Waf is a Python-based framework for configuring, compiling and installing applications. Here are perhaps the most important features of Waf:
* *Automatic build order*: the build order is computed from input and output files, among others
* *Automatic dependencies*: tasks to execute are detected by hashing files and commands
* *Performance*: tasks are executed in parallel automatically, the startup time is meant to be fast (separation between configuration and build)
* *Flexibility*: new commands and tasks can be added very easily through subclassing, bottlenecks for specific builds can be eliminated through dynamic method replacement
* *Extensibility*: though many programming languages and compilers are already supported by default, many others are available as extensions
* *IDE support*: Eclipse, Visual Studio and Xcode project generators (waflib/extras/)
* *Documentation*: the application is based on a robust model documented in [The Waf Book](http://docs.waf.googlecode.com/git/book_18/single.html) and in the [API docs](http://docs.waf.googlecode.com/git/apidocs_17/index.html)
Waf is used in particular by innovative companies such as [Avalanche Studios](http://www.avalanchestudios.se) and by open-source projects such as [the Samba project](http://www.samba.org/). Learn more about Waf by reading [The Waf Book](http://docs.waf.googlecode.com/git/book_18/single.html).
For researchers and build system writers, Waf also provides a framework for creating [custom build systems](http://code.google.com/p/waf/source/browse/build_system_kit/) and [package distribution systems](http://code.google.com/p/waf/source/browse/playground/distnet/README.rst).
