tl;dr: Zig has moved all package management functionality (fetching, HTTP/TLS, git, compression, build.zig.zon parsing) out of the compiler and into the build system's "maker" process, shrinking the compiler binary by 4% and allowing package management logic to be patched without rebuilding the compiler. The new process hierarchy (zig build → maker → configurer) also enables the maker process to persist across configuration reruns, which is important for the upcoming build server protocol needed to unblock ZLS. Package management now benefits from ReleaseSafe checks and host-specific CPU crypto instructions.