-append var out "/bin\n"))
+                 (("(CONFIGURE_FILE=).*" all var)
+                  (string-append var out "/etc/exim.conf\n"))
+                 (("(EXIM_USER=).*" all var)
+                  (string-append var "nobody\n"))
+                 (("(FIXED_NEVER_USERS=).*" all var)
+                  (string-append var "\n"))  ;XXX no root in build environment
+                 (("(COMPRESS_COMMAND=).*" all var)
+                  (string-append var gzip "/bin/gzip\n"))
+                 (("(ZCAT_COMMAND=).*" all var)
+                  (string-append var gzip "/bin/zcat\n")))
+               ;; This file has hardcoded names for tools despite the zcat
+               ;; configuration above.
+               (substitute* '("src/exigrep.src")
+                 (("'zcat'") (string-append "'" gzip "/bin/zcat'"))
+                 (("'bzcat'") (string-append "'" bzip2 "/bin/bzcat'"))
+                 (("'xzcat'") (string-append "'" xz "/bin/xzcat'"))
+                 (("'lzma'") (string-append "'" xz "/bin/lzma'"))))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'fix-sh-paths
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* '("scripts/lookups-Makefile" "scripts/reversion")
+               (("SHELL=/bin/sh") "SHELL=sh"))
+             (substitute* '("scripts/Configure-config.h")
+               (("\\| /bin/sh") "| sh"))
+             (let ((bash (assoc-ref inputs "bash")))
+               (substitute* '("scripts/Configure-eximon")
+                 (("#!/bin/sh") (string-append "#!" bash "/bin/sh"))))
+             #t)))
        #:make-flags '("INSTALL_ARG=-no_chown")
        ;; No 'check' target.
        #:tests? #f))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/man.scm b/gnu/packages/man.scm
index 60076f0f1a..fed7d08aee 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/man.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/man.scm
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ the traditional flat-text whatis databases.")
                 "1gri0rm9i3a6w5dvsmwawhwzywl5x80dwq05d2v8l92knv2hbh6m"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
 
        ;; The 'all' target depends on three targets that directly populate
        ;; $(MANDIR) based on its current contents.  Doing that in parallel
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ automatically.")
     (arguments
      `(#:tests? #f ; no "check" target
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "prefix=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("gawk" ,gawk)))
     (home-page "https://github.com/mvertes/txt2man")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/maths.scm b/gnu/packages/maths.scm
index f326f6af72..488c42b28d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/maths.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/maths.scm
@@ -456,13 +456,14 @@ large scale eigenvalue problems.")
 
                           ;; Build the 'LAPACKE_clatms' functions.
                           "-DLAPACKE_WITH_TMG=ON")
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'check 'patch-python
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (let ((python (assoc-ref inputs "python")))
-                     (substitute* "lapack_testing.py"
-                       (("/usr/bin/env python") python))))
-                  %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'patch-python
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((python (assoc-ref inputs "python")))
+               (substitute* "lapack_testing.py"
+                 (("/usr/bin/env python") python)))
+             #t)))))
     (synopsis "Library for numerical linear algebra")
     (description
      "LAPACK is a Fortran 90 library for solving the most commonly occurring
@@ -1866,12 +1867,12 @@ void mc64ad_ (int *a, int *b, int *c, int *d, int *e, double *f, int *g,
     (arguments
      `(#:parallel-build? #f             ;race conditions using ar
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (call-with-output-file "make.inc"
-            (lambda (port)
-              (format port "
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (call-with-output-file "make.inc"
+               (lambda (port)
+                 (format port "
 PLAT        =
 DSuperLUroot = ~a
 DSUPERLULIB  = ~a/lib/libsuperlu_dist.a
@@ -1894,47 +1895,46 @@ FORTRAN     = mpifort
 FFLAGS      = -O2 -g $(PIC)
 LOADER      = $(CC)
 CDEFS       = -DAdd_"
-                      (getcwd)
-                      (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                      (assoc-ref inputs "lapack")
-                      (assoc-ref inputs "pt-scotch")))))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'unpack 'remove-broken-symlinks
-         (lambda _
-           (for-each delete-file
-                     (find-files "MAKE_INC" "\\.#make\\..*")))
-         (alist-cons-before
-          'build 'create-install-directories
-          (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-            (for-each
-             (lambda (dir)
-               (mkdir-p (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
-                                       "/" dir)))
-             '("lib" "include")))
-          (alist-replace
-           'check
+                         (getcwd)
+                         (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                         (assoc-ref inputs "lapack")
+                         (assoc-ref inputs "pt-scotch"))))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'unpack 'remove-broken-symlinks
+           (lambda _
+             (for-each delete-file
+                       (find-files "MAKE_INC" "\\.#make\\..*"))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'create-install-directories
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (for-each
+              (lambda (dir)
+                (mkdir-p (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "out")
+                                        "/" dir)))
+              '("lib" "include"))
+             #t))
+         (replace 'check
            (lambda _
              (with-directory-excursion "EXAMPLE"
                (and
                 (zero? (system* "mpirun" "-n" "2"
                                 "./pddrive" "-r" "1" "-c" "2" "g20.rua"))
                 (zero? (system* "mpirun" "-n" "2"
-                                "./pzdrive" "-r" "1" "-c" "2" "cg20.cua")))))
-           (alist-replace
-            'install
-            (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-              ;; Library is placed in lib during the build phase.  Copy over
-              ;; headers to include.
-              (let* ((out    (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                     (incdir (string-append out "/include")))
-                (for-each (lambda (file)
-                            (let ((base (basename file)))
-                              (format #t "installing `~a' to `~a'~%"
-                                      base incdir)
-                              (copy-file file
-                                         (string-append incdir "/" base))))
-                          (find-files "SRC" ".*\\.h$"))))
-            %standard-phases)))))))
+                                "./pzdrive" "-r" "1" "-c" "2" "cg20.cua"))))))
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Library is placed in lib during the build phase.  Copy over
+             ;; headers to include.
+             (let* ((out    (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (incdir (string-append out "/include")))
+               (for-each (lambda (file)
+                           (let ((base (basename file)))
+                             (format #t "installing `~a' to `~a'~%"
+                                     base incdir)
+                             (copy-file file
+                                        (string-append incdir "/" base))))
+                         (find-files "SRC" ".*\\.h$")))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page (package-home-page superlu))
     (synopsis "Parallel supernodal direct solver")
     (description
@@ -2621,7 +2621,7 @@ access to BLIS implementations via traditional BLAS routine calls.")
        (list (string-append "prefix=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
        #:phases
        ;; no configure script
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:tests? #f)) ;the tests are part of the default target
     (home-page "http://openlibm.org/")
     (synopsis "Portable C mathematical library (libm)")
@@ -2660,7 +2660,7 @@ environments.")
        #:make-flags
        (list (string-append "prefix=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
        ;; no configure script
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("fortran" ,gfortran)))
     (home-page "https://github.com/JuliaLang/openspecfun")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/messaging.scm b/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
index 52ca4bef79..f984f8ffbb 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
@@ -142,20 +142,19 @@ keys, no previous conversation is compromised.")
               ("python" ,python-2)
               ("perl" ,perl)))
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'install 'install-etc
-                 (lambda* (#:key (make-flags '()) #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (zero? (apply system* "make" "install-etc" make-flags)))
-                 (alist-replace
-                  'configure
-                  ;; bitlbee's configure script does not tolerate many of the
-                  ;; variable settings that Guix would pass to it.
-                  (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    (zero? (system* "./configure"
-                                    (string-append "--prefix="
-                                                   (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                                    "--otr=1")))
-                  %standard-phases))))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'install-etc
+           (lambda* (#:key (make-flags '()) #:allow-other-keys)
+             (zero? (apply system* "make" "install-etc" make-flags))))
+         (replace 'configure
+           ;; bitlbee's configure script does not tolerate many of the
+           ;; variable settings that Guix would pass to it.
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (zero? (system* "./configure"
+                             (string-append "--prefix="
+                                            (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                             "--otr=1")))))))
     (synopsis "IRC to instant messaging gateway")
     (description "BitlBee brings IM (instant messaging) to IRC clients, for
 people who have an IRC client running all the time and don't want to run an
diff --git a/gnu/packages/mp3.scm b/gnu/packages/mp3.scm
index f030e5b18e..6412dce16d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/mp3.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/mp3.scm
@@ -66,12 +66,13 @@
    (build-system gnu-build-system)
    (arguments
     `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'remove-unsupported-gcc-flags
-        (lambda _
-          ;; remove option that is not supported by gcc any more
-          (substitute* "configure" ((" -fforce-mem") "")))
-       %standard-phases)))
+      (modify-phases %standard-phases
+        (add-before 'configure 'remove-unsupported-gcc-flags
+         (lambda _
+           ;; remove option that is not supported by gcc any more
+           (substitute* "configure" ((" -fforce-mem") ""))
+           #t)
+         %standard-phases))))
    (synopsis "MPEG audio decoder")
    (description
     "MAD (MPEG Audio Decoder) supports MPEG-1 and the MPEG-2 extension to
@@ -123,20 +124,20 @@ versions of ID3v2.")
    (inputs `(("zlib" ,zlib)))
    (arguments
     `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'apply-patches
-        ;; TODO: create a patch for origin instead?
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "configure"
-            (("iomanip.h") "")) ; drop check for unused header
-          ;; see http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/patches/downloads/id3lib/
-          (substitute* "include/id3/id3lib_strings.h"
-            (("include <string>") "include <cstring>\n#include <string>"))
-          (substitute* "include/id3/writers.h"
-            (("//\\#include <string.h>") "#include <cstring>"))
-          (substitute* "examples/test_io.cpp"
-            (("dami;") "dami;\nusing namespace std;")))
-         %standard-phases)))
+      (modify-phases %standard-phases
+        (add-before 'configure 'apply-patches
+          ;; TODO: create a patch for origin instead?
+          (lambda _
+            (substitute* "configure"
+              (("iomanip.h") "")) ; drop check for unused header
+            ;; see http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/patches/downloads/id3lib/
+            (substitute* "include/id3/id3lib_strings.h"
+              (("include <string>") "include <cstring>\n#include <string>"))
+            (substitute* "include/id3/writers.h"
+              (("//\\#include <string.h>") "#include <cstring>"))
+            (substitute* "examples/test_io.cpp"
+              (("dami;") "dami;\nusing namespace std;"))
+            #t)))))
    (synopsis "Library for reading, writing, and manipulating ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags")
    (description
     "Id3lib is a cross-platform software development library for reading,
@@ -194,29 +195,30 @@ Speex, WavPack TrueAudio, WAV, AIFF, MP4 and ASF files.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (outputs '("out" "gui"))                      ;GTK+ interface in "gui"
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                     (substitute* "Makefile"
-                       (("prefix=.*")
-                        (string-append "prefix := " out "\n")))))
-                 (alist-cons-before
-                  'install 'pre-install
-                  (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                      (mkdir-p (string-append out "/bin"))
-                      (mkdir-p (string-append out "/share/man/man1"))))
-                  (alist-cons-after
-                   'install 'post-install
-                   (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                     ;; Move the GTK+ interface to "gui".
-                     (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                           (gui (assoc-ref outputs "gui")))
-                       (mkdir-p (string-append gui "/bin"))
-                       (rename-file (string-append out "/bin/gmp3info")
-                                    (string-append gui "/bin/gmp3info"))))
-                   %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (substitute* "Makefile"
+                 (("prefix=.*")
+                  (string-append "prefix := " out "\n"))))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'install 'pre-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append out "/bin"))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append out "/share/man/man1")))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Move the GTK+ interface to "gui".
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (gui (assoc-ref outputs "gui")))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append gui "/bin"))
+               (rename-file (string-append out "/bin/gmp3info")
+                            (string-append gui "/bin/gmp3info")))
+             #t)))
         #:tests? #f))
     (native-inputs
      `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/music.scm b/gnu/packages/music.scm
index 1c3ac71c26..b11121722c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/music.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/music.scm
@@ -869,60 +869,60 @@ complete studio.")
      `(#:tests? #f ; xmllint attempts to download DTD
        #:test-target "test"
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'fix-configuration
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (substitute* "default.config"
-            (("csound=csound")
-             (string-append "csound="
-                            (assoc-ref inputs "csound")
-                            "/bin/csound"))
-            (("/usr/bin/aplay")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "aplay")
-                            "/bin/aplay"))
-            (("/usr/bin/timidity")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "timidity")
-                            "/bin/timidity"))
-            (("/usr/bin/mpg123")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "mpg123")
-                            "/bin/mpg123"))
-            (("/usr/bin/ogg123")
-             (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "ogg123")
-                            "/bin/ogg123"))))
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'build 'patch-python-shebangs
-         (lambda _
-           ;; Two python scripts begin with a Unicode BOM, so patch-shebang
-           ;; has no effect.
-           (substitute* '("solfege/parsetree.py"
-                          "solfege/presetup.py")
-             (("#!/usr/bin/python") (string-append "#!" (which "python")))))
-         (alist-cons-before
-          'build 'add-sitedirs
-          ;; .pth files are not automatically interpreted unless the
-          ;; directories containing them are added as "sites".  The directories
-          ;; are then added to those in the PYTHONPATH.  This is required for
-          ;; the operation of pygtk and pygobject.
-          (lambda _
-            (substitute* "run-solfege.py"
-              (("import os")
-               "import os, site
-for path in [path for path in sys.path if 'site-packages' in path]: site.addsitedir(path)")))
-          (alist-cons-before
-           'build 'adjust-config-file-prefix
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'fix-configuration
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* "default.config"
+               (("csound=csound")
+                (string-append "csound="
+                               (assoc-ref inputs "csound")
+                               "/bin/csound"))
+               (("/usr/bin/aplay")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "aplay")
+                               "/bin/aplay"))
+               (("/usr/bin/timidity")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "timidity")
+                               "/bin/timidity"))
+               (("/usr/bin/mpg123")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "mpg123")
+                               "/bin/mpg123"))
+               (("/usr/bin/ogg123")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "ogg123")
+                               "/bin/ogg123")))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'patch-python-shebangs
+           (lambda _
+             ;; Two python scripts begin with a Unicode BOM, so patch-shebang
+             ;; has no effect.
+             (substitute* '("solfege/parsetree.py"
+                            "solfege/presetup.py")
+               (("#!/usr/bin/python") (string-append "#!" (which "python"))))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'add-sitedirs
+           ;; .pth files are not automatically interpreted unless the
+           ;; directories containing them are added as "sites".  The directories
+           ;; are then added to those in the PYTHONPATH.  This is required for
+           ;; the operation of pygtk and pygobject.
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "run-solfege.py"
+               (("import os")
+                "import os, site
+for path in [path for path in sys.path if 'site-packages' in path]: site.addsitedir(path)"))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'adjust-config-file-prefix
            (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
              (substitute* "run-solfege.py"
                (("prefix = os.path.*$")
-                (string-append "prefix = " (assoc-ref outputs "out")))))
-           (alist-cons-after
-            'install 'wrap-program
-            (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-              ;; Make sure 'solfege' runs with the correct PYTHONPATH.
-              (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                     (path (getenv "PYTHONPATH")))
-                (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/solfege")
-                  `("PYTHONPATH" ":" prefix (,path)))))
-            %standard-phases)))))))
+                (string-append "prefix = " (assoc-ref outputs "out"))))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'wrap-program
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Make sure 'solfege' runs with the correct PYTHONPATH.
+             (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (path (getenv "PYTHONPATH")))
+               (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/solfege")
+                 `("PYTHONPATH" ":" prefix (,path))))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("python" ,python-2)
        ("pygtk" ,python2-pygtk)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/noweb.scm b/gnu/packages/noweb.scm
index be90e2dc64..0954e79952 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/noweb.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/noweb.scm
@@ -35,47 +35,46 @@
                "10hdd6mrk26kyh4bnng4ah5h1pnanhsrhqa7qwqy6dyv3rng44y9"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'install 'pre-install
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                     (mkdir-p (string-append out "/share/texmf/tex/latex"))
-                     #t))
-                 (alist-cons-after
-                  'install 'post-install
-                  (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                          (cu  (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils"))
-                          (du  (assoc-ref inputs "diffutils")))
-                      (with-directory-excursion out
-                        (for-each (lambda (prog)
-                                    (substitute* prog
-                                      (("nawk") (which "awk"))))
-                                  (append (map (lambda (x)
-                                                 (string-append "bin/" x))
-                                               '("noweb" "nountangle"
-                                                 "noroots" "noroff"
-                                                 "noindex"))
-                                          (map (lambda (x)
-                                                 (string-append "lib/" x))
-                                               '("btdefn" "emptydefn" "noidx"
-                                                 "pipedocs" "toascii" "tohtml"
-                                                 "toroff" "totex" "unmarkup"))))
-                        (substitute* "bin/cpif"
-                          (("^PATH=.*$")
-                           (string-append "PATH=" cu "/bin:" du "/bin\n"))))
-                      #t))
-                  (alist-replace
-                   'configure
-                   (lambda _
-                     ;; Jump in the source.
-                     (chdir "src")
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'install 'pre-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (mkdir-p (string-append out "/share/texmf/tex/latex"))
+               #t)))
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (cu  (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils"))
+                   (du  (assoc-ref inputs "diffutils")))
+               (with-directory-excursion out
+                 (for-each (lambda (prog)
+                             (substitute* prog
+                               (("nawk") (which "awk"))))
+                           (append (map (lambda (x)
+                                          (string-append "bin/" x))
+                                        '("noweb" "nountangle"
+                                          "noroots" "noroff"
+                                          "noindex"))
+                                   (map (lambda (x)
+                                          (string-append "lib/" x))
+                                        '("btdefn" "emptydefn" "noidx"
+                                          "pipedocs" "toascii" "tohtml"
+                                          "toroff" "totex" "unmarkup"))))
+                 (substitute* "bin/cpif"
+                   (("^PATH=.*$")
+                    (string-append "PATH=" cu "/bin:" du "/bin\n"))))
+               #t)))
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda _
+             ;; Jump in the source.
+             (chdir "src")
 
-                     ;; The makefile reads "source: FAQ", but FAQ isn't
-                     ;; available.
-                     (substitute* "Makefile"
-                       (("FAQ") "")))
-                   %standard-phases)))
+             ;; The makefile reads "source: FAQ", but FAQ isn't
+             ;; available.
+             (substitute* "Makefile"
+               (("FAQ") ""))
+             #t)))
        #:make-flags (let ((out (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
                       (list (string-append "BIN=" out "/bin")
                             (string-append "LIB=" out "/lib")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/patchutils.scm b/gnu/packages/patchutils.scm
index 42da56194c..f527231aa8 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/patchutils.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/patchutils.scm
@@ -53,30 +53,31 @@
     (inputs `(("perl" ,perl)))
     (arguments
      '(#:parallel-tests? #f
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'check 'patch-test-scripts
-                 (lambda _
-                   (let ((echo (which "echo")))
-                     (substitute*
-                         (find-files "tests" "^run-test$")
-                       (("/bin/echo") echo))))
-                 (alist-cons-after
-                  'install 'wrap-program
-                  ;; Point installed scripts to the utilities they need.
-                  (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    (let* ((out       (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                           (diffutils (assoc-ref inputs "diffutils"))
-                           (sed       (assoc-ref inputs "sed"))
-                           (gawk      (assoc-ref inputs "gawk")))
-                      (for-each
-                       (lambda (prog)
-                         (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/" prog)
-                                       `("PATH" ":" prefix
-                                         ,(map (lambda (dir)
-                                                 (string-append dir "/bin"))
-                                               (list diffutils sed gawk)))))
-                       '("dehtmldiff" "editdiff" "espdiff"))))
-                  %standard-phases))))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'patch-test-scripts
+           (lambda _
+             (let ((echo (which "echo")))
+               (substitute*
+                   (find-files "tests" "^run-test$")
+                 (("/bin/echo") echo)))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'wrap-program
+           ;; Point installed scripts to the utilities they need.
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out       (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (diffutils (assoc-ref inputs "diffutils"))
+                    (sed       (assoc-ref inputs "sed"))
+                    (gawk      (assoc-ref inputs "gawk")))
+               (for-each
+                (lambda (prog)
+                  (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/" prog)
+                    `("PATH" ":" prefix
+                      ,(map (lambda (dir)
+                              (string-append dir "/bin"))
+                            (list diffutils sed gawk)))))
+                '("dehtmldiff" "editdiff" "espdiff")))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://cyberelk.net/tim/software/patchutils")
     (synopsis "Collection of tools for manipulating patch files")
     (description
@@ -105,39 +106,39 @@ listing the files modified by a patch.")
               ("ed" ,ed)))
     (arguments
      '(#:parallel-tests? #f
-       #:phases 
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'check 'patch-tests
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute*
-              '("test/run"
-                "test/edit.test") 
-            (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
-          ;; TODO: Run the mail tests once the mail feature can be supported.
-          (delete-file "test/mail.test"))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install 'wrap-program
-         ;; quilt's configure checks for the absolute path to the utilities it
-         ;; needs, but uses only the name when invoking them, so we need to
-         ;; make sure the quilt script can find those utilities when run.
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let* ((out       (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                  (coreutils (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils"))
-                  (diffutils (assoc-ref inputs "diffutils"))
-                  (findutils (assoc-ref inputs "findutils"))
-                  (less      (assoc-ref inputs "less"))
-                  (file      (assoc-ref inputs "file"))
-                  (ed        (assoc-ref inputs "ed"))
-                  (sed       (assoc-ref inputs "sed"))
-                  (bash      (assoc-ref inputs "bash"))
-                  (grep      (assoc-ref inputs "grep")))
-             (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/quilt")
-                           `("PATH" ":" prefix
-                             ,(map (lambda (dir)
-                                     (string-append dir "/bin"))
-                                   (list coreutils diffutils findutils
-                                         less file ed sed bash grep))))))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'patch-tests
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute*
+                 '("test/run"
+                   "test/edit.test") 
+               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+             ;; TODO: Run the mail tests once the mail feature can be supported.
+             (delete-file "test/mail.test")
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'wrap-program
+           ;; quilt's configure checks for the absolute path to the utilities it
+           ;; needs, but uses only the name when invoking them, so we need to
+           ;; make sure the quilt script can find those utilities when run.
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let* ((out       (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (coreutils (assoc-ref inputs "coreutils"))
+                    (diffutils (assoc-ref inputs "diffutils"))
+                    (findutils (assoc-ref inputs "findutils"))
+                    (less      (assoc-ref inputs "less"))
+                    (file      (assoc-ref inputs "file"))
+                    (ed        (assoc-ref inputs "ed"))
+                    (sed       (assoc-ref inputs "sed"))
+                    (bash      (assoc-ref inputs "bash"))
+                    (grep      (assoc-ref inputs "grep")))
+               (wrap-program (string-append out "/bin/quilt")
+                 `("PATH" ":" prefix
+                   ,(map (lambda (dir)
+                           (string-append dir "/bin"))
+                         (list coreutils diffutils findutils
+                               less file ed sed bash grep)))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/quilt/")
     (synopsis "Script for managing patches to software")
     (description
@@ -164,8 +165,9 @@ refreshed, and more.")
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "DESTDIR=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out"))
                           "INSTALL_DIR=/bin" "MAN_DIR=/share/man/man1")
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure
-                     (alist-delete 'build %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (delete 'configure)
+         (delete 'build))))
     (inputs
      `(("perl" ,perl)
        ("xmlto" ,xmlto)))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/pdf.scm b/gnu/packages/pdf.scm
index 1ee4b819f9..98df90e2d4 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/pdf.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/pdf.scm
@@ -300,19 +300,19 @@ reading and editing of existing PDF files.")
                              (assoc-ref %build-inputs "freetype")
                              "/include/freetype2"))
       #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'install
-        (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys #:rest args)
-         (let* ((install (assoc-ref %standard-phases 'install))
-                (out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                (xpdfrc (string-append out "/etc/xpdfrc"))
-                (gs-fonts (assoc-ref inputs "gs-fonts")))
-               (apply install args)
-               (substitute* xpdfrc
+      (modify-phases %standard-phases
+        (replace 'install
+          (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys #:rest args)
+            (let* ((install (assoc-ref %standard-phases 'install))
+                   (out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (xpdfrc (string-append out "/etc/xpdfrc"))
+                   (gs-fonts (assoc-ref inputs "gs-fonts")))
+              (apply install args)
+              (substitute* xpdfrc
                 (("/usr/local/share/ghostscript/fonts")
                  (string-append gs-fonts "/share/fonts/type1/ghostscript"))
-                (("#fontFile") "fontFile"))))
-        %standard-phases)))
+                (("#fontFile") "fontFile")))
+            #t)))))
    (synopsis "Viewer for PDF files based on the Motif toolkit")
    (description
     "Xpdf is a viewer for Portable Document Format (PDF) files.")
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ reading and editing of existing PDF files.")
                           "CC=gcc")
        #:tests? #f ; Package does not contain tests.
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "https://pwmt.org/projects/zathura-cb/")
     (synopsis "Comic book support for zathura (libarchive backend)")
     (description "The zathura-cb plugin adds comic book support to zathura
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ using libarchive.")
                           "CC=gcc")
        #:tests? #f ; Package does not contain tests.
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "https://pwmt.org/projects/zathura-ps/")
     (synopsis "PS support for zathura (libspectre backend)")
     (description "The zathura-ps plugin adds PS support to zathura
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ using libspectre.")
                           "CC=gcc")
        #:tests? #f ; Package does not contain tests.
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "https://pwmt.org/projects/zathura-djvu/")
     (synopsis "DjVu support for zathura (DjVuLibre backend)")
     (description "The zathura-djvu plugin adds DjVu support to zathura
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ using the DjVuLibre library.")
                           "CC=gcc")
        #:tests? #f ; Package does not include tests.
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "https://pwmt.org/projects/zathura-pdf-poppler/")
     (synopsis "PDF support for zathura (poppler backend)")
     (description "The zathura-pdf-poppler plugin adds PDF support to zathura
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ by using the poppler rendering engine.")
        #:tests? #f ; Tests fail: "Gtk cannot open display".
        #:test-target "test"
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (home-page "https://pwmt.org/projects/zathura/")
     (synopsis "Lightweight keyboard-driven PDF viewer")
     (description "Zathura is a customizable document viewer.  It provides a
@@ -510,14 +510,14 @@ interaction.")
      `(#:configure-flags '("-DPODOFO_BUILD_SHARED=ON"
                            "-DPODOFO_BUILD_STATIC=ON")
        #:phases
-         (alist-cons-before
-         'configure 'patch
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let ((freetype (assoc-ref inputs "freetype")))
-             ;; Look for freetype include files in the correct place.
-             (substitute* "cmake/modules/FindFREETYPE.cmake"
-               (("/usr/local") freetype))))
-         %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'patch
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((freetype (assoc-ref inputs "freetype")))
+               ;; Look for freetype include files in the correct place.
+               (substitute* "cmake/modules/FindFREETYPE.cmake"
+                 (("/usr/local") freetype)))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://podofo.sourceforge.net")
     (synopsis "Tools to work with the PDF file format")
     (description
@@ -763,12 +763,13 @@ the PDF pages.")
                 "0bw224vb7jh0lrqaf4jgxk48xglvxs674qcpj5y0axyfbh896cfk"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-      '(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                  'unpack 'patch-ldconfig
-                  (lambda _
-                   (substitute* "mk/Autoconf.mk"
-                    (("/sbin/ldconfig -p") "echo lib")) #t)
-                  (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'patch-ldconfig
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "mk/Autoconf.mk"
+               (("/sbin/ldconfig -p") "echo lib")) #t))
+         (delete 'configure))
         #:tests? #f
         #:make-flags (list "CC=gcc"
                            (string-append "prefix=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/perl.scm b/gnu/packages/perl.scm
index 09d6798177..e8e6d64cd3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/perl.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/perl.scm
@@ -3166,11 +3166,9 @@ at the end of the scope.")
     (build-system perl-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'cd
-        (lambda* _
-         (chdir "List"))
-       %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'cd
+           (lambda _ (chdir "List") #t)))))
     (license (package-license perl))
     (synopsis "Perl extension for crawling directory trees and compiling
 lists of files")
@@ -7342,16 +7340,17 @@ contents of a file is equal to a particular string.")
          "0chiqnzmna2mglm37nzxvn9qhq2j31iwz3i9isqjs7bf3k449gb9"))))
     (build-system perl-build-system)
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'check 'patch-test
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; This test looks for "#!/usr/bin/perl" in some source.
-                   ;; Patch what the test looks for.
-                   (substitute* "t/source.t"
-                     (("#!/usr/bin/perl")
-                      (string-append "#!" (assoc-ref inputs "perl")
-                                     "/bin/perl"))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'patch-test
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; This test looks for "#!/usr/bin/perl" in some source.
+             ;; Patch what the test looks for.
+             (substitute* "t/source.t"
+               (("#!/usr/bin/perl")
+                (string-append "#!" (assoc-ref inputs "perl")
+                               "/bin/perl")))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://search.cpan.org/dist/Test-Harness")
     (synopsis "Run Perl standard test scripts with statistics")
     (description "Simple test harness which allows tests to be run and results
diff --git a/gnu/packages/photo.scm b/gnu/packages/photo.scm
index f5e43af4f4..c1b196f438 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/photo.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/photo.scm
@@ -152,13 +152,14 @@ from digital cameras.")
        ("libexif" ,libexif)
        ("libgphoto2" ,libgphoto2)))
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'check 'pre-check
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (substitute* (find-files "tests/data" "\\.param$")
-                     (("/usr/bin/env")
-                      (which "env"))))
-                 %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'pre-check
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (substitute* (find-files "tests/data" "\\.param$")
+               (("/usr/bin/env")
+                (which "env")))
+             #t)))
 
        ;; FIXME: There are 2 test failures, most likely related to the build
        ;; environment.
diff --git a/gnu/packages/popt.scm b/gnu/packages/popt.scm
index 4978ea7290..9c125dcc4f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/popt.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/popt.scm
@@ -66,14 +66,15 @@ line syntax.")
                "1j2c61nn2n351nhj4d25mnf3vpiddcykq005w2h6kw79dwlysa77"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'patch-test
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute* "test-poptrc.in"
-                     (("/bin/echo") (which "echo")))
-                   (substitute* "testit.sh"   ; don't expect old libtool names
-                     (("lt-test1") "test1")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'patch-test
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "test-poptrc.in"
+               (("/bin/echo") (which "echo")))
+             (substitute* "testit.sh"   ; don't expect old libtool names
+               (("lt-test1") "test1"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://rpm5.org/files/popt/")
     (synopsis "Command line option parsing library")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/pretty-print.scm b/gnu/packages/pretty-print.scm
index 9de2819749..e971930035 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/pretty-print.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/pretty-print.scm
@@ -205,22 +205,23 @@ to @code{IOStreams}.")
        (list (string-append "--with-boost="
                             (assoc-ref %build-inputs "boost")))
        #:parallel-tests? #f             ;There appear to be race conditions
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'check 'patch-test-files
-                 (lambda _
-                   ;; Unpatch shebangs in test input so that source-highlight
-                   ;; is still able to infer input language
-                   (substitute* '("tests/test.sh"
-                                  "tests/test2.sh"
-                                  "tests/test.tcl")
-                     (((string-append "#! *" (which "sh"))) "#!/bin/sh"))
-                   ;; Initial patching unrecoverably removes whitespace, so
-                   ;; remove it also in the comparison output.
-                   (substitute* '("tests/test.sh.html"
-                                  "tests/test2.sh.html"
-                                  "tests/test.tcl.html")
-                     (("#! */bin/sh") "#!/bin/sh")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'patch-test-files
+           (lambda _
+             ;; Unpatch shebangs in test input so that source-highlight
+             ;; is still able to infer input language
+             (substitute* '("tests/test.sh"
+                            "tests/test2.sh"
+                            "tests/test.tcl")
+               (((string-append "#! *" (which "sh"))) "#!/bin/sh"))
+             ;; Initial patching unrecoverably removes whitespace, so
+             ;; remove it also in the comparison output.
+             (substitute* '("tests/test.sh.html"
+                            "tests/test2.sh.html"
+                            "tests/test.tcl.html")
+               (("#! */bin/sh") "#!/bin/sh"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/src-highlite/")
     (synopsis "Produce a document with syntax highlighting from a source file")
     (description
@@ -292,22 +293,22 @@ highlighting.  Language definitions and color themes are customizable.")
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "prefix=" %output)
                           "INSTALL=install"
                           "all")
-       #:phases (alist-replace
-                 'configure
-                 (lambda _ (chdir "build/gcc"))
-                 (alist-cons-after
-                  'install 'install-libs
-                  (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                    ;; Libraries are not installed by default
-                    (let* ((output (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                           (libdir (string-append output "/lib")))
-                      (begin
-                        (mkdir-p libdir)
-                        (for-each (lambda (l)
-                                    (copy-file
-                                     l (string-append libdir "/" (basename l))))
-                                  (find-files "bin" "lib*")))))
-                  %standard-phases))))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda _ (chdir "build/gcc") #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'install-libs
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Libraries are not installed by default
+             (let* ((output (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                    (libdir (string-append output "/lib")))
+               (begin
+                 (mkdir-p libdir)
+                 (for-each (lambda (l)
+                             (copy-file
+                              l (string-append libdir "/" (basename l))))
+                           (find-files "bin" "lib*"))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://astyle.sourceforge.net/")
     (synopsis "Source code indenter, formatter, and beautifier")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/pumpio.scm b/gnu/packages/pumpio.scm
index a74d474368..e89418b6b1 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/pumpio.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/pumpio.scm
@@ -42,22 +42,23 @@
               (file-name (string-append name "-" version "-checkout"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Fix dependency tests.
-                   (substitute* "pumpa.pro"
-                     (("/usr/include/tidy\\.h")
-                      (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "tidy")
-                                     "/include/tidy.h"))
-                     (("/usr/include/aspell.h")
-                      (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "aspell")
-                                     "/include/aspell.h")))
-                   ;; Run qmake with proper installation prefix.
-                   (let ((prefix (string-append "PREFIX="
-                                                (assoc-ref outputs "out"))))
-                     (zero? (system* "qmake" prefix))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Fix dependency tests.
+             (substitute* "pumpa.pro"
+               (("/usr/include/tidy\\.h")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "tidy")
+                               "/include/tidy.h"))
+               (("/usr/include/aspell.h")
+                (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "aspell")
+                               "/include/aspell.h")))
+             ;; Run qmake with proper installation prefix.
+             (let ((prefix (string-append "PREFIX="
+                                          (assoc-ref outputs "out"))))
+               (zero? (system* "qmake" prefix)))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("aspell" ,aspell)
        ("qtbase" ,qtbase)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/python.scm b/gnu/packages/python.scm
index 223a308fb4..86fd00d4fa 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/python.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/python.scm
@@ -485,11 +485,10 @@ pidof, tty, taskset, pmap.")
      `(("python-py-bcrypt" ,python-py-bcrypt)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'check 'set-PYTHON_EGG_CACHE
-        ;; some tests require access to "$HOME/.cython"
-        (lambda* _ (setenv "PYTHON_EGG_CACHE" "/tmp"))
-         %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'set-PYTHON_EGG_CACHE
+           ;; some tests require access to "$HOME/.cython"
+           (lambda* _ (setenv "PYTHON_EGG_CACHE" "/tmp") #t)))))
     (home-page "https://bitbucket.org/ecollins/passlib")
     (synopsis
      "Comprehensive password hashing framework")
@@ -1079,12 +1078,10 @@ multiple Unicode code points, e.g. \"G\" + acute-accent)
        ("gmp" ,gmp)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'build 'set-build-env
-        ;; pycrypto runs an autoconf configure script behind the scenes
-        (lambda _
-          (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'set-build-env
+           ;; pycrypto runs an autoconf configure script behind the scenes
+           (lambda _ (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash")) #t)))))
     (home-page "http://www.pycrypto.org/")
     (synopsis "Cryptographic modules for Python")
     (description
@@ -1496,11 +1493,11 @@ other Python program.")
     (build-system python-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:python ,python-2
-       #:phases (alist-replace
-                 'check
-                 (lambda _
-                   (zero? (system* "./test.sh")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'check
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "./test.sh")))))))
     (home-page "http://www.alcyone.com/software/empy/")
     (synopsis "Templating system for Python")
     (description
@@ -4665,10 +4662,10 @@ as the original project seems to have been abandoned circa 2007.")
        ("python-pytest" ,python-pytest)
        ("python-mock"   ,python-mock))) ;for tests
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'check
-                 (lambda _ (zero? (system* "py.test")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'check
+           (lambda _ (zero? (system* "py.test")))))))
     (home-page "http://www.sqlalchemy.org")
     (synopsis "Database abstraction library")
     (description
@@ -8581,10 +8578,10 @@ automatically detect a wide range of file encodings.")
     (native-inputs
      `(("python-pytest" ,python-pytest)))
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'check
-                 (lambda _ (zero? (system* "py.test")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'check
+           (lambda _ (zero? (system* "py.test")))))))
     (home-page "http://docopt.org")
     (synopsis "Command-line interface description language for Python")
     (description "This library allows the user to define a command-line
diff --git a/gnu/packages/rdf.scm b/gnu/packages/rdf.scm
index 6b5cfb013c..fbd8a45ba0 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/rdf.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/rdf.scm
@@ -127,26 +127,26 @@ Java Lucene text search engine API to C++.")
                 "18p2flb2sv2hq6w2qkd29z9c7knnwqr3f12i2srshlzx6vwkm05s"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'remove-out-of-tree-references 'autoreconf
-                 (lambda _
-                   (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vfi")))
-                 (alist-cons-after
-                  'unpack 'remove-out-of-tree-references
-                  (lambda _
-                    ;; remove symlinks to files in /usr/
-                    (delete-file-recursively "m4")
-                    (for-each delete-file '("config.guess"
-                                            "config.sub"
-                                            "depcomp"
-                                            "install-sh"
-                                            "ltmain.sh"
-                                            "missing"))
-                    ;; remove_test depends on an out-of-tree RDF file
-                    (substitute* "examples/Makefile.am"
-                      (("instances_test remove_test") "instances_test")
-                      (("\\$\\(TESTS\\) remove_test") "$(TESTS)")))
-                  %standard-phases))))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'remove-out-of-tree-references 'autoreconf
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vfi"))))
+         (add-after 'unpack 'remove-out-of-tree-references
+           (lambda _
+             ;; remove symlinks to files in /usr/
+             (delete-file-recursively "m4")
+             (for-each delete-file '("config.guess"
+                                     "config.sub"
+                                     "depcomp"
+                                     "install-sh"
+                                     "ltmain.sh"
+                                     "missing"))
+             ;; remove_test depends on an out-of-tree RDF file
+             (substitute* "examples/Makefile.am"
+               (("instances_test remove_test") "instances_test")
+               (("\\$\\(TESTS\\) remove_test") "$(TESTS)"))
+             #t)))))
     (inputs
      `(("raptor" ,raptor2)
        ("cyrus-sasl" ,cyrus-sasl)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/regex.scm b/gnu/packages/regex.scm
index f35d3e63aa..a49fd89bf2 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/regex.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/regex.scm
@@ -85,16 +85,16 @@ Python.  It is a C++ library.")
                 "0n36cgqys59r2gmb7jzbqiwsy790v8nbxk82d2n2saz0rp145ild"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'check 'install-locales
-                 (lambda _
-                   ;; The tests require the availability of the
-                   ;; 'en_US.ISO-8859-1' locale.
-                   (setenv "LOCPATH" (getcwd))
-                   (zero? (system* "localedef" "--no-archive"
-                                   "--prefix" (getcwd) "-i" "en_US"
-                                   "-f" "ISO-8859-1" "./en_US.ISO-8859-1")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'install-locales
+           (lambda _
+             ;; The tests require the availability of the
+             ;; 'en_US.ISO-8859-1' locale.
+             (setenv "LOCPATH" (getcwd))
+             (zero? (system* "localedef" "--no-archive"
+                             "--prefix" (getcwd) "-i" "en_US"
+                             "-f" "ISO-8859-1" "./en_US.ISO-8859-1")))))))
     (synopsis "Approximate regex matching library and agrep utility")
     (description "Superset of the POSIX regex API, enabling approximate
 matching.  Also ships a version of the agrep utility which behaves similar to
diff --git a/gnu/packages/rrdtool.scm b/gnu/packages/rrdtool.scm
index a07d705373..fbb6a3403b 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/rrdtool.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/rrdtool.scm
@@ -53,15 +53,16 @@
     (native-inputs `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)
                      ("groff" ,groff)))
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'pre-configure
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute* "libtool"
-                     (("/bin/sed") (which "sed")))
-                   (substitute* "src/Makefile.in"
-                     (("^rrdcached_LDADD = librrd_th.la")
-                      "rrdcached_LDADD = librrd_th.la -lglib-2.0")))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'pre-configure
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "libtool"
+               (("/bin/sed") (which "sed")))
+             (substitute* "src/Makefile.in"
+               (("^rrdcached_LDADD = librrd_th.la")
+                "rrdcached_LDADD = librrd_th.la -lglib-2.0"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://oss.oetiker.ch/rrdtool/")
     (synopsis "Time-series data storage and display system")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/ruby.scm b/gnu/packages/ruby.scm
index 42a0790522..58549e877d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/ruby.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/ruby.scm
@@ -150,16 +150,16 @@ a focus on simplicity and productivity.")
      `(#:test-target "test"
        #:parallel-tests? #f
        #:phases
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'configure 'replace-bin-sh
-         (lambda _
-           (substitute* '("Makefile.in"
-                          "ext/pty/pty.c"
-                          "io.c"
-                          "lib/mkmf.rb"
-                          "process.c")
-             (("/bin/sh") (which "sh"))))
-         %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'replace-bin-sh
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* '("Makefile.in"
+                            "ext/pty/pty.c"
+                            "io.c"
+                            "lib/mkmf.rb"
+                            "process.c")
+               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+             #t)))))
     (native-search-paths
      (list (search-path-specification
             (variable "GEM_PATH")
@@ -184,16 +184,16 @@ a focus on simplicity and productivity.")
      `(#:test-target "test"
        #:parallel-tests? #f
        #:phases
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'configure 'replace-bin-sh
-         (lambda _
-           (substitute* '("Makefile.in"
-                          "ext/pty/pty.c"
-                          "io.c"
-                          "lib/mkmf.rb"
-                          "process.c")
-             (("/bin/sh") (which "sh"))))
-         %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'replace-bin-sh
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* '("Makefile.in"
+                            "ext/pty/pty.c"
+                            "io.c"
+                            "lib/mkmf.rb"
+                            "process.c")
+               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+             #t)))))))
 
 (define-public ruby-hoe
   (package
diff --git a/gnu/packages/sawfish.scm b/gnu/packages/sawfish.scm
index 535dd8eb06..ebb8c5e1f0 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/sawfish.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/sawfish.scm
@@ -138,31 +138,31 @@ backend of Sawfish.")
     (arguments
      '(#:tests? #f ; no tests
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'patch-exec-rep
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* '("lisp/sawfish/cfg/main.jl.in"
-                         "scripts/sawfish-about.jl.in"
-                         "scripts/sawfish-client.jl"
-                         "scripts/sawfish-menu.jl")
-            (("exec rep") (string-append "exec " (which "rep")))))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install 'wrap-scripts
-         ;; Wrap scripts with REP_DL_LOAD_PATH for finding rep-gtk
-         ;; and sawfish.client.
-         (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (define (wrap-script script)
-             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-               (wrap-program (string-append out script)
-                             `("REP_DL_LOAD_PATH" =
-                               ,(list (getenv "REP_DL_LOAD_PATH")
-                                      (string-append out "/lib/rep"))))))
-           (for-each wrap-script
-                     (list "/bin/sawfish-about"
-                           "/bin/sawfish-client"
-                           "/bin/sawfish-config"
-                           "/lib/sawfish/sawfish-menu")))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'patch-exec-rep
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* '("lisp/sawfish/cfg/main.jl.in"
+                            "scripts/sawfish-about.jl.in"
+                            "scripts/sawfish-client.jl"
+                            "scripts/sawfish-menu.jl")
+               (("exec rep") (string-append "exec " (which "rep"))))
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'install 'wrap-scripts
+           ;; Wrap scripts with REP_DL_LOAD_PATH for finding rep-gtk
+           ;; and sawfish.client.
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (define (wrap-script script)
+               (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+                 (wrap-program (string-append out script)
+                   `("REP_DL_LOAD_PATH" =
+                     ,(list (getenv "REP_DL_LOAD_PATH")
+                            (string-append out "/lib/rep"))))))
+             (for-each wrap-script
+                       (list "/bin/sawfish-about"
+                             "/bin/sawfish-client"
+                             "/bin/sawfish-config"
+                             "/lib/sawfish/sawfish-menu"))
+             #t)))))
     (native-inputs
      `(("gettext"     ,gettext-minimal)
        ("makeinfo"    ,texinfo)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/scheme.scm b/gnu/packages/scheme.scm
index 161138285e..bafc3da332 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/scheme.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/scheme.scm
@@ -417,73 +417,73 @@ implementation techniques and as an expository tool.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'pre-configure
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          ;; Patch dynamically loaded libraries with their absolute paths.
-          (let* ((library-path   (search-path-as-string->list
-                                  (getenv "LIBRARY_PATH")))
-                 (find-so        (lambda (soname)
-                                   (search-path
-                                    library-path
-                                    (format #f "~a.so" soname))))
-                 (patch-ffi-libs (lambda (file libs)
-                                   (for-each
-                                    (lambda (lib)
-                                      (substitute* file
-                                        (((format #f "\"~a\"" lib))
-                                         (format #f "\"~a\"" (find-so lib)))))
-                                    libs))))
-            (substitute* "collects/db/private/sqlite3/ffi.rkt"
-              (("ffi-lib sqlite-so")
-               (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libsqlite3"))))
-            (substitute* "collects/openssl/libssl.rkt"
-              (("ffi-lib libssl-so")
-               (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libssl"))))
-            (substitute* "collects/openssl/libcrypto.rkt"
-              (("ffi-lib libcrypto-so")
-               (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libcrypto"))))
-            (substitute* "share/pkgs/math-lib/math/private/bigfloat/gmp.rkt"
-              (("ffi-lib libgmp-so")
-               (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libgmp"))))
-            (substitute* "share/pkgs/math-lib/math/private/bigfloat/mpfr.rkt"
-              (("ffi-lib libmpfr-so")
-               (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libmpfr"))))
-            (for-each
-             (lambda (x) (apply patch-ffi-libs x))
-             '(("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/cairo-lib.rkt"
-                ("libfontconfig" "libcairo"))
-               ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/glib.rkt"
-                ("libglib-2.0" "libgmodule-2.0" "libgobject-2.0"))
-               ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/jpeg.rkt"
-                ("libjpeg"))
-               ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/pango.rkt"
-                ("libpango-1.0" "libpangocairo-1.0"))
-               ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/png.rkt"
-                ("libpng"))
-               ("share/pkgs/db-lib/db/private/odbc/ffi.rkt"
-                ("libodbc"))
-               ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/x11.rkt"
-                ("libX11"))
-               ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/gsettings.rkt"
-                ("libgio-2.0"))
-               ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/gtk3.rkt"
-                ("libgdk-3" "libgtk-3"))
-               ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/unique.rkt"
-                ("libunique-1.0"))
-               ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/utils.rkt"
-                ("libgdk-x11-2.0" "libgdk_pixbuf-2.0" "libgtk-x11-2.0"))
-               ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/gl-context.rkt"
-                ("libGL"))
-               ("share/pkgs/sgl/gl.rkt"
-                ("libGL" "libGLU")))))
-          (chdir "src"))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'unpack 'patch-/bin/sh
-         (lambda _
-           (substitute* "collects/racket/system.rkt"
-             (("/bin/sh") (which "sh"))))
-         %standard-phases))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'pre-configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Patch dynamically loaded libraries with their absolute paths.
+             (let* ((library-path   (search-path-as-string->list
+                                     (getenv "LIBRARY_PATH")))
+                    (find-so        (lambda (soname)
+                                      (search-path
+                                       library-path
+                                       (format #f "~a.so" soname))))
+                    (patch-ffi-libs (lambda (file libs)
+                                      (for-each
+                                       (lambda (lib)
+                                         (substitute* file
+                                           (((format #f "\"~a\"" lib))
+                                            (format #f "\"~a\"" (find-so lib)))))
+                                       libs))))
+               (substitute* "collects/db/private/sqlite3/ffi.rkt"
+                 (("ffi-lib sqlite-so")
+                  (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libsqlite3"))))
+               (substitute* "collects/openssl/libssl.rkt"
+                 (("ffi-lib libssl-so")
+                  (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libssl"))))
+               (substitute* "collects/openssl/libcrypto.rkt"
+                 (("ffi-lib libcrypto-so")
+                  (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libcrypto"))))
+               (substitute* "share/pkgs/math-lib/math/private/bigfloat/gmp.rkt"
+                 (("ffi-lib libgmp-so")
+                  (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libgmp"))))
+               (substitute* "share/pkgs/math-lib/math/private/bigfloat/mpfr.rkt"
+                 (("ffi-lib libmpfr-so")
+                  (format #f "ffi-lib \"~a\"" (find-so "libmpfr"))))
+               (for-each
+                (lambda (x) (apply patch-ffi-libs x))
+                '(("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/cairo-lib.rkt"
+                   ("libfontconfig" "libcairo"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/glib.rkt"
+                   ("libglib-2.0" "libgmodule-2.0" "libgobject-2.0"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/jpeg.rkt"
+                   ("libjpeg"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/pango.rkt"
+                   ("libpango-1.0" "libpangocairo-1.0"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/draw-lib/racket/draw/unsafe/png.rkt"
+                   ("libpng"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/db-lib/db/private/odbc/ffi.rkt"
+                   ("libodbc"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/x11.rkt"
+                   ("libX11"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/gsettings.rkt"
+                   ("libgio-2.0"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/gtk3.rkt"
+                   ("libgdk-3" "libgtk-3"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/unique.rkt"
+                   ("libunique-1.0"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/utils.rkt"
+                   ("libgdk-x11-2.0" "libgdk_pixbuf-2.0" "libgtk-x11-2.0"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/gui-lib/mred/private/wx/gtk/gl-context.rkt"
+                   ("libGL"))
+                  ("share/pkgs/sgl/gl.rkt"
+                   ("libGL" "libGLU")))))
+             (chdir "src")
+             #t))
+         (add-after 'unpack 'patch-/bin/sh
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "collects/racket/system.rkt"
+               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+             #t)))
        #:tests? #f                                ; XXX: how to run them?
        ))
     (inputs
diff --git a/gnu/packages/sdl.scm b/gnu/packages/sdl.scm
index af598ecb46..ca996e9844 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/sdl.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/sdl.scm
@@ -405,30 +405,30 @@ directory.")
                             (assoc-ref %build-inputs "sdl-union")))
        #:parallel-build? #f ; parallel build fails
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'fix-env-and-patch
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (setenv "GUILE_AUTO_COMPILE" "0")
-          ;; SDL_image needs to dlopen libjpeg in the test suite.
-          (setenv "LD_LIBRARY_PATH"
-                  (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "libjpeg") "/lib"))
-          ;; Change the site directory /site/2.0 like Guile expects.
-          (substitute* "build-aux/guile-baux/re-prefixed-site-dirs"
-            (("\"/site\"") "\"/site/2.0\""))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'fix-env-and-patch
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (setenv "GUILE_AUTO_COMPILE" "0")
+             ;; SDL_image needs to dlopen libjpeg in the test suite.
+             (setenv "LD_LIBRARY_PATH"
+                     (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "libjpeg") "/lib"))
+             ;; Change the site directory /site/2.0 like Guile expects.
+             (substitute* "build-aux/guile-baux/re-prefixed-site-dirs"
+               (("\"/site\"") "\"/site/2.0\""))
 
-          ;; Skip tests that rely on sound support, which is unavailable in
-          ;; the build environment.
-          (substitute* "test/Makefile.in"
-            (("HAVE_MIXER = .*$")
-             "HAVE_MIXER = 0\n")))
-        (alist-cons-before
-         'check 'start-xorg-server
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           ;; The test suite requires a running X server.
-           (system (format #f "~a/bin/Xvfb :1 &"
-                           (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-server")))
-           (setenv "DISPLAY" ":1"))
-         %standard-phases))))
+             ;; Skip tests that rely on sound support, which is unavailable in
+             ;; the build environment.
+             (substitute* "test/Makefile.in"
+               (("HAVE_MIXER = .*$")
+                "HAVE_MIXER = 0\n"))
+             #t))
+         (add-before 'check 'start-xorg-server
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; The test suite requires a running X server.
+             (system (format #f "~a/bin/Xvfb :1 &"
+                             (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-server")))
+             (setenv "DISPLAY" ":1")
+             #t)))))
     (synopsis "Guile interface for SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer)")
     (description "Guile-SDL is a set of bindings to the Simple DirectMedia
 Layer (SDL).  With them, Guile programmers can have easy access to graphics,
diff --git a/gnu/packages/serveez.scm b/gnu/packages/serveez.scm
index 974db86115..871fb00d3b 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/serveez.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/serveez.scm
@@ -40,13 +40,14 @@
     (inputs `(("guile" ,guile-2.0)))
     (arguments
      `(#:configure-flags '("--enable-libserveez-install")
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'patch-source-shebangs 'patch-test-source
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute*
-                       (find-files "test" "^t[0-9]{3}$")
-                     (("/bin/sh") (which "sh"))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'patch-source-shebangs 'patch-test-source
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute*
+                 (find-files "test" "^t[0-9]{3}$")
+               (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/serveez/")
     (synopsis "Framework for implementing IP-based servers")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/skribilo.scm b/gnu/packages/skribilo.scm
index 458d91e569..87dc3558de 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/skribilo.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/skribilo.scm
@@ -46,20 +46,21 @@
                                               (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
                                               "/share/guile/site/2.0"))
 
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'pre-configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; Make sure the 'skribilo' command gets to see
-                   ;; Guile-Reader, even if Guile-Reader is not in the search
-                   ;; path.
-                   (let ((reader (assoc-ref inputs "guile-reader")))
-                     (substitute* "src/skribilo.in"
-                       (("^exec (.*) -c" _ things)
-                        (string-append "exec " things
-                                       " -L " reader "/share/guile/site/2.0"
-                                       " -C " reader "/share/guile/site/2.0"
-                                       " -c")))))
-                 %standard-phases)
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'pre-configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Make sure the 'skribilo' command gets to see
+             ;; Guile-Reader, even if Guile-Reader is not in the search
+             ;; path.
+             (let ((reader (assoc-ref inputs "guile-reader")))
+               (substitute* "src/skribilo.in"
+                 (("^exec (.*) -c" _ things)
+                  (string-append "exec " things
+                                 " -L " reader "/share/guile/site/2.0"
+                                 " -C " reader "/share/guile/site/2.0"
+                                 " -c"))))
+             #t)))
 
        #:parallel-build? #f))
 
diff --git a/gnu/packages/smalltalk.scm b/gnu/packages/smalltalk.scm
index f4a50ded22..a0d6c86dff 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/smalltalk.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/smalltalk.scm
@@ -60,14 +60,15 @@
     (inputs
      `(("zip" ,zip)))
     (arguments
-     `(#:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'fix-libc
-                 (lambda _
-                   (let ((libc (assoc-ref %build-inputs "libc")))
-                     (substitute* "libc.la.in"
-                       (("@LIBC_SO_NAME@") "libc.so")
-                       (("@LIBC_SO_DIR@")  (string-append libc "/lib")))))
-                %standard-phases)))
+     `(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'fix-libc
+           (lambda _
+             (let ((libc (assoc-ref %build-inputs "libc")))
+               (substitute* "libc.la.in"
+                 (("@LIBC_SO_NAME@") "libc.so")
+                 (("@LIBC_SO_DIR@")  (string-append libc "/lib"))))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "http://smalltalk.gnu.org/")
     (synopsis "Smalltalk environment")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/suckless.scm b/gnu/packages/suckless.scm
index 1d3d1d367f..15f4755103 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/suckless.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/suckless.scm
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.")
                                          (assoc-ref %build-inputs "freetype")
                                          "/include/freetype2"))
        #:phases
-       (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("freetype" ,freetype)
        ("libxft" ,libxft)
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ numbers of user-defined menu items efficiently.")
      '(#:tests? #f ; no tests
        #:make-flags (list "CC=gcc"
                           (string-append "PREFIX=" %output))
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))))
     (inputs
      `(("libx11" ,libx11)
        ("libxext" ,libxext)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/tcl.scm b/gnu/packages/tcl.scm
index e0ce6df421..a4129e0899 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/tcl.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/tcl.scm
@@ -114,13 +114,14 @@
                (string-append "--exec-prefix=" out)
                (string-append "--mandir=" out "/share/man")))
 
-       #:phases (alist-cons-before
-                 'configure 'set-path-to-stty
-                 (lambda _
-                   (substitute* "configure"
-                     (("STTY_BIN=/bin/stty")
-                      (string-append "STTY_BIN=" (which "stty")))))
-                 %standard-phases)
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'set-path-to-stty
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "configure"
+               (("STTY_BIN=/bin/stty")
+                (string-append "STTY_BIN=" (which "stty"))))
+             #t)))
 
        #:test-target "test"))
     (home-page "http://expect.nist.gov/")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/telephony.scm b/gnu/packages/telephony.scm
index 5751015260..5df5e9e4ab 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/telephony.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/telephony.scm
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@
                      "0kmgr5w3b1qwzxnsnw94q6rqs0hr8nbv9clf07ca2a2fyypx9kjk"))))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'configure 'pre-configure
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "src/applog.cpp"
-            (("^// TODO sc.*") "#include <sys/types.h>\n#include <sys/stat.h>\n")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'configure 'pre-configure
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "src/applog.cpp"
+               (("^// TODO sc.*") "#include <sys/types.h>\n#include <sys/stat.h>\n"))
+             #t)))))
    (build-system gnu-build-system)
    (synopsis "(u)Common C++ framework for threaded applications")
    (description "GNU Common C++ is an portable, optimized class framework for
diff --git a/gnu/packages/textutils.scm b/gnu/packages/textutils.scm
index 3359ab4845..2007a25d93 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/textutils.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/textutils.scm
@@ -97,15 +97,15 @@ to DOS format and vice versa.")
     (native-inputs `(("python" ,python-2)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'check 'pre-check
-        (lambda _
-          (substitute* "tests/setup.py"
-            (("([[:space:]]*)include_dirs=.*" all space)
-             (string-append all space "library_dirs=['../src/.libs'],\n")))
-          ;; The test extension 'Recode.so' lacks RUNPATH for 'librecode.so'.
-          (setenv "LD_LIBRARY_PATH" (string-append (getcwd) "/src/.libs")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'check 'pre-check
+           (lambda _
+             (substitute* "tests/setup.py"
+               (("([[:space:]]*)include_dirs=.*" all space)
+                (string-append all space "library_dirs=['../src/.libs'],\n")))
+             ;; The test extension 'Recode.so' lacks RUNPATH for 'librecode.so'.
+             (setenv "LD_LIBRARY_PATH" (string-append (getcwd) "/src/.libs"))
+             #t)))))
     (home-page "https://github.com/pinard/Recode")
     (synopsis "Text encoding converter")
     (description "The Recode library converts files between character sets and
@@ -208,10 +208,9 @@ encoding, supporting Unicode version 9.0.0.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'autoreconf
-        (lambda _ (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vif")))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'autoreconf
+           (lambda _ (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vif")))))))
     (native-inputs
      `(("autoconf" ,autoconf)
        ("automake" ,automake)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/time.scm b/gnu/packages/time.scm
index 4d3da87174..58055cd13e 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/time.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/time.scm
@@ -41,16 +41,16 @@
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-replace 'configure
-                      (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                        ;; This old `configure' script doesn't support
-                        ;; variables passed as arguments.
-                        (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                          (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash"))
-                          (zero?
-                           (system* "./configure"
-                                    (string-append "--prefix=" out)))))
-                      %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; This old `configure' script doesn't support
+             ;; variables passed as arguments.
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "bash"))
+               (zero?
+                (system* "./configure"
+                         (string-append "--prefix=" out)))))))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/time/")
     (synopsis "Run a command, then display its resource usage")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/tor.scm b/gnu/packages/tor.scm
index e2123557c1..fee9753673 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/tor.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/tor.scm
@@ -134,13 +134,13 @@ rejects UDP traffic from the application you're using.")
        #:configure-flags (list (string-append "--sysconfdir="
                                               (assoc-ref %outputs "out")
                                               "/etc/privoxy"))
-       #:phases (alist-cons-after
-                 'unpack 'autoconf
-                 (lambda _
-                   ;; Unfortunately, this is not a tarball produced by
-                   ;; "make dist".
-                   (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vfi")))
-                 %standard-phases)
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'autoconf
+           (lambda _
+             ;; Unfortunately, this is not a tarball produced by
+             ;; "make dist".
+             (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vfi")))))
        #:tests? #f))
     (inputs
      `(("w3m" ,w3m)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/uucp.scm b/gnu/packages/uucp.scm
index 7bfe76365f..f5d9c70052 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/uucp.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/uucp.scm
@@ -35,18 +35,18 @@
                 "0b5nhl9vvif1w3wdipjsk8ckw49jj1w85xw1mmqi3zbcpazia306"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-replace
-                 'configure
-                 (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-                   ;; The old 'configure' script doesn't support the arguments
-                   ;; that we pass by default.
-                   (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "sh"))
-                   (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-                     (zero? (system* "./configure"
-                                     (string-append "--prefix=" out)
-                                     (string-append "--infodir=" out
-                                                    "/share/info")))))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+     '(#:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; The old 'configure' script doesn't support the arguments
+             ;; that we pass by default.
+             (setenv "CONFIG_SHELL" (which "sh"))
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (zero? (system* "./configure"
+                               (string-append "--prefix=" out)
+                               (string-append "--infodir=" out
+                                              "/share/info")))))))))
     (home-page "https://www.gnu.org/software/uucp/uucp.html")
     (synopsis "UUCP protocol implementation")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/video.scm b/gnu/packages/video.scm
index f58d9b9eca..48aac3813c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/video.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/video.scm
@@ -1399,11 +1399,10 @@ encapsulated.")
        ("libtool" ,libtool)))
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'unpack 'autoreconf
-        (lambda _
-          (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vif")))
-        %standard-phases)))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'unpack 'autoreconf
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vif")))))))))
 
 (define-public libdvdcss
   (package
diff --git a/gnu/packages/web-browsers.scm b/gnu/packages/web-browsers.scm
index 3e91b4e89b..d401ce31c8 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/web-browsers.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/web-browsers.scm
@@ -165,11 +165,11 @@ features including, tables, builtin image display, bookmarks, SSL and more.")
            "--enable-nls"
            "--enable-ipv6"))
        #:tests? #f  ; no check target
-       #:phases (alist-replace
-                 'install
-                 (lambda* (#:key (make-flags '()) #:allow-other-keys)
-                   (zero? (apply system* "make" "install-full" make-flags)))
-                 %standard-phases)))
+       #:phases
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'install
+           (lambda* (#:key (make-flags '()) #:allow-other-keys)
+             (zero? (apply system* "make" "install-full" make-flags)))))))
     (synopsis "Text Web Browser")
     (description
      "Lynx is a fully-featured World Wide Web (WWW) client for users running
diff --git a/gnu/packages/web.scm b/gnu/packages/web.scm
index 6c9316a401..c008d8f323 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/web.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/web.scm
@@ -677,14 +677,13 @@ used to validate and fix HTML data.")
         ;; For the log file, etc.
         "--localstatedir=/var")
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'build 'pre-build
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys #:rest args)
-          ;; Uncommenting the next two lines may assist in debugging
-          ;; (substitute* "docs/man5/Makefile" (("a2x") "a2x -v"))
-          ;; (setenv "XML_DEBUG_CATALOG" "1")
-          #t)
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'pre-build
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys #:rest args)
+             ;; Uncommenting the next two lines may assist in debugging
+             ;; (substitute* "docs/man5/Makefile" (("a2x") "a2x -v"))
+             ;; (setenv "XML_DEBUG_CATALOG" "1")
+             #t)))))
     ;; All of the below are used to generate the documentation
     ;; (Should they be propagated inputs of asciidoc ??)
     (native-inputs `(("asciidoc" ,asciidoc)))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/wicd.scm b/gnu/packages/wicd.scm
index 9de956c6ff..4b03c07bc4 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/wicd.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/wicd.scm
@@ -71,123 +71,121 @@
        ;; we can't easily make setup.py use setuptools.
        #:use-setuptools? #f
        #:phases
-       (alist-cons-before
-        'build 'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                (python (assoc-ref inputs "python")))
-            (define (which* cmd)
-              (cond ((string=? cmd "ping")
-                     "/run/setuid-programs/ping")
-                    ((which cmd)
-                     => identity)
-                    (else
-                     (format (current-error-port)
-                             "WARNING: Unable to find absolute path for ~s~%"
-                             cmd)
-                     #f)))
-            (substitute* "setup.py"
-              ;; The handling of unrecognized distros in setup.py is
-              ;; broken.  Work around the problem.
-              (("\\('init=', " all)
-               (string-append "#" all))
-              ;; Inhibit attempts to install in /var or /etc.
-              (("\\(wpath\\.(log|etc|networks|.*scripts), " all)
-               (string-append "#" all)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-before 'build 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (python (assoc-ref inputs "python")))
+               (define (which* cmd)
+                 (cond ((string=? cmd "ping")
+                        "/run/setuid-programs/ping")
+                       ((which cmd)
+                        => identity)
+                       (else
+                        (format (current-error-port)
+                                "WARNING: Unable to find absolute path for ~s~%"
+                                cmd)
+                        #f)))
+               (substitute* "setup.py"
+                 ;; The handling of unrecognized distros in setup.py is
+                 ;; broken.  Work around the problem.
+                 (("\\('init=', " all)
+                  (string-append "#" all))
+                 ;; Inhibit attempts to install in /var or /etc.
+                 (("\\(wpath\\.(log|etc|networks|.*scripts), " all)
+                  (string-append "#" all)))
 
-            ;; Patch references to subprograms with absolute pathnames.
-            (substitute* "wicd/wnettools.py"
-              (("(misc\\.Run\\(\\[?[\"'])([^\"' ]*)" all pre cmd)
-               (string-append pre (which* cmd)))
-              (("(self\\._find_program_path|misc\\.find_path)\\([\"']([^\"']*)[\"']\\)"
-                all dummy cmd)
-               (let ((pathname (which* cmd)))
-                 (if pathname
-                     (string-append "'" pathname "'")
-                     "None")))
-              (("([\"'])(ifconfig|route|wpa_cli|wpa_supplicant|iwconfig|iwpriv|iwlist|ping)"
-                all open-quote cmd)
-               (string-append open-quote (which* cmd))))
+               ;; Patch references to subprograms with absolute pathnames.
+               (substitute* "wicd/wnettools.py"
+                 (("(misc\\.Run\\(\\[?[\"'])([^\"' ]*)" all pre cmd)
+                  (string-append pre (which* cmd)))
+                 (("(self\\._find_program_path|misc\\.find_path)\\([\"']([^\"']*)[\"']\\)"
+                   all dummy cmd)
+                  (let ((pathname (which* cmd)))
+                    (if pathname
+                        (string-append "'" pathname "'")
+                        "None")))
+                 (("([\"'])(ifconfig|route|wpa_cli|wpa_supplicant|iwconfig|iwpriv|iwlist|ping)"
+                   all open-quote cmd)
+                  (string-append open-quote (which* cmd))))
 
-            ;; setup.py cannot cope without LANG
-            (setenv "LANG" "C")
+               ;; setup.py cannot cope without LANG
+               (setenv "LANG" "C")
 
-            (let ((params
-                   (list
-                    (string-append "--python=" python "/bin/python")
-                    "--no-install-init"
-                    "--no-install-docs"
-                    "--no-install-acpi"
-                    "--no-install-pmutils"
-                    "--no-install-kde"
-                    "--no-install-gnome-shell-extensions"
+               (let ((params
+                      (list
+                       (string-append "--python=" python "/bin/python")
+                       "--no-install-init"
+                       "--no-install-docs"
+                       "--no-install-acpi"
+                       "--no-install-pmutils"
+                       "--no-install-kde"
+                       "--no-install-gnome-shell-extensions"
 
-                    "--distro=guixsd"
-                    "--wicdgroup=netdev"
-                    "--loggroup=root"
-                    "--logperms=0640"
+                       "--distro=guixsd"
+                       "--wicdgroup=netdev"
+                       "--loggroup=root"
+                       "--logperms=0640"
 
-                    ;; XXX setup.py configure asks us to pass --init=,
-                    ;; but if we do it says "no such option 'init'".
-                    ;; (string-append "--init=" out "/etc/init.d")
+                       ;; XXX setup.py configure asks us to pass --init=,
+                       ;; but if we do it says "no such option 'init'".
+                       ;; (string-append "--init=" out "/etc/init.d")
 
-                    (string-append "--initfile=" out "/etc/init.d/wicd")
-                    (string-append "--lib=" out "/lib/wicd")
-                    (string-append "--share=" out "/share/wicd")
+                       (string-append "--initfile=" out "/etc/init.d/wicd")
+                       (string-append "--lib=" out "/lib/wicd")
+                       (string-append "--share=" out "/share/wicd")
 
-                    "--etc=/etc/wicd"
-                    "--scripts=/etc/wicd/scripts"
-                    "--pmutils=/etc/pm-utils/sleep.d"
+                       "--etc=/etc/wicd"
+                       "--scripts=/etc/wicd/scripts"
+                       "--pmutils=/etc/pm-utils/sleep.d"
 
-                    (string-append "--encryption="
-                                   out "/etc/encryption/templates")
-                    (string-append "--bin=" out "/bin")
-                    (string-append "--sbin=" out "/sbin")
-                    (string-append "--daemon=" out "/share/wicd/daemon")
-                    (string-append "--backends=" out "/share/wicd/backends")
-                    (string-append "--curses=" out "/share/wicd/curses")
-                    (string-append "--gtk=" out "/share/wicd/gtk")
-                    (string-append "--cli=" out "/share/wicd/cli")
-                    (string-append "--gnome-shell-extensions="
-                                   out "/share/gnome-shell-extensions")
-                    (string-append "--icons=" out "/share/icons/hicolor")
-                    (string-append "--pixmaps=" out "/share/pixmaps")
-                    (string-append "--images=" out "/share/icons")
-                    (string-append "--dbus=" out "/etc/dbus-1/system.d")
-                    (string-append "--dbus-service="
-                                   out "/share/dbus-1/system-services")
-                    (string-append "--systemd=" out "/lib/systemd/system")
-                    (string-append "--logrotate=" out "/etc/logrotate.d")
-                    (string-append "--desktop=" out "/share/applications")
-                    (string-append "--translations=" out "/share/locale")
-                    (string-append "--autostart=" out "/etc/xdg/autostart")
-                    (string-append "--docdir=" out "/share/doc/wicd")
-                    (string-append "--mandir=" out "/share/man")
-                    (string-append "--kdedir=" out "/share/autostart"))))
-              (format #t
-                      "running ~s with command ~s and parameters ~s~%"
-                      "python setup.py" "configure" params)
-              (zero? (apply system* "python" "setup.py" "configure" params)))))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install 'post-install
-         (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-           (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-             ;; wicd's installer tries to put dhclient.conf.template.default
-             ;; in /etc/wicd/other, which is not available in the build
-             ;; environment, so here we install it manually in the output
-             ;; directory.
-             (let ((dest-dir (string-append out "/etc/wicd"))
-                   (name "dhclient.conf.template.default"))
-               (install-file (string-append "other/" name) dest-dir))
+                       (string-append "--encryption="
+                                      out "/etc/encryption/templates")
+                       (string-append "--bin=" out "/bin")
+                       (string-append "--sbin=" out "/sbin")
+                       (string-append "--daemon=" out "/share/wicd/daemon")
+                       (string-append "--backends=" out "/share/wicd/backends")
+                       (string-append "--curses=" out "/share/wicd/curses")
+                       (string-append "--gtk=" out "/share/wicd/gtk")
+                       (string-append "--cli=" out "/share/wicd/cli")
+                       (string-append "--gnome-shell-extensions="
+                                      out "/share/gnome-shell-extensions")
+                       (string-append "--icons=" out "/share/icons/hicolor")
+                       (string-append "--pixmaps=" out "/share/pixmaps")
+                       (string-append "--images=" out "/share/icons")
+                       (string-append "--dbus=" out "/etc/dbus-1/system.d")
+                       (string-append "--dbus-service="
+                                      out "/share/dbus-1/system-services")
+                       (string-append "--systemd=" out "/lib/systemd/system")
+                       (string-append "--logrotate=" out "/etc/logrotate.d")
+                       (string-append "--desktop=" out "/share/applications")
+                       (string-append "--translations=" out "/share/locale")
+                       (string-append "--autostart=" out "/etc/xdg/autostart")
+                       (string-append "--docdir=" out "/share/doc/wicd")
+                       (string-append "--mandir=" out "/share/man")
+                       (string-append "--kdedir=" out "/share/autostart"))))
+                 (format #t
+                         "running ~s with command ~s and parameters ~s~%"
+                         "python setup.py" "configure" params)
+                 (zero? (apply system* "python" "setup.py" "configure" params))))))
+         (add-after 'install 'post-install
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               ;; wicd's installer tries to put dhclient.conf.template.default
+               ;; in /etc/wicd/other, which is not available in the build
+               ;; environment, so here we install it manually in the output
+               ;; directory.
+               (let ((dest-dir (string-append out "/etc/wicd"))
+                     (name "dhclient.conf.template.default"))
+                 (install-file (string-append "other/" name) dest-dir))
 
-             ;; Copy index.theme from hicolor-icon-theme.  This is needed to
-             ;; allow wicd-gtk to find its icons.
-             (let ((hicolor (assoc-ref inputs "hicolor-icon-theme"))
-                   (name "/share/icons/hicolor/index.theme"))
-               (install-file (string-append hicolor name)
-                             (string-append out "/share/icons/hicolor")))
-             #t))
-         %standard-phases))))
+               ;; Copy index.theme from hicolor-icon-theme.  This is needed to
+               ;; allow wicd-gtk to find its icons.
+               (let ((hicolor (assoc-ref inputs "hicolor-icon-theme"))
+                     (name "/share/icons/hicolor/index.theme"))
+                 (install-file (string-append hicolor name)
+                               (string-append out "/share/icons/hicolor")))
+               #t))))))
     (synopsis "Network connection manager")
     (description "Wicd is a network manager that aims to simplify wired and
 wireless networking.")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/wm.scm b/gnu/packages/wm.scm
index ea35a2873d..8b7e1bda53 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/wm.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/wm.scm
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ nested include statements).")
        ("xcb-util-keysyms" ,xcb-util-keysyms)
        ("xcb-util-wm" ,xcb-util-wm)))
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:tests? #f  ; no check target
        #:make-flags (list "CC=gcc"
                           (string-append "PREFIX=" %output))))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/xdisorg.scm b/gnu/packages/xdisorg.scm
index ce3e7c81eb..5cf7596c00 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/xdisorg.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/xdisorg.scm
@@ -689,7 +689,7 @@ Guile will work for XBindKeys.")
        ("xcb-util-keysyms" ,xcb-util-keysyms)
        ("xcb-util-wm" ,xcb-util-wm)))
     (arguments
-     '(#:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)
+     '(#:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:tests? #f  ; no check target
        #:make-flags (list "CC=gcc"
                           (string-append "PREFIX=" %output))))
@@ -796,7 +796,8 @@ within a single process.")
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:tests? #f ; no check target
-       #:phases (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases) ; no configure script
+       ;; no configure script
+       #:phases (modify-phases %standard-phases (delete 'configure))
        #:make-flags (list (string-append "PREFIX=" (assoc-ref %outputs "out"))
                           "MANDIR=/share/man/man1"
                           "CC=gcc")))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/xfce.scm b/gnu/packages/xfce.scm
index b936dc45d9..7668a1d380 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/xfce.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/xfce.scm
@@ -114,17 +114,17 @@ Xfce Desktop Environment.")
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
        ;; Run check after install phase to test dbus activation.
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'install 'check
-        (lambda _
-          (setenv "HOME" (getenv "TMPDIR")) ; xfconfd requires a writable HOME
-          ;; Run test-suite under a dbus session.
-          (setenv "XDG_DATA_DIRS" ; for finding org.xfce.Xfconf.service
-                  (string-append %output "/share"))
-          ;; For the missing '/etc/machine-id'.
-          (setenv "DBUS_FATAL_WARNINGS" "0");
-          (zero? (system* "dbus-launch" "make" "check")))
-        (alist-delete 'check %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'check
+           (lambda _
+             (setenv "HOME" (getenv "TMPDIR")) ; xfconfd requires a writable HOME
+             ;; Run test-suite under a dbus session.
+             (setenv "XDG_DATA_DIRS" ; for finding org.xfce.Xfconf.service
+                     (string-append %output "/share"))
+             ;; For the missing '/etc/machine-id'.
+             (setenv "DBUS_FATAL_WARNINGS" "0");
+             (zero? (system* "dbus-launch" "make" "check"))))
+         (delete 'check))))
     (native-inputs
      `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)
        ("intltool" ,intltool)))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/xfig.scm b/gnu/packages/xfig.scm
index 2e65000eb7..64ca57028f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/xfig.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/xfig.scm
@@ -159,44 +159,42 @@ selected in various ways.  For text, 35 fonts are available.")
     (arguments
      `(#:tests? #f
        #:phases
-       (alist-replace
-        'configure
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((imake (assoc-ref inputs "imake"))
-                (out   (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-            (substitute* '("fig2dev/Imakefile"
-                           "transfig/Imakefile")
-              (("XCOMM (BINDIR = )[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
-               (string-append front out "/bin"))
-              (("XCOMM USEINLINE") "USEINLINE")
-              ;; The variable name is deceptive.  The directory is used as an
-              ;; installation path for bitmaps.
-              (("(XFIGLIBDIR =[[:blank:]]*)[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
-               (string-append front out "/lib"))
-              (("(XPMLIBDIR = )[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
-               (string-append front (assoc-ref inputs "libxpm") "/lib"))
-              (("(XPMINC = -I)[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
-               (string-append front (assoc-ref inputs "libxpm") "/include/X11"))
-              (("/usr/local/lib/fig2dev") (string-append out "/lib")))
-            ;; The -a argument is required in order to pick up the correct paths
-            ;; to several X header files.
-            (zero? (system* "xmkmf" "-a"))
-            (substitute* '("Makefile"
-                           "fig2dev/Makefile"
-                           "transfig/Makefile")
-              ;; These imake variables somehow remain undefined
-              (("DefaultGcc2[[:graph:]]*Opt") "-O2")
-              ;; Reset a few variable defaults that are set in imake templates
-              ((imake) out)
-              (("(MANPATH = )[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
-               (string-append front out "/share/man"))
-              (("(CONFDIR = )([[:graph:]]*)" _ front default)
-               (string-append front out default)))))
-        (alist-cons-after
-         'install 'install/doc
-         (lambda _
-           (zero? (system* "make" "install.man")))
-         %standard-phases))))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (replace 'configure
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((imake (assoc-ref inputs "imake"))
+                   (out   (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (substitute* '("fig2dev/Imakefile"
+                              "transfig/Imakefile")
+                 (("XCOMM (BINDIR = )[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
+                  (string-append front out "/bin"))
+                 (("XCOMM USEINLINE") "USEINLINE")
+                 ;; The variable name is deceptive.  The directory is used as an
+                 ;; installation path for bitmaps.
+                 (("(XFIGLIBDIR =[[:blank:]]*)[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
+                  (string-append front out "/lib"))
+                 (("(XPMLIBDIR = )[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
+                  (string-append front (assoc-ref inputs "libxpm") "/lib"))
+                 (("(XPMINC = -I)[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
+                  (string-append front (assoc-ref inputs "libxpm") "/include/X11"))
+                 (("/usr/local/lib/fig2dev") (string-append out "/lib")))
+               ;; The -a argument is required in order to pick up the correct paths
+               ;; to several X header files.
+               (zero? (system* "xmkmf" "-a"))
+               (substitute* '("Makefile"
+                              "fig2dev/Makefile"
+                              "transfig/Makefile")
+                 ;; These imake variables somehow remain undefined
+                 (("DefaultGcc2[[:graph:]]*Opt") "-O2")
+                 ;; Reset a few variable defaults that are set in imake templates
+                 ((imake) out)
+                 (("(MANPATH = )[[:graph:]]*" _ front)
+                  (string-append front out "/share/man"))
+                 (("(CONFDIR = )([[:graph:]]*)" _ front default)
+                  (string-append front out default))))))
+         (add-after 'install 'install/doc
+           (lambda _
+             (zero? (system* "make" "install.man")))))))
     (home-page "http://www.xfig.org/")
     (synopsis "Create portable LaTeX figures")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/xorg.scm b/gnu/packages/xorg.scm
index 57ba8a2db0..8554060315 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/xorg.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/xorg.scm
@@ -114,26 +114,25 @@
         ("xproto" ,xproto)))
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
-       (alist-cons-after
-        'install 'install-data
-        (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-          (let ((cf-files (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-cf-files"))
-                (out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-                (unpack (assoc-ref %standard-phases 'unpack))
-                (patch-source-shebangs
-                 (assoc-ref %standard-phases 'patch-source-shebangs)))
-            (mkdir "xorg-cf-files")
-            (with-directory-excursion "xorg-cf-files"
-              (apply unpack (list #:source cf-files))
-              (apply patch-source-shebangs (list #:source cf-files))
-              (substitute* '("mingw.cf" "Imake.tmpl" "nto.cf" "os2.cf"
-                             "linux.cf" "Amoeba.cf" "cygwin.cf")
-                (("/bin/sh") (which "bash")))
-              (and (zero? (system* "./configure"
-                                   (string-append "SHELL=" (which "bash"))
-                                   (string-append "--prefix=" out)))
-                   (zero? (system* "make" "install"))))))
-        %standard-phases)))
+       (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         (add-after 'install 'install-data
+           (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             (let ((cf-files (assoc-ref inputs "xorg-cf-files"))
+                   (out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+                   (unpack (assoc-ref %standard-phases 'unpack))
+                   (patch-source-shebangs
+                    (assoc-ref %standard-phases 'patch-source-shebangs)))
+               (mkdir "xorg-cf-files")
+               (with-directory-excursion "xorg-cf-files"
+                 (apply unpack (list #:source cf-files))
+                 (apply patch-source-shebangs (list #:source cf-files))
+                 (substitute* '("mingw.cf" "Imake.tmpl" "nto.cf" "os2.cf"
+                                "linux.cf" "Amoeba.cf" "cygwin.cf")
+                   (("/bin/sh") (which "bash")))
+                 (and (zero? (system* "./configure"
+                                      (string-append "SHELL=" (which "bash"))
+                                      (string-append "--prefix=" out)))
+                      (zero? (system* "make" "install"))))))))))
     (home-page "http://www.x.org")
     (synopsis "Source code configuration and build system")
     (description