diff --git a/lib/spack/docs/getting_started.rst b/lib/spack/docs/getting_started.rst
index 25dfc95ee5..9435111c8e 100644
--- a/lib/spack/docs/getting_started.rst
+++ b/lib/spack/docs/getting_started.rst
@@ -478,6 +478,13 @@ prefix, you can add them to the ``extra_attributes`` field. Similarly,
 all other fields from the compilers config can be added to the
 ``extra_attributes`` field for an external representing a compiler.
 
+Note that the format for the ``paths`` field in the
+``extra_attributes`` section is different than in the ``compilers``
+config. For compilers configured as external packages, the section is
+named ``compilers`` and the dictionary maps language names (``c``,
+``cxx``, ``fortran``) to paths, rather than using the names ``cc``,
+``fc``, and ``f77``.
+
 .. code-block:: yaml
 
    packages:
@@ -493,11 +500,10 @@ all other fields from the compilers config can be added to the
        - spec: llvm+clang@15.0.0 arch=linux-rhel8-skylake
          prefix: /usr
          extra_attributes:
-           paths:
-             cc: /usr/bin/clang-with-suffix
+           compilers:
+             c: /usr/bin/clang-with-suffix
              cxx: /usr/bin/clang++-with-extra-info
-             fc: /usr/bin/gfortran
-             f77: /usr/bin/gfortran
+             fortran: /usr/bin/gfortran
            extra_rpaths:
            - /usr/lib/llvm/
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/compiler.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/compiler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d441b57b2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/compiler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+# Copyright 2013-2023 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other
+# Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
+import itertools
+import os
+import pathlib
+import re
+import sys
+from typing import Dict, List, Sequence, Tuple, Union
+
+import llnl.util.tty as tty
+from llnl.util.lang import classproperty
+
+import spack.compiler
+import spack.package_base
+
+# Local "type" for type hints
+Path = Union[str, pathlib.Path]
+
+
+class CompilerPackage(spack.package_base.PackageBase):
+    """A Package mixin for all common logic for packages that implement compilers"""
+
+    # TODO: how do these play nicely with other tags
+    tags: Sequence[str] = ["compiler"]
+
+    #: Optional suffix regexes for searching for this type of compiler.
+    #: Suffixes are used by some frameworks, e.g. macports uses an '-mp-X.Y'
+    #: version suffix for gcc.
+    compiler_suffixes: List[str] = [r"-.*"]
+
+    #: Optional prefix regexes for searching for this compiler
+    compiler_prefixes: List[str] = []
+
+    #: Compiler argument(s) that produces version information
+    #: If multiple arguments, the earlier arguments must produce errors when invalid
+    compiler_version_argument: Union[str, Tuple[str]] = "-dumpversion"
+
+    #: Regex used to extract version from compiler's output
+    compiler_version_regex: str = "(.*)"
+
+    #: Static definition of languages supported by this class
+    compiler_languages: Sequence[str] = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+
+    def __init__(self, spec: "spack.spec.Spec"):
+        super().__init__(spec)
+        msg = f"Supported languages for {spec} are not a subset of possible supported languages"
+        msg += f"    supports: {self.supported_languages}, valid values: {self.compiler_languages}"
+        assert set(self.supported_languages) <= set(self.compiler_languages), msg
+
+    @property
+    def supported_languages(self) -> Sequence[str]:
+        """Dynamic definition of languages supported by this package"""
+        return self.compiler_languages
+
+    @classproperty
+    def compiler_names(cls) -> Sequence[str]:
+        """Construct list of compiler names from per-language names"""
+        names = []
+        for language in cls.compiler_languages:
+            names.extend(getattr(cls, f"{language}_names"))
+        return names
+
+    @classproperty
+    def executables(cls) -> Sequence[str]:
+        """Construct executables for external detection from names, prefixes, and suffixes."""
+        regexp_fmt = r"^({0}){1}({2})$"
+        prefixes = [""] + cls.compiler_prefixes
+        suffixes = [""] + cls.compiler_suffixes
+        if sys.platform == "win32":
+            ext = r"\.(?:exe|bat)"
+            suffixes += [suf + ext for suf in suffixes]
+        return [
+            regexp_fmt.format(prefix, re.escape(name), suffix)
+            for prefix, name, suffix in itertools.product(prefixes, cls.compiler_names, suffixes)
+        ]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_version(cls, exe: Path):
+        version_argument = cls.compiler_version_argument
+        if isinstance(version_argument, str):
+            version_argument = (version_argument,)
+
+        for va in version_argument:
+            try:
+                output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, va)
+                match = re.search(cls.compiler_version_regex, output)
+                if match:
+                    return ".".join(match.groups())
+            except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
+                pass
+            except Exception as e:
+                tty.debug(
+                    f"[{__file__}] Cannot detect a valid version for the executable "
+                    f"{str(exe)}, for package '{cls.name}': {e}"
+                )
+
+    @classmethod
+    def compiler_bindir(cls, prefix: Path) -> Path:
+        """Overridable method for the location of the compiler bindir within the preifx"""
+        return os.path.join(prefix, "bin")
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_compiler_paths(cls, exes: Sequence[Path]) -> Dict[str, Path]:
+        """Compute the paths to compiler executables associated with this package
+
+        This is a helper method for ``determine_variants`` to compute the ``extra_attributes``
+        to include with each spec object."""
+        # There are often at least two copies (not symlinks) of each compiler executable in the
+        # same directory: one with a canonical name, e.g. "gfortran", and another one with the
+        # target prefix, e.g. "x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gfortran". There also might be a copy of "gcc"
+        # with the version suffix, e.g. "x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gcc-6.3.0". To ensure the consistency
+        # of values in the "paths" dictionary (i.e. we prefer all of them to reference copies
+        # with canonical names if possible), we iterate over the executables in the reversed sorted
+        # order:
+        # First pass over languages identifies exes that are perfect matches for canonical names
+        # Second pass checks for names with prefix/suffix
+        # Second pass is sorted by language name length because longer named languages
+        # e.g. cxx can often contain the names of shorter named languages
+        # e.g. c (e.g. clang/clang++)
+        paths = {}
+        exes = sorted(exes, reverse=True)
+        languages = {
+            lang: getattr(cls, f"{lang}_names")
+            for lang in sorted(cls.compiler_languages, key=len, reverse=True)
+        }
+        for exe in exes:
+            for lang, names in languages.items():
+                if os.path.basename(exe) in names:
+                    paths[lang] = exe
+                    break
+            else:
+                for lang, names in languages.items():
+                    if any(name in os.path.basename(exe) for name in names):
+                        paths[lang] = exe
+                        break
+
+        return paths
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_variants(cls, exes: Sequence[Path], version_str: str) -> Tuple:
+        # path determination is separated so it can be reused in subclasses
+        return "", {"compilers": cls.determine_compiler_paths(exes=exes)}
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/compilers/__init__.py b/lib/spack/spack/compilers/__init__.py
index a52d787f02..8ce9d81120 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/compilers/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/compilers/__init__.py
@@ -164,33 +164,56 @@ def _compiler_config_from_package_config(config):
 
 
 def _compiler_config_from_external(config):
+    extra_attributes_key = "extra_attributes"
+    compilers_key = "compilers"
+    c_key, cxx_key, fortran_key = "c", "cxx", "fortran"
+
+    # Allow `@x.y.z` instead of `@=x.y.z`
     spec = spack.spec.parse_with_version_concrete(config["spec"])
-    # use str(spec.versions) to allow `@x.y.z` instead of `@=x.y.z`
+
     compiler_spec = spack.spec.CompilerSpec(
         package_name_to_compiler_name.get(spec.name, spec.name), spec.version
     )
 
-    extra_attributes = config.get("extra_attributes", {})
-    prefix = config.get("prefix", None)
+    err_header = f"The external spec '{spec}' cannot be used as a compiler"
 
-    compiler_class = class_for_compiler_name(compiler_spec.name)
-    paths = extra_attributes.get("paths", {})
-    compiler_langs = ["cc", "cxx", "fc", "f77"]
-    for lang in compiler_langs:
-        if paths.setdefault(lang, None):
-            continue
-
-        if not prefix:
-            continue
-
-        # Check for files that satisfy the naming scheme for this compiler
-        bindir = os.path.join(prefix, "bin")
-        for f, regex in itertools.product(os.listdir(bindir), compiler_class.search_regexps(lang)):
-            if regex.match(f):
-                paths[lang] = os.path.join(bindir, f)
-
-    if all(v is None for v in paths.values()):
+    # If extra_attributes is not there I might not want to use this entry as a compiler,
+    # therefore just leave a debug message, but don't be loud with a warning.
+    if extra_attributes_key not in config:
+        tty.debug(f"[{__file__}] {err_header}: missing the '{extra_attributes_key}' key")
         return None
+    extra_attributes = config[extra_attributes_key]
+
+    # If I have 'extra_attributes' warn if 'compilers' is missing, or we don't have a C compiler
+    if compilers_key not in extra_attributes:
+        warnings.warn(
+            f"{err_header}: missing the '{compilers_key}' key under '{extra_attributes_key}'"
+        )
+        return None
+    attribute_compilers = extra_attributes[compilers_key]
+
+    if c_key not in attribute_compilers:
+        warnings.warn(
+            f"{err_header}: missing the C compiler path under "
+            f"'{extra_attributes_key}:{compilers_key}'"
+        )
+        return None
+    c_compiler = attribute_compilers[c_key]
+
+    # C++ and Fortran compilers are not mandatory, so let's just leave a debug trace
+    if cxx_key not in attribute_compilers:
+        tty.debug(f"[{__file__}] The external spec {spec} does not have a C++ compiler")
+
+    if fortran_key not in attribute_compilers:
+        tty.debug(f"[{__file__}] The external spec {spec} does not have a Fortran compiler")
+
+    # compilers format has cc/fc/f77, externals format has "c/fortran"
+    paths = {
+        "cc": c_compiler,
+        "cxx": attribute_compilers.get(cxx_key, None),
+        "fc": attribute_compilers.get(fortran_key, None),
+        "f77": attribute_compilers.get(fortran_key, None),
+    }
 
     if not spec.architecture:
         host_platform = spack.platforms.host()
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package.py b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
index ac56cf1e1a..d0b7beda1d 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 )
 from spack.build_systems.cargo import CargoPackage
 from spack.build_systems.cmake import CMakePackage, generator
+from spack.build_systems.compiler import CompilerPackage
 from spack.build_systems.cuda import CudaPackage
 from spack.build_systems.generic import Package
 from spack.build_systems.gnu import GNUMirrorPackage
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/compiler.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/compiler.py
index 150fd1af54..2fde7fbc92 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/compiler.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/compiler.py
@@ -261,15 +261,14 @@ def test_compiler_list_empty(no_compilers_yaml, working_env, compilers_dir):
     [
         (
             {
-                "spec": "gcc@=7.7.7 os=foobar target=x86_64",
+                "spec": "gcc@=7.7.7 languages=c,cxx,fortran os=foobar target=x86_64",
                 "prefix": "/path/to/fake",
                 "modules": ["gcc/7.7.7", "foobar"],
                 "extra_attributes": {
-                    "paths": {
-                        "cc": "/path/to/fake/gcc",
+                    "compilers": {
+                        "c": "/path/to/fake/gcc",
                         "cxx": "/path/to/fake/g++",
-                        "fc": "/path/to/fake/gfortran",
-                        "f77": "/path/to/fake/gfortran",
+                        "fortran": "/path/to/fake/gfortran",
                     },
                     "flags": {"fflags": "-ffree-form"},
                 },
@@ -285,26 +284,7 @@ def test_compiler_list_empty(no_compilers_yaml, working_env, compilers_dir):
 \tmodules  = ['gcc/7.7.7', 'foobar']
 \toperating system  = foobar
 """,
-        ),
-        (
-            {
-                "spec": "gcc@7.7.7",
-                "prefix": "{prefix}",
-                "modules": ["gcc/7.7.7", "foobar"],
-                "extra_attributes": {"flags": {"fflags": "-ffree-form"}},
-            },
-            """gcc@7.7.7:
-\tpaths:
-\t\tcc = {compilers_dir}{sep}gcc-8{suffix}
-\t\tcxx = {compilers_dir}{sep}g++-8{suffix}
-\t\tf77 = {compilers_dir}{sep}gfortran-8{suffix}
-\t\tfc = {compilers_dir}{sep}gfortran-8{suffix}
-\tflags:
-\t\tfflags = ['-ffree-form']
-\tmodules  = ['gcc/7.7.7', 'foobar']
-\toperating system  = debian6
-""",
-        ),
+        )
     ],
 )
 def test_compilers_shows_packages_yaml(
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/conftest.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/conftest.py
index 59d6171e3d..29c10fb2e3 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/conftest.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/conftest.py
@@ -1694,7 +1694,7 @@ def mock_executable(tmp_path):
     """Factory to create a mock executable in a temporary directory that
     output a custom string when run.
     """
-    shebang = "#!/bin/sh\n" if sys.platform != "win32" else "@ECHO OFF"
+    shebang = "#!/bin/sh\n" if sys.platform != "win32" else "@ECHO OFF\n"
 
     def _factory(name, output, subdir=("bin",)):
         executable_dir = tmp_path.joinpath(*subdir)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acfl/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acfl/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..23fc1930f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acfl/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/armclang"
+    - "bin/armclang++"
+    - "bin/armflang"
+    script: |
+      echo "Arm C/C++/Fortran Compiler version 19.0 (build number 73) (based on LLVM 7.0.2)"
+      echo "Target: aarch64--linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir:"
+      echo "/opt/arm/arm-hpc-compiler-19.0_Generic-AArch64_RHEL-7_aarch64-linux/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: acfl@19.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/armclang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/armclang[+][+]"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/armflang"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/armclang"
+    - "bin/armclang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "Arm C/C++/Fortran Compiler version 19.0 (build number 73) (based on LLVM 7.0.2)"
+      echo "Target: aarch64--linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir:"
+      echo "/opt/arm/arm-hpc-compiler-19.0_Generic-AArch64_RHEL-7_aarch64-linux/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: acfl@19.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/armclang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/armclang[+][+]"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/armclang"
+    - "bin/armclang++"
+    - "bin/armflang"
+    script: |
+      echo "Arm C/C++/Fortran Compiler version 19.3.1 (build number 75) (based on LLVM 7.0.2)"
+      echo "Target: aarch64--linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir:"
+      echo "/opt/arm/arm-hpc-compiler-19.3.5_Generic-AArch64_RHEL-7_aarch64-linux/bin"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/armclang-18"
+    - "bin/armclang++-18"
+    - "bin/armflang-18"
+    script: |
+      echo "Arm C/C++/Fortran Compiler version 18.0 (build number 27) (based on LLVM 7.0.0)"
+      echo "Target: aarch64--linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir:"
+      echo "/opt/arm/arm-hpc-compiler-19_Generic-AArch64_RHEL-7_aarch64-linux/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: acfl@19.3.1
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/armclang$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/armclang[+][+]$"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/armflang$"
+  - spec: acfl@18.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/armclang-18"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/armclang[+][+]-18"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/armflang-18"
+- layout: # does not detect upstream clang
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "clang version 8.0.0 (tags/RELEASE_800/final"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\n"
+      echo "Thread model: posix\n"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results: []
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acfl/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acfl/package.py
index fefab9b574..66d2ddc0b5 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acfl/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acfl/package.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
 import os
-import re
 
 from spack.package import *
 
@@ -228,7 +227,7 @@ def get_gcc_prefix(spec):
     return join_path(spec.prefix, next(dir for dir in dirlist if dir.startswith("gcc")))
 
 
-class Acfl(Package):
+class Acfl(Package, CompilerPackage):
     """Arm Compiler combines the optimized tools and libraries from Arm
     with a modern LLVM-based compiler framework.
     """
@@ -275,33 +274,15 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
         )
         exe("--accept", "--force", "--install-to", prefix)
 
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        regex_str = r"Arm C\/C\+\+\/Fortran Compiler version ([\d\.]+) " r"\(build number (\d+)\) "
-        version_regex = re.compile(regex_str)
-        try:
-            output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, "--version")
-            match = version_regex.search(output)
-            if match:
-                if match.group(1).count(".") == 1:
-                    return match.group(1) + ".0." + match.group(2)
-                return match.group(1) + "." + match.group(2)
-        except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
-            pass
-        except Exception as e:
-            tty.debug(e)
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["armclang"]
+    cxx_names = ["armclang++"]
+    fortran_names = ["armflang"]
 
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
-        compilers = {}
-        for exe in exes:
-            if "armclang" in exe:
-                compilers["c"] = exe
-            if "armclang++" in exe:
-                compilers["cxx"] = exe
-            if "armflang" in exe:
-                compilers["fortran"] = exe
-        return "", {"compilers": compilers}
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
+    compiler_version_regex = (
+        r"Arm C\/C\+\+\/Fortran Compiler version ([\d\.]+) \(build number \d+\) "
+    )
 
     @property
     def cc(self):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/aocc/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/aocc/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..331ba0ba4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/aocc/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    - "bin/flang"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 12.0.0 (CLANG: AOCC_3_1_0-Build#126 2021_06_07)(based on LLVM Mirror.Version.12.0.0)\n"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\n"
+      echo "Thread model: posix\n"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: aocc@3.1.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/flang"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 12.0.0 (CLANG: AOCC_3_1_0-Build#126 2021_06_07)(based on LLVM Mirror.Version.12.0.0)\n"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\n"
+      echo "Thread model: posix\n"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: aocc@3.1.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    - "bin/flang"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 12.0.0 (CLANG: AOCC_3_0_0-Build#78 2020_12_10)(based on LLVM Mirror.Version.12.0.0)\n"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\n"
+      echo "Thread model: posix\n"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang-11"
+    - "bin/clang++-11"
+    - "bin/flang-11"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 11.0.0 (CLANG: AOCC_2_3_0-Build#85 2020_11_10)(based on LLVM Mirror.Version.11.0.0)\n"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\n"
+      echo "Thread model: posix\n"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: aocc@3.0.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]$"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/flang$"
+  - spec: aocc@2.3.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang-11"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]-11"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/flang-11"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "clang version 8.0.0 (tags/RELEASE_800/final"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\n"
+      echo "Thread model: posix\n"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results: []
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/aocc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/aocc/package.py
index f51b5d6795..f2451d1f63 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/aocc/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/aocc/package.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from spack.package import *
 
 
-class Aocc(Package):
+class Aocc(Package, CompilerPackage):
     """
     The AOCC compiler system is a high performance, production quality code
     generation tool.  The AOCC environment provides various options to developers
@@ -104,3 +104,9 @@ def cfg_files(self):
             for compiler in ["clang", "clang++"]:
                 with open(join_path(self.prefix.bin, "{}.cfg".format(compiler)), "w") as f:
                     f.write(compiler_options)
+
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
+    compiler_version_regex = r"AOCC_(\d+[._]\d+[._]\d+)"
+    c_names = ["clang"]
+    cxx_names = ["clang++"]
+    fortran_names = ["flang"]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/detection_test.yaml
index dffdf88286..1e52329116 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/detection_test.yaml
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/detection_test.yaml
@@ -1,38 +1,48 @@
 paths:
-  # Apple Clang on MacBook Pro (Catalina)
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-          - "bin/clang"
-          - "bin/clang++"
-        script: |
-          echo "Apple clang version 11.0.0 (clang-1100.0.33.8)"
-          echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin19.5.0"
-          echo "Thread model: posix"
-          echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
-    platforms: ["darwin"]
-    results:
-      - spec: 'apple-clang@11.0.0'
-  # Apple Clang on Apple M1 (Ventura)
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-          - "bin/clang"
-          - "bin/clang++"
-        script: |
-          echo "Apple clang version 15.0.0 (clang-1500.0.40.1)"
-          echo "Target: arm64-apple-darwin22.6.0"
-          echo "Thread model: posix"
-          echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
-    platforms: ["darwin"]
-    results:
-      - spec: 'apple-clang@15.0.0'
-  # Test that missing a compiler prevents the package from being detected
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-          - "bin/clang"
-        script: |
-          echo "Apple clang version 11.0.0 (clang-1100.0.33.8)"
-          echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin19.5.0"
-          echo "Thread model: posix"
-          echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
-    platforms: ["darwin"]
-    results: [ ]
+# Apple Clang on MacBook Pro (Catalina)
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "Apple clang version 11.0.0 (clang-1100.0.33.8)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin19.5.0"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
+  platforms: ["darwin"]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'apple-clang@11.0.0'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]"
+
+# Apple Clang on Apple M1 (Ventura)
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "Apple clang version 15.0.0 (clang-1500.0.40.1)"
+      echo "Target: arm64-apple-darwin22.6.0"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
+  platforms: ["darwin"]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'apple-clang@15.0.0'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]"
+
+# Test that missing a compiler prevents the package from being detected
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    script: |
+      echo "Apple clang version 11.0.0 (clang-1100.0.33.8)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin19.5.0"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
+  platforms: ["darwin"]
+  results: []
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/package.py
index 634aedf4eb..95c3eb54c0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/apple-clang/package.py
@@ -2,12 +2,10 @@
 # Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
-import re
-
 from spack.package import *
 
 
-class AppleClang(BundlePackage):
+class AppleClang(BundlePackage, CompilerPackage):
     """Apple's Clang compiler"""
 
     homepage = "https://developer.apple.com/videos/developer-tools/compiler-and-llvm"
@@ -15,44 +13,12 @@ class AppleClang(BundlePackage):
 
     maintainers("alalazo")
 
-    executables = ["^clang$", r"^clang\+\+$", "^ld.lld$", "^lldb$"]
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx"]
+    c_names = ["clang"]
+    cxx_names = ["clang++"]
 
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        version_regex = re.compile(
-            # Apple's LLVM compiler has its own versions, which are
-            # different from vanilla LLVM
-            r"^Apple (?:LLVM|clang) version ([^ )]+)",
-            # Multi-line, since 'Apple clang' may not be on the first line
-            # in particular, when run as gcc, it seems to output
-            # "Configured with: --prefix=..." as the first line
-            re.M,
-        )
-        try:
-            compiler = Executable(exe)
-            output = compiler("--version", output=str, error=str)
-            match = version_regex.search(output)
-            if match:
-                return match.group(match.lastindex)
-        except Exception:
-            pass
-
-        return None
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
-        compilers = {}
-        for exe in exes:
-            if "clang++" in exe:
-                compilers["cxx"] = exe
-            elif "clang" in exe:
-                compilers["c"] = exe
-            elif "ld.lld" in exe:
-                compilers["ld"] = exe
-            elif "lldb" in exe:
-                compilers["lldb"] = exe
-
-        return "", {"compilers": compilers}
+    compiler_version_regex = r"^Apple (?:LLVM|clang) version ([^ )]+)"
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
 
     @classmethod
     def validate_detected_spec(cls, spec, extra_attributes):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cce/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cce/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b425ab439a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cce/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/craycc"
+    script: |
+      echo "Cray C : Version 8.4.6 Mon Apr 15, 2019 12:13:39"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/crayCC"
+    script: |
+      echo "Cray C++ : Version 8.4.6 Mon Apr 15, 2019 12:13:39"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/crayftn"
+    script: |
+      echo "Cray Fortran : Version 8.4.6 Mon Apr 15, 2019 12:13:39"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: cce@8.4.6
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/craycc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/crayCC"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/crayftn"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/craycc"
+    - "bin/crayCC"
+    script: |
+      echo "Cray clang version 17.0.1  (5ec9405551a8c8845cf14e81dc28bff7aa3935cb)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/cray/pe/cce/17.0.1/cce-clang/x86_64/share/../bin"
+      echo "Configuration file: /opt/cray/pe/cce/17.0.1/cce-clang/x86_64/bin/clang.cfg"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/crayftn"
+    script: |
+      echo "Cray Fortran : Version 17.0.1"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: cce@17.0.1
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/craycc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/crayCC"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/crayftn"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cce/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cce/package.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0772be6ab1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cce/package.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright 2013-2023 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other
+# Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
+from spack.package import *
+
+
+class Cce(Package, CompilerPackage):
+    """Stub package for external detection of the Cray compiler package."""
+
+    homepage = "https://cpe.ext.hpe.com/docs/cce/index.html"
+    url = "https://cpe.ext.hpe.com/docs/cce/index.html"
+
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["craycc"]
+    cxx_names = ["crayCC"]
+    fortran_names = ["crayftn"]
+
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
+    compiler_version_regex = (
+        r"[Cc]ray (?:clang|C :|C\+\+ :|Fortran :) [Vv]ersion.*?(\d+(?:\.\d+)+)"
+    )
+
+    # notify when the package is updated.
+    maintainers("becker33")
+
+    version("16.0.0")
+
+    def install(self, spec, prefix):
+        raise NotImplementedError("cray compiler must be configured as external")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fj/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fj/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9159d20d91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fj/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/fcc"
+    script: |
+      echo "fcc (FCC) 4.0.0a 20190314"
+      echo "simulating gcc version 6.1"
+      echo "Copyright FUJITSU LIMITED 2019"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/FCC"
+    script: |
+      echo "FCC (FCC) 4.0.0a 20190314"
+      echo "simulating gcc version 6.1"
+      echo "Copyright FUJITSU LIMITED 2019"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/frt"
+    script: |
+      echo "frt (FRT) 4.0.0a 20190314"
+      echo "Copyright FUJITSU LIMITED 2019"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: fj@4.0.0a
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/fcc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/FCC"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/frt"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fj/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fj/package.py
index 899f85aa78..9ebcecab2e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fj/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fj/package.py
@@ -2,16 +2,10 @@
 # Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
-import re
-
-import llnl.util.tty as tty
-
-import spack.compiler
-import spack.util.executable
 from spack.package import *
 
 
-class Fj(Package):
+class Fj(Package, CompilerPackage):
     """The Fujitsu compiler system is a high performance, production quality
     code generation tool designed for high performance parallel
     computing workloads.
@@ -27,29 +21,9 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
             "detected on a system where they are supplied by vendor"
         )
 
-    executables = ["^fcc", "^FCC", "^frt"]
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        version_regex = re.compile(r"\((?:FCC|FRT)\) ([a-z\d.]+)")
-        try:
-            output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, "--version")
-            match = version_regex.search(output)
-            if match:
-                return match.group(1)
-        except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
-            pass
-        except Exception as e:
-            tty.debug(e)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
-        compilers = {}
-        for exe in exes:
-            if "fcc" in exe:
-                compilers["c"] = exe
-            if "FCC" in exe:
-                compilers["cxx"] = exe
-            if "frt" in exe:
-                compilers["fortran"] = exe
-        return "", {"compilers": compilers}
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["fcc"]
+    cxx_names = ["FCC"]
+    fortran_names = ["frt"]
+    compiler_version_regex = r"\((?:FCC|FRT)\) ([a-z\d.]+)"
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/detection_test.yaml
index 4677a8cdab..7269c0301c 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/detection_test.yaml
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/detection_test.yaml
@@ -1,93 +1,96 @@
 paths:
-  # Ubuntu 20.04, system compilers without Fortran. This
-  # test also covers which flags are expected to be used
-  # during the detection of gcc.
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/gcc"
-        - "bin/g++"
-        script: |
-          if [ "$1" = "-dumpversion" ] ; then
-            echo "9"
-          elif [ "$1" = "-dumpfullversion" ] ; then
-            echo "9.4.0"
-          elif [ "$1" = "--version" ] ; then
-            echo "gcc (Ubuntu 9.4.0-1ubuntu1~20.04.2) 9.4.0"
-            echo "Copyright (C) 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc."
-            echo "This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO"
-            echo "warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE."
-          else
-            echo "mock executable got an unexpected flag: $1"
-            exit 1
-          fi
-    platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
-    results:
-      - spec: "gcc@9.4.0 languages=c,c++"
-        extra_attributes:
-          compilers:
-            c: ".*/bin/gcc"
-            cxx: ".*/bin/g++"
-  # Mock a version < 7 of GCC that requires -dumpversion and
-  # errors with -dumpfullversion
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/gcc-5"
-        - "bin/g++-5"
-        - "bin/gfortran-5"
-        script: |
-          if [ "$1" = "-dumpversion" ] ; then
-            echo "5.5.0"
-          else
-            echo "gcc-5: fatal error: no input files"
-            echo "compilation terminated."
-            exit 1
-          fi
-    platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
-    results:
-      - spec: "gcc@5.5.0 languages=c,c++,fortran"
-        extra_attributes:
-          compilers:
-            c: ".*/bin/gcc-5$"
-            cxx: ".*/bin/g[+][+]-5$"
-            fortran: ".*/bin/gfortran-5$"
-  # Multiple compilers present at the same time
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-6"
-        script: 'echo 6.5.0'
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-10"
-        - "bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-g++-10"
-        script: "echo 10.1.0"
-    platforms: [darwin, linux]
-    results:
-      - spec: "gcc@6.5.0 languages=c"
-        extra_attributes:
-          compilers:
-            c: ".*/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-6$"
-      - spec: "gcc@10.1.0 languages=c,c++"
-        extra_attributes:
-          compilers:
-            c: ".*/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-10$"
-            cxx: ".*/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-g[+][+]-10$"
-  # Apple clang under disguise as gcc should not be detected
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/gcc"
-        script: |
-          if [ "$1" = "-dumpversion" ] ; then
-            echo "15.0.0"
-          elif [ "$1" = "-dumpfullversion" ] ; then
-            echo "clang: error: no input files" >&2
-            exit 1
-          elif [ "$1" = "--version" ] ; then
-            echo "Apple clang version 15.0.0 (clang-1500.3.9.4)"
-            echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin23.4.0"
-            echo "Thread model: posix"
-            echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
-          else
-            echo "mock executable got an unexpected flag: $1"
-            exit 1
-          fi
-    platforms: ["darwin"]
-    results: []
+# Ubuntu 20.04, system compilers without Fortran. This
+# test also covers which flags are expected to be used
+# during the detection of gcc.
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/gcc"
+    - "bin/g++"
+    script: |
+      if [ "$1" = "-dumpversion" ] ; then
+        echo "9"
+      elif [ "$1" = "-dumpfullversion" ] ; then
+        echo "9.4.0"
+      elif [ "$1" = "--version" ] ; then
+        echo "gcc (Ubuntu 9.4.0-1ubuntu1~20.04.2) 9.4.0"
+        echo "Copyright (C) 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc."
+        echo "This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO"
+        echo "warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE."
+      else
+        echo "mock executable got an unexpected flag: $1"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+  platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
+  results:
+  - spec: "gcc@9.4.0 languages=c,c++"
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/gcc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/g++"
+
+# Mock a version < 7 of GCC that requires -dumpversion and
+# errors with -dumpfullversion
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/gcc-5"
+    - "bin/g++-5"
+    - "bin/gfortran-5"
+    script: |
+      if [ "$1" = "-dumpversion" ] ; then
+        echo "5.5.0"
+      else
+        echo "gcc-5: fatal error: no input files"
+        echo "compilation terminated."
+        exit 1
+      fi
+  platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
+  results:
+  - spec: "gcc@5.5.0 languages=c,c++,fortran"
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/gcc-5$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/g[+][+]-5$"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/gfortran-5$"
+
+# Multiple compilers present at the same time
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-6"
+    script: 'echo 6.5.0'
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-10"
+    - "bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-g++-10"
+    script: "echo 10.1.0"
+  platforms: [darwin, linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: "gcc@6.5.0 languages=c"
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-6$"
+  - spec: "gcc@10.1.0 languages=c,c++"
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-10$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/x86_64-linux-gnu-g[+][+]-10$"
+
+# Apple clang under disguise as gcc should not be detected
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/gcc"
+    script: |
+      if [ "$1" = "-dumpversion" ] ; then
+        echo "15.0.0"
+      elif [ "$1" = "-dumpfullversion" ] ; then
+        echo "clang: error: no input files" >&2
+        exit 1
+      elif [ "$1" = "--version" ] ; then
+        echo "Apple clang version 15.0.0 (clang-1500.3.9.4)"
+        echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin23.4.0"
+        echo "Thread model: posix"
+        echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
+      else
+        echo "mock executable got an unexpected flag: $1"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+  platforms: ["darwin"]
+  results: []
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py
index 0ed2f2f3b8..f10ff1623a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py
@@ -5,13 +5,11 @@
 import glob
 import itertools
 import os
-import re
 import sys
 
 from archspec.cpu import UnsupportedMicroarchitecture
 
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
-from llnl.util.lang import classproperty
 from llnl.util.symlink import readlink
 
 import spack.platforms
@@ -21,7 +19,7 @@
 from spack.package import *
 
 
-class Gcc(AutotoolsPackage, GNUMirrorPackage):
+class Gcc(AutotoolsPackage, GNUMirrorPackage, CompilerPackage):
     """The GNU Compiler Collection includes front ends for C, C++, Objective-C,
     Fortran, Ada, and Go, as well as libraries for these languages."""
 
@@ -503,11 +501,36 @@ class Gcc(AutotoolsPackage, GNUMirrorPackage):
 
     build_directory = "spack-build"
 
-    @classproperty
-    def executables(cls):
-        names = [r"gcc", r"[^\w]?g\+\+", r"gfortran", r"gdc", r"gccgo"]
-        suffixes = [r"", r"-mp-\d+\.\d", r"-\d+\.\d", r"-\d+", r"\d\d"]
-        return [r"".join(x) for x in itertools.product(names, suffixes)]
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran", "d", "go"]
+
+    @property
+    def supported_languages(self):
+        # This weirdness is because it could be called on an abstract spec
+        if "languages" not in self.spec.variants:
+            return self.compiler_languages
+        return [x for x in self.compiler_languages if x in self.spec.variants["languages"].value]
+
+    c_names = ["gcc"]
+    cxx_names = ["g++"]
+    fortran_names = ["gfortran"]
+    d_names = ["gdc"]
+    go_names = ["gccgo"]
+    compiler_prefixes = [r"\w+-\w+-\w+-"]
+    compiler_suffixes = [r"-mp-\d+(?:\.\d+)?", r"-\d+(?:\.\d+)?", r"\d\d"]
+    compiler_version_regex = r"(?<!clang version)\s?([0-9.]+)"
+    compiler_version_argument = ("-dumpfullversion", "-dumpversion")
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_version(cls, exe):
+        try:
+            output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, "--version")
+        except Exception:
+            output = ""
+        # Apple's gcc is actually apple clang, so skip it.
+        if "Apple" in output:
+            return None
+
+        return super().determine_version(exe)
 
     @classmethod
     def filter_detected_exes(cls, prefix, exes_in_prefix):
@@ -537,58 +560,14 @@ def filter_detected_exes(cls, prefix, exes_in_prefix):
 
         return result
 
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        try:
-            output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, "--version")
-        except Exception:
-            output = ""
-        # Apple's gcc is actually apple clang, so skip it.
-        # Users can add it manually to compilers.yaml at their own risk.
-        if "Apple" in output:
-            return None
-
-        version_regex = re.compile(r"([\d\.]+)")
-        for vargs in ("-dumpfullversion", "-dumpversion"):
-            try:
-                output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, vargs)
-                match = version_regex.search(output)
-                if match:
-                    return match.group(1)
-            except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
-                pass
-            except Exception as e:
-                tty.debug(e)
-
-        return None
-
     @classmethod
     def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
-        languages, compilers = set(), {}
-        # There are often at least two copies (not symlinks) of each compiler executable in the
-        # same directory: one with a canonical name, e.g. "gfortran", and another one with the
-        # target prefix, e.g. "x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gfortran". There also might be a copy of "gcc"
-        # with the version suffix, e.g. "x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gcc-6.3.0". To ensure the consistency
-        # of values in the "compilers" dictionary (i.e. we prefer all of them to reference copies
-        # with canonical names if possible), we iterate over the executables in the reversed sorted
-        # order:
-        for exe in sorted(exes, reverse=True):
-            basename = os.path.basename(exe)
-            if "g++" in basename:
-                languages.add("c++")
-                compilers["cxx"] = exe
-            elif "gfortran" in basename:
-                languages.add("fortran")
-                compilers["fortran"] = exe
-            elif "gcc" in basename:
-                languages.add("c")
-                compilers["c"] = exe
-            elif "gccgo" in basename:
-                languages.add("go")
-                compilers["go"] = exe
-            elif "gdc" in basename:
-                languages.add("d")
-                compilers["d"] = exe
+        compilers = cls.determine_compiler_paths(exes=exes)
+
+        languages = set()
+        translation = {"cxx": "c++"}
+        for lang, compiler in compilers.items():
+            languages.add(translation.get(lang, lang))
         variant_str = "languages={0}".format(",".join(languages))
         return variant_str, {"compilers": compilers}
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers-classic/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers-classic/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0684507424
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers-classic/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/intel64/icc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/intel64/icpc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icpc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/intel64/ifort"
+    script: |
+      echo "ifort (IFORT) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'intel-oneapi-compilers-classic@18.0.5'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/intel64/icc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/intel64/icpc"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/intel64/ifort"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/icc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/icpc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icpc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/ifort"
+    script: |
+      echo "ifort (IFORT) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'intel-oneapi-compilers-classic@18.0.5'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/icc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/icpc"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/ifort"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/intel64/icc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/intel64/icpc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icpc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/intel64/ifort"
+    script: |
+      echo "ifort (IFORT) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'intel-oneapi-compilers-classic@18.0.5'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/intel64/icc"
+        cxx: ".*compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/intel64/icpc"
+        fortran: ".*compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/intel64/ifort"
+- layout: # oneapi compiler is not detected as classic
+  - executables:
+    - "compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/icx"
+    - "compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/icpx"
+    script: |
+      echo "Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++ Compiler 2021.2.0 (2021.2.0.20210317)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /made/up/path",
+  - executables:
+    - "compiler/18.0.5/linux/bin/ifx"
+    script: |
+      echo "ifx (IFORT) 2021.1.2 Beta 20201214"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2020 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results: []
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers-classic/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers-classic/package.py
index aefec97197..71de26ed34 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers-classic/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers-classic/package.py
@@ -3,14 +3,16 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
 import os
+import sys
 
+from llnl.util.lang import classproperty
 from llnl.util.link_tree import LinkTree
 
 from spack.package import *
 
 
 @IntelOneApiPackage.update_description
-class IntelOneapiCompilersClassic(Package):
+class IntelOneapiCompilersClassic(Package, CompilerPackage):
     """Relies on intel-oneapi-compilers to install the compilers, and
     configures modules for icc/icpc/ifort.
 
@@ -22,6 +24,23 @@ class IntelOneapiCompilersClassic(Package):
 
     has_code = False
 
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["icc"]
+    cxx_names = ["icpc"]
+    fortran_names = ["ifort"]
+
+    @classproperty
+    def compiler_version_argument(self):
+        if sys.platform == "win32":
+            return "/QV"
+        return "--version"
+
+    @classproperty
+    def compiler_version_regex(self):
+        if sys.platform == "win32":
+            return r"([1-9][0-9]*\.[0-9]*\.[0-9]*)"
+        return r"\((?:IFORT|ICC)\) ([^ ]+)"
+
     # Versions before 2021 are in the `intel` package
     # intel-oneapi versions before 2022 use intel@19.0.4
     for ver, oneapi_ver in {
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d1e0c2252e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "compiler/2021.2.0/linux/bin/icx"
+    - "compiler/2021.2.0/linux/bin/icpx"
+    script: |
+      echo "Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++ Compiler 2021.2.0 (2021.2.0.20210317)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /made/up/path",
+  - executables:
+    - "compiler/2021.2.0/linux/bin/ifx"
+    script: |
+      echo "ifx (IFORT) 2021.2.0 Beta 20201214"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2020 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: intel-oneapi-compilers@2021.2.0
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/compiler/2021.2.0/linux/bin/icx"
+        cxx: ".*/compiler/2021.2.0/linux/bin/icpx"
+        fortran: ".*/compiler/2021.2.0/linux/bin/ifx"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers/package.py
index f52a68a9c6..f23b716b21 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel-oneapi-compilers/package.py
@@ -222,13 +222,22 @@
 
 
 @IntelOneApiPackage.update_description
-class IntelOneapiCompilers(IntelOneApiPackage):
+class IntelOneapiCompilers(IntelOneApiPackage, CompilerPackage):
     """Intel oneAPI Compilers. Includes: icc, icpc, ifort, icx, icpx, and ifx."""
 
     maintainers("rscohn2")
 
     homepage = "https://software.intel.com/content/www/us/en/develop/tools/oneapi.html"
 
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["icx"]
+    cxx_names = ["icpx"]
+    fortran_names = ["ifx"]
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
+    compiler_version_regex = (
+        r"(?:(?:oneAPI DPC\+\+(?:\/C\+\+)? Compiler)|(?:\(IFORT\))|(?:\(IFX\))) (\S+)"
+    )
+
     # See https://github.com/spack/spack/issues/39252
     depends_on("patchelf@:0.17", type="build")
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel/detection_test.yaml
index 1a0e23b82c..dfff8fa4a1 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel/detection_test.yaml
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/intel/detection_test.yaml
@@ -1,20 +1,25 @@
 paths:
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/intel64/icc"
-        script: |
-          echo "icc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
-          echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/intel64/icpc"
-        script: |
-          echo "icpc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
-          echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/intel64/ifort"
-        script: |
-          echo "ifort (IFORT) 18.0.5 20180823"
-          echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
-    platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
-    results:
-      - spec: 'intel@18.0.5'
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/intel64/icc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/intel64/icpc"
+    script: |
+      echo "icpc (ICC) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/intel64/ifort"
+    script: |
+      echo "ifort (IFORT) 18.0.5 20180823"
+      echo "Copyright (C) 1985-2018 Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'intel@18.0.5'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/intel64/icc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/intel64/icpc"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/intel64/ifort"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-amdgpu/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-amdgpu/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5fa0fb526b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-amdgpu/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/amdclang"
+    - "bin/amdclang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 17.0.0 (https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/llvm-project roc-5.7.1 23382 f3e174a1d286158c06e4cc8276366b1d4bc0c914)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin"
+      echo "Configuration file: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin/clang.cfg"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/amdflang"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD flang-classic version 17.0.0 (https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/llvm-project roc-5.7.1 23382 f3e174a1d286158c06e4cc8276366b1d4bc0c914)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: llvm-amdgpu@5.7.1
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/amdclang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/amdclang[+][+]"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/amdflang"
+
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/amdclang"
+    - "bin/amdclang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 17.0.0 (https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/llvm-project roc-5.7.1 23382 f3e174a1d286158c06e4cc8276366b1d4bc0c914)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin"
+      echo "Configuration file: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin/clang.cfg"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: llvm-amdgpu@5.7.1
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/amdclang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/amdclang[+][+]"
+
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/amdclang"
+    - "bin/amdclang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 17.0.0 (https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/llvm-project roc-5.7.1 23382 f3e174a1d286158c06e4cc8276366b1d4bc0c914)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin"
+      echo "Configuration file: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin/clang.cfg"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/amdflang"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD flang-classic version 17.0.0 (https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/llvm-project roc-5.7.1 23382 f3e174a1d286158c06e4cc8276366b1d4bc0c914)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/rocm-5.7.1/llvm/bin"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/amdclang-6"
+    - "bin/amdclang++-6"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD clang version 17.0.0 (https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/llvm-project roc-6.0.2 24012 af27734ed982b52a9f1be0f035ac91726fc697e4)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/rocm-6.0.2/llvm/bin"
+      echo "Configuration file: /opt/rocm-6.0.2/llvm/bin/clang.cfg"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/amdflang-6"
+    script: |
+      echo "AMD flang-classic version 17.0.0 (https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/llvm-project roc-6.0.2 24012 af27734ed982b52a9f1be0f035ac91726fc697e4)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /opt/rocm-6.0.2/llvm/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: llvm-amdgpu@6.0.2
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/amdclang-6$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/amdclang[+][+]-6$"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/amdflang-6$"
+  - spec: llvm-amdgpu@5.7.1
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/amdclang"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/amdclang[+][+]"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/amdflang"
+- layout: # does not detect upstream clang
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "clang version 8.0.0 (tags/RELEASE_800/final"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\n"
+      echo "Thread model: posix\n"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results: []
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-amdgpu/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-amdgpu/package.py
index f475dca999..e6c399e84b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-amdgpu/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-amdgpu/package.py
@@ -2,15 +2,12 @@
 # Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
-
-
 import os
-import re
 
 from spack.package import *
 
 
-class LlvmAmdgpu(CMakePackage):
+class LlvmAmdgpu(CMakePackage, CompilerPackage):
     """Toolkit for the construction of highly optimized compilers,
     optimizers, and run-time environments."""
 
@@ -247,18 +244,12 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             args.append("-DSANITIZER_AMDGPU:Bool=ON")
         return args
 
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, path):
-        match = re.search(r"amdclang", path)
-        detected_version = None
-        if match:
-            version_query = Executable(path)("--version", output=str)
-            match = re.search(r"roc-(\d)\.(\d).(\d)", version_query)
-            if match:
-                detected_version = "{0}.{1}.{2}".format(
-                    int(match.group(1)), int(match.group(2)), int(match.group(3))
-                )
-        return detected_version
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["amdclang"]
+    cxx_names = ["amdclang++"]
+    fortran_names = ["amdflang"]
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
+    compiler_version_regex = r"roc-(\d+[._]\d+[._]\d+)"
 
     # Make sure that the compiler paths are in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH
     def setup_run_environment(self, env):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/detection_test.yaml
index a5719fb395..e979a83626 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/detection_test.yaml
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/detection_test.yaml
@@ -1,59 +1,75 @@
 paths:
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/clang-3.9"
-        script: |
-          echo "clang version 3.9.1-19ubuntu1 (tags/RELEASE_391/rc2)"
-          echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
-          echo "Thread model: posix"
-          echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/clang++-3.9"
-        script: |
-          echo "clang version 3.9.1-19ubuntu1 (tags/RELEASE_391/rc2)"
-          echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
-          echo "Thread model: posix"
-          echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
-    platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
-    results:
-      - spec: 'llvm@3.9.1 +clang~lld~lldb'
-  # Multiple LLVM packages in the same prefix
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/clang-8"
-        - "bin/clang++-8"
-        script: |
-          echo "clang version 8.0.0-3~ubuntu18.04.2 (tags/RELEASE_800/final)"
-          echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
-          echo "Thread model: posix"
-          echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/ld.lld-8"
-        script: 'echo "LLD 8.0.0 (compatible with GNU linkers)"'
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/lldb"
-        script: 'echo "lldb version 8.0.0"'
-      - executables:
-        - "bin/clang-3.9"
-        - "bin/clang++-3.9"
-        script: |
-          echo "clang version 3.9.1-19ubuntu1 (tags/RELEASE_391/rc2)"
-          echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
-          echo "Thread model: posix"
-          echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
-    platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
-    results:
-      - spec: 'llvm@8.0.0+clang+lld+lldb'
-      - spec: 'llvm@3.9.1+clang~lld~lldb'
-  # Apple Clang should not be detected
-  - layout:
-    - executables:
-      - "bin/clang"
-      - "bin/clang++"
-      script: |
-        echo "Apple clang version 11.0.0 (clang-1100.0.33.8)"
-        echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin19.5.0"
-        echo "Thread model: posix"
-        echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
-    platforms: ["darwin"]
-    results: []
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang-3.9"
+    script: |
+      echo "clang version 3.9.1-19ubuntu1 (tags/RELEASE_391/rc2)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang++-3.9"
+    script: |
+      echo "clang version 3.9.1-19ubuntu1 (tags/RELEASE_391/rc2)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
+  platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'llvm@3.9.1 +clang~lld~lldb'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang-3.9$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]-3.9$"
+
+# Multiple LLVM packages in the same prefix
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang-8"
+    - "bin/clang++-8"
+    script: |
+      echo "clang version 8.0.0-3~ubuntu18.04.2 (tags/RELEASE_800/final)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/ld.lld-8"
+    script: 'echo "LLD 8.0.0 (compatible with GNU linkers)"'
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/lldb"
+    script: 'echo "lldb version 8.0.0"'
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang-3.9"
+    - "bin/clang++-3.9"
+    script: |
+      echo "clang version 3.9.1-19ubuntu1 (tags/RELEASE_391/rc2)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /usr/bin"
+  platforms: ["darwin", "linux"]
+  results:
+  - spec: 'llvm@8.0.0+clang+lld+lldb'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang-8$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]-8$"
+        ld: ".*/bin/ld.lld-8$"
+
+  - spec: 'llvm@3.9.1+clang~lld~lldb'
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/clang-3.9$"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/clang[+][+]-3.9$"
+
+# Apple Clang should not be detected
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/clang"
+    - "bin/clang++"
+    script: |
+      echo "Apple clang version 11.0.0 (clang-1100.0.33.8)"
+      echo "Target: x86_64-apple-darwin19.5.0"
+      echo "Thread model: posix"
+      echo "InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin"
+  platforms: ["darwin"]
+  results: []
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py
index e770b2c11d..2825a73a3f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py
@@ -8,13 +8,14 @@
 import sys
 
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
+from llnl.util.lang import classproperty
 
 import spack.build_environment
 import spack.util.executable
 from spack.package import *
 
 
-class Llvm(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
+class Llvm(CMakePackage, CudaPackage, CompilerPackage):
     """The LLVM Project is a collection of modular and reusable compiler and
     toolchain technologies. Despite its name, LLVM has little to do
     with traditional virtual machines, though it does provide helpful
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ class Llvm(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     git = "https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project"
     maintainers("trws", "haampie", "skosukhin")
 
-    tags = ["e4s"]
+    tags = ["e4s", "compiler"]
 
     generator("ninja")
 
@@ -594,11 +595,36 @@ def patch(self):
             string=True,
         )
 
-    # The functions and attributes below implement external package
-    # detection for LLVM. See:
-    #
-    # https://spack.readthedocs.io/en/latest/packaging_guide.html#making-a-package-discoverable-with-spack-external-find
-    executables = ["clang", "flang", "ld.lld", "lldb"]
+    compiler_version_regex = (
+        # Normal clang compiler versions are left as-is
+        r"clang version ([^ )\n]+)-svn[~.\w\d-]*|"
+        # Don't include hyphenated patch numbers in the version
+        # (see https://github.com/spack/spack/pull/14365 for details)
+        r"clang version ([^ )\n]+?)-[~.\w\d-]*|"
+        r"clang version ([^ )\n]+)|"
+        # LLDB
+        r"lldb version ([^ )\n]+)|"
+        # LLD
+        r"LLD ([^ )\n]+) \(compatible with GNU linkers\)"
+    )
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["clang"]
+    cxx_names = ["clang++"]
+    fortran_names = ["flang"]
+
+    @property
+    def supported_languages(self):
+        languages = []
+        if self.spec.satisfies("+clang"):
+            languages.extend(["c", "cxx"])
+        if self.spec.satisfies("+flang"):
+            languages.append("fortran")
+        return languages
+
+    @classproperty
+    def executables(cls):
+        return super().executables + ["ld.lld", "lldb"]
 
     @classmethod
     def filter_detected_exes(cls, prefix, exes_in_prefix):
@@ -615,26 +641,14 @@ def filter_detected_exes(cls, prefix, exes_in_prefix):
 
     @classmethod
     def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        version_regex = re.compile(
-            # Normal clang compiler versions are left as-is
-            r"clang version ([^ )\n]+)-svn[~.\w\d-]*|"
-            # Don't include hyphenated patch numbers in the version
-            # (see https://github.com/spack/spack/pull/14365 for details)
-            r"clang version ([^ )\n]+?)-[~.\w\d-]*|"
-            r"clang version ([^ )\n]+)|"
-            # LLDB
-            r"lldb version ([^ )\n]+)|"
-            # LLD
-            r"LLD ([^ )\n]+) \(compatible with GNU linkers\)"
-        )
         try:
             compiler = Executable(exe)
-            output = compiler("--version", output=str, error=str)
+            output = compiler(cls.compiler_version_argument, output=str, error=str)
             if "Apple" in output:
                 return None
             if "AMD" in output:
                 return None
-            match = version_regex.search(output)
+            match = re.search(cls.compiler_version_regex, output)
             if match:
                 return match.group(match.lastindex)
         except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
@@ -646,21 +660,23 @@ def determine_version(cls, exe):
 
     @classmethod
     def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
+        # Do not need to reuse more general logic from CompilerPackage
+        # because LLVM has kindly named compilers
         variants, compilers = ["+clang"], {}
         lld_found, lldb_found = False, False
         for exe in exes:
-            if "clang++" in exe:
+            name = os.path.basename(exe)
+            if "clang++" in name:
                 compilers["cxx"] = exe
-            elif "clang" in exe:
+            elif "clang" in name:
                 compilers["c"] = exe
-            elif "flang" in exe:
+            elif "flang" in name:
                 variants.append("+flang")
-                compilers["fc"] = exe
-                compilers["f77"] = exe
-            elif "ld.lld" in exe:
+                compilers["fortran"] = exe
+            elif "ld.lld" in name:
                 lld_found = True
                 compilers["ld"] = exe
-            elif "lldb" in exe:
+            elif "lldb" in name:
                 lldb_found = True
                 compilers["lldb"] = exe
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/msvc/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/msvc/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9ece6297ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/msvc/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - cl.bat
+    script: |
+      echo "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.04.54321 for x86"
+  platforms: [windows]
+  results:
+  - spec: msvc@19.04.54321
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*cl.bat$"
+        cxx: ".*cl.bat"
+
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/msvc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/msvc/package.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d58dea2f6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/msvc/package.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+# Copyright 2013-2024 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other
+# Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
+import re
+
+from spack.package import *
+
+
+class Msvc(Package, CompilerPackage):
+    """
+    Microsoft Visual C++ is a compiler for the C, C++, C++/CLI and C++/CX programming languages.
+    """
+
+    homepage = "https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/features/cplusplus/"
+
+    def install(self, spec, prefix):
+        raise InstallError(
+            "MSVC compilers are not installable with Spack, but can be "
+            "detected on a system where they are externally installed"
+        )
+
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx"]
+    c_names = ["cl"]
+    cxx_names = ["cl"]
+    compiler_version_argument = ""
+    compiler_version_regex = r"([1-9][0-9]*\.[0-9]*\.[0-9]*)"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_version(cls, exe):
+        # MSVC compiler does not have a proper version argument
+        # Errors out and prints version info with no args
+        match = re.search(
+            cls.compiler_version_regex,
+            spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, version_arg=None, ignore_errors=True),
+        )
+        if match:
+            return match.group(1)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
+        # MSVC uses same executable for both languages
+        spec, extras = super().determine_variants(exes, version_str)
+        extras["compilers"]["c"] = extras["compilers"]["cxx"]
+        return spec, extras
+
+    @property
+    def cc(self):
+        if self.spec.external:
+            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["c"]
+        msg = "cannot retrieve C compiler [spec is not concrete]"
+        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
+
+    @property
+    def cxx(self):
+        if self.spec.external:
+            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["cxx"]
+        msg = "cannot retrieve C++ compiler [spec is not concrete]"
+        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
+
+    @property
+    def fortran(self):
+        if self.spec.external:
+            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["fortran"]
+        msg = "cannot retrieve Fortran compiler [spec is not concrete]"
+        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nag/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nag/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..df2bbe9bbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nag/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nagfor
+    script: |
+      echo "NAG Fortran Compiler Release 6.0(Hibiya) Build 1037"
+      echo "Product NPL6A60NA for x86-64 Linux"
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: nag@6.0.1037
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        fortran: ".*/bin/nagfor"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nag/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nag/package.py
index d00d11ea30..ab3adc9126 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nag/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nag/package.py
@@ -3,15 +3,11 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
 import os
-import re
 
-import llnl.util.tty as tty
-
-import spack.compiler
 from spack.package import *
 
 
-class Nag(Package):
+class Nag(Package, CompilerPackage):
     """The NAG Fortran Compiler."""
 
     homepage = "https://www.nag.com/nagware/np.asp"
@@ -64,54 +60,10 @@ def setup_run_environment(self, env):
         env.set("F77", self.prefix.bin.nagfor)
         env.set("FC", self.prefix.bin.nagfor)
 
-    executables = ["^nagfor$"]
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        version_regex = re.compile(r"NAG Fortran Compiler Release ([0-9.]+)")
-        # NAG does not support a flag that would enable verbose output and
-        # compilation/linking at the same time (with either '-#' or '-dryrun'
-        # the compiler only prints the commands but does not run them).
-        # Therefore, the only thing we can do is to pass the '-v' argument to
-        # the underlying GCC. In order to get verbose output from the latter
-        # at both compile and linking stages, we need to call NAG with two
-        # additional flags: '-Wc,-v' and '-Wl,-v'. However, we return only
-        # '-Wl,-v' for the following reasons:
-        #   1) the interface of this method does not support multiple flags in
-        #      the return value and, at least currently, verbose output at the
-        #      linking stage has a higher priority for us;
-        #   2) NAG is usually mixed with GCC compiler, which also accepts
-        #      '-Wl,-v' and produces meaningful result with it: '-v' is passed
-        #      to the linker and the latter produces verbose output for the
-        #      linking stage ('-Wc,-v', however, would break the compilation
-        #      with a message from GCC that the flag is not recognized).
-        #
-        # This way, we at least enable the implicit rpath detection, which is
-        # based on compilation of a C file (see method
-        # spack.compiler._get_compiler_link_paths): in the case of a mixed
-        # NAG/GCC toolchain, the flag will be passed to g++ (e.g.
-        # 'g++ -Wl,-v ./main.c'), otherwise, the flag will be passed to nagfor
-        # (e.g. 'nagfor -Wl,-v ./main.c' - note that nagfor recognizes '.c'
-        # extension and treats the file accordingly). The list of detected
-        # rpaths will contain only GCC-related directories and rpaths to
-        # NAG-related directories are injected by nagfor anyway.
-        try:
-            output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, "-Wl,-v")
-            match = version_regex.search(output)
-            if match:
-                return match.group(1)
-        except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
-            pass
-        except Exception as e:
-            tty.debug(e)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
-        compilers = {}
-        for exe in exes:
-            if "nagfor" in exe:
-                compilers["fortran"] = exe
-        return "", {"compilers": compilers}
+    compiler_languages = ["fortran"]
+    fortran_names = ["nagfor"]
+    compiler_version_regex = r"NAG Fortran Compiler Release (\d+).(\d+)\(.*\) Build (\d+)"
+    compiler_version_argument = "-V"
 
     @property
     def fortran(self):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nvhpc/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nvhpc/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bdf1c6b596
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nvhpc/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvc
+    script: |
+      echo "nvc 20.9-0 LLVM 64-bit target on x86-64 Linux -tp haswell"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvc++
+    script: |
+      echo "nvc++ 20.9-0 LLVM 64-bit target on x86-64 Linux -tp haswell"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvfortran
+    script: |
+      echo "nvfortran 20.9-0 LLVM 64-bit target on x86-64 Linux -tp haswell"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: nvhpc@20.9~blas~lapack~mpi
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/nvc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/nvc++"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/nvfortran"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvc
+    script: |
+      echo "nvc 20.9-0 linuxpower target on Linuxpower"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvc++
+    script: |
+      echo "nvc++ 20.9-0 linuxpower target on Linuxpower"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvfortran
+    script: |
+      echo "nvfortran 20.9-0 linuxpower target on Linuxpower"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: nvhpc@20.9~blas~lapack~mpi
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/nvc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/nvc++"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/nvfortran"
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvc
+    script: |
+      echo "nvc 20.9-0 linuxarm64 target on aarch64 Linux"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvc++
+    script: |
+      echo "nvc++ 20.9-0 linuxarm64 target on aarch64 Linux"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  - executables:
+    - bin/nvfortran
+    script: |
+      echo "nvfortran 20.9-0 linuxarm64 target on aarch64 Linux"
+      echo "NVIDIA Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2020, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: nvhpc@20.9~blas~lapack~mpi
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/nvc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/nvc++"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/nvfortran"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nvhpc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nvhpc/package.py
index bc11e64a39..17a9eecb7d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nvhpc/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nvhpc/package.py
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@
 }
 
 
-class Nvhpc(Package):
+class Nvhpc(Package, CompilerPackage):
     """The NVIDIA HPC SDK is a comprehensive suite of compilers, libraries
     and tools essential to maximizing developer productivity and the
     performance and portability of HPC applications. The NVIDIA HPC
@@ -419,6 +419,20 @@ class Nvhpc(Package):
 
     requires("%gcc", msg="nvhpc must be installed with %gcc")
 
+    # For now we only detect compiler components
+    # It will require additional work to detect mpi/lapack/blas components
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["nvc"]
+    cxx_names = ["nvc++"]
+    fortran_names = ["nvfortran"]
+    compiler_version_argument = "--version"
+    compiler_version_regex = r"nv[^ ]* (?:[^ ]+ Dev-r)?([0-9.]+)(?:-[0-9]+)?"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
+        # TODO: use other exes to determine default_cuda/install_type/blas/lapack/mpi variants
+        return "~blas~lapack~mpi", {"compilers": cls.determine_compiler_paths(exes=exes)}
+
     def _version_prefix(self):
         return join_path(self.prefix, "Linux_%s" % self.spec.target.family, self.version)
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pgi/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pgi/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1a4745fc4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pgi/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - bin/pgcc
+    script: |
+      echo "pgcc 15.10-0 64-bit target on x86-64 Linux -tp sandybridge"
+      echo "The Portland Group - PGI Compilers and Tools"
+      echo "Copyright (c) 2015, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved."
+  platforms: [linux]
+  results:
+  - spec: pgi@15.10
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pgi/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pgi/package.py
index 995e27ee39..37196669cf 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pgi/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pgi/package.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from spack.util.prefix import Prefix
 
 
-class Pgi(Package):
+class Pgi(Package, CompilerPackage):
     """PGI optimizing multi-core x64 compilers for Linux, MacOS & Windows
     with support for debugging and profiling of local MPI processes.
 
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ def url_for_version(self, version):
                 os.getcwd(), version.up_to(1), version.joined
             )
 
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["pgcc"]
+    cxx_names = ["pgc++", "pgCC"]
+    fortran_names = ["pgfortran"]  # older names long deprecated
+    compiler_version_argument = "-V"
+    compiler_version_regex = r"pg[^ ]* ([0-9.]+)-[0-9]+ (?:LLVM )?[^ ]+ target on "
+
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         # Enable the silent installation feature
         os.environ["PGI_SILENT"] = "true"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xl/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xl/detection_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da7b2fa92f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xl/detection_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+paths:
+- layout:
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/xlc"
+    - "bin/xlc++"
+    - "bin/xlc_r"
+    - "bin/xlc++_r"
+    script: |
+      echo "IBM XL C/C++ for Linux, V16.1.1 (5725-C73, 5765-J13)"
+      echo "Version: 16.01.0001.0006"
+  - executables:
+    - "bin/xlf"
+    - "bin/xlf_r"
+    - "bin/xlcuf"
+    script: |
+      echo "IBM XL Fortran for Linux, V16.1.1 (5725-C73, 5765-J13)"
+      echo "Version: 16.01.0001.0006"
+  platforms: ["linux"]
+  results:
+  - spec: "xl~r@16.1"
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/xlc"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/xlc[+][+]"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/xlf"
+  - spec: "xl+r@16.1"
+    extra_attributes:
+      compilers:
+        c: ".*/bin/xlc_r"
+        cxx: ".*/bin/xlc[+][+]_r"
+        fortran: ".*/bin/xlf_r"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xl/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xl/package.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..479d31b548
--- /dev/null
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xl/package.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# Copyright 2013-2024 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other
+# Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
+from spack.package import *
+
+
+class Xl(Package, CompilerPackage):
+    """IBM XL C/C++/Fortran is an advanced, high-performance compiler that can be
+    used for developing complex, computationally intensive programs, including
+    interlanguage calls with C and Fortran programs.
+    """
+
+    homepage = "https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSXVZZ_16.1.1/com.ibm.compilers.linux.doc/welcome.html"
+
+    variant("r", default=True, description="The _r version of compilers")
+
+    def install(self, spec, prefix):
+        raise InstallError(
+            "XL compilers are not installable yet, but can be "
+            "detected on a system where they are supplied by vendor"
+        )
+
+    compiler_languages = ["c", "cxx", "fortran"]
+    c_names = ["xlc", "xlc_r"]
+    cxx_names = ["xlc++", "xlC", "xlc++_r", "xlC_r"]
+    fortran_names = ["xlf", "xlf_r"]  # TODO complete this
+    compiler_version_argument = "-qversion"
+    compiler_version_regex = r"([0-9]?[0-9]\.[0-9])"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
+        _r_exes = [e for e in exes if "_r" in e]
+        _exes = [e for e in exes if "_r" not in e]
+
+        _r_compilers = cls.determine_compiler_paths(exes=_r_exes) if _r_exes else None
+        _compilers = cls.determine_compiler_paths(exes=_exes) if _exes else None
+
+        results = []
+        if _r_compilers:
+            results.append(("+r", {"compilers": _r_compilers}))
+        if _compilers:
+            results.append(("~r", {"compilers": _compilers}))
+        return results
+
+    @property
+    def cc(self):
+        if self.spec.external:
+            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["c"]
+        msg = "cannot retrieve C compiler [spec is not concrete]"
+        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
+
+    @property
+    def cxx(self):
+        if self.spec.external:
+            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["cxx"]
+        msg = "cannot retrieve C++ compiler [spec is not concrete]"
+        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
+
+    @property
+    def fortran(self):
+        if self.spec.external:
+            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["fortran"]
+        msg = "cannot retrieve Fortran compiler [spec is not concrete]"
+        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlc/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlc/detection_test.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 5bc2c1f13b..0000000000
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlc/detection_test.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-paths:
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-          - "bin/xlc"
-          - "bin/xlc++"
-          - "bin/xlc_r"
-          - "bin/xlc++_r"
-        script: |
-          echo "IBM XL C/C++ for Linux, V16.1.1 (5725-C73, 5765-J13)"
-          echo "Version: 16.01.0001.0006"
-      - executables:
-          - "bin/xlcuf"
-        script: |
-          echo "IBM XL Fortran for Linux, V16.1.1 (5725-C73, 5765-J13)"
-          echo "Version: 16.01.0001.0006"
-    platforms: ["linux"]
-    results:
-      - spec: "xlc+r@16.1"
-      - spec: "xlc~r@16.1"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlc/package.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 983db7739b..0000000000
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlc/package.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2013-2024 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other
-# Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
-#
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
-import collections
-import re
-
-import llnl.util.tty as tty
-
-import spack.compiler
-from spack.package import *
-
-
-class Xlc(Package):
-    """IBM XL C/C++ is an advanced, high-performance compiler that can be
-    used for developing complex, computationally intensive programs, including
-    interlanguage calls with C and Fortran programs.
-    """
-
-    homepage = "https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSXVZZ_16.1.1/com.ibm.compilers.linux.doc/welcome.html"
-
-    variant("r", default=True, description="The _r version of compilers")
-
-    def install(self, spec, prefix):
-        raise InstallError(
-            "XL compilers are not installable yet, but can be "
-            "detected on a system where they are supplied by vendor"
-        )
-
-    executables = [r"xlc", r"xlC", r"xlc\+\+"]
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        version_regex = re.compile(r"([0-9]?[0-9]\.[0-9])")
-        try:
-            output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, "-qversion")
-            # Exclude spurious Fortran compilers
-            if "Fortran" in output:
-                return None
-
-            match = version_regex.search(output)
-            if match:
-                return match.group(1)
-        except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
-            pass
-        except Exception as e:
-            tty.debug(str(e))
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
-        variants = collections.defaultdict(dict)
-        for exe in exes:
-            # Determine the variant of the spec
-            variant_str = "+r" if "_r" in exe else "~r"
-            if "xlc++" in exe:
-                variants[variant_str]["cxx"] = exe
-                continue
-
-            if "xlc" in exe:
-                variants[variant_str]["c"] = exe
-                continue
-
-        results = []
-        for variant_str, compilers in variants.items():
-            results.append((variant_str, {"compilers": compilers}))
-
-        return results
-
-    @property
-    def cc(self):
-        if self.spec.external:
-            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["c"]
-        msg = "cannot retrieve C compiler [spec is not concrete]"
-        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
-
-    @property
-    def cxx(self):
-        if self.spec.external:
-            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["cxx"]
-        msg = "cannot retrieve C compiler [spec is not concrete]"
-        assert self.spec.concrete, msg
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlf/detection_test.yaml b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlf/detection_test.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 1ba6955a94..0000000000
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlf/detection_test.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-paths:
-  - layout:
-      - executables:
-          - "bin/xlf"
-          - "bin/xlf_r"
-        script: |
-          echo "IBM XL Fortran for Linux, V16.1.1 (5725-C73, 5765-J13)"
-          echo "Version: 16.01.0001.0006"
-    platforms: ["linux"]
-    results:
-      - spec: "xlf+r@16.1"
-      - spec: "xlf~r@16.1"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlf/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlf/package.py
deleted file mode 100644
index dc26e7fd91..0000000000
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xlf/package.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,69 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2013-2024 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other
-# Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
-#
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
-import collections
-import os.path
-import re
-
-import llnl.util.tty as tty
-
-import spack.compiler
-from spack.package import *
-
-
-class Xlf(Package):
-    """IBM XL Fortran is an advanced, high-performance compiler that can be
-    used for developing complex, computationally intensive programs, including
-    interlanguage calls with C and Fortran programs.
-    """
-
-    homepage = "https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSXVZZ_16.1.1/com.ibm.compilers.linux.doc/welcome.html"
-
-    variant("r", default=True, description="The _r version of compilers")
-
-    def install(self, spec, prefix):
-        raise InstallError(
-            "XL compilers are not installable yet, but can be "
-            "detected on a system where they are supplied by vendor"
-        )
-
-    executables = [r"xlf"]
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_version(cls, exe):
-        version_regex = re.compile(r"([0-9]?[0-9]\.[0-9])")
-        try:
-            output = spack.compiler.get_compiler_version_output(exe, "-qversion")
-            match = version_regex.search(output)
-            if match:
-                return match.group(1)
-        except spack.util.executable.ProcessError:
-            pass
-        except Exception as e:
-            tty.debug(e)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
-        variants = collections.defaultdict(dict)
-        for exe in exes:
-            if os.path.basename(exe) == "xlf":
-                variants["~r"]["fortran"] = exe
-                continue
-
-            if os.path.basename(exe) == "xlf_r":
-                variants["+r"]["fortran"] = exe
-                continue
-
-        results = []
-        for variant_str, compilers in variants.items():
-            results.append((variant_str, {"compilers": compilers}))
-
-        return results
-
-    @property
-    def fortran(self):
-        if self.spec.external:
-            return self.spec.extra_attributes["compilers"]["fortran"]
-        msg = "cannot retrieve C compiler [spec is not concrete]"
-        assert self.spec.concrete, msg