We should investigate using another build system, specially one that doesn't use Makefile syntax/semantics :)

Contenders: - waf - scons (waf seems better) - minuteman (if larry hastings continue with the project) - cmake (very crazy one, probably terrible for the sort of meta stuff we need) - portage - pacman (both are for just one client and not very well documented how to use outside) - the tcl monster inside macports (ok just joking on this one) - homebrew one (quite nice, but not made for universal and made for just one client)

waf and scons are not a good fit as they are more about dependencies and not about meta-build

python fabric seems nice though

this can be revisited, but right now the build system rocks :)