[vezzy-fnord]

Also seems ideal for beginners: look up the number of questions on SO asking 'which library to include for xxx.h'

Pretty sure pkg-config can help with that. Don't see why you need SO.

[nightcracker]

Because beginners have no clue what pkg-config is?

[stormbrew]

Also it's the first-step problem of knowing what to ask pkg-config (or any other tool that can tell you). Header file names don't always map to the library or package name.