distutils is able to handle...

[François Pinard]

[George Sakkis]

> I would suggest SCons (http://www.scons.org/), a modern
> make/automake/autoconf replacement that uses python for its
> configuration files instead of yet another cryptic half-baked
> mini-language or XML.

Python might not be the most legible way to describe what a Makefile
has to describe, it asks for more syntax that we really need.  On the
other hand, it is convenient having Python handy for extending the
capabilities of your description file, that is, having Python has a
provisional, supplementary card, instead the only and mandatory one.

I'm exploring with some pleasure Bram Moolenaar's A-A-P tool (see
http://www.a-a-p.org).  This is implemented in Python, but does not
force people into Python syntax for Makefiles.  It might be a nicer
compromise.  As usual from Bram, documentation is abundant and useful.

-- 
François Pinard   http://pinard.progiciels-bpi.ca