diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 9d2304c26..ed42e1b8c 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-#
 # This file is part of Mapnik (c++ mapping toolkit)
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2006 Artem Pavlenko, Jean-Francois Doyon
@@ -22,6 +21,17 @@
 
 import os, sys, platform
 
+def color_print(color,text):
+    # 1 - red
+    # 2 - green
+    # 3 - yellow
+    # 4 - blue
+    print "\033[9%sm%s\033[0m" % (color,text)
+
+# Helper function for uniquely appending paths to a SCons path listing.
+def uniq_add(env, key, val):
+    if not val in env[key]: env[key].append(val)
+
 if platform.uname()[4] == 'x86_64':
     LIBDIR_SCHEMA='lib64' 
 elif platform.uname()[4] == 'ppc64':
@@ -31,16 +41,38 @@ else:
 
 #### SCons build options and initial setup ####
 
+OVERWRITE_CONFIG = False
+
+SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG = 'config.py'
+
 # All of the following options may be modified at the command-line, for example:
-# `python scons/scons PREFIX=/opt`
-opts = Variables('config.py')
+# `python scons/scons.py PREFIX=/opt`
+opts = Variables()
+
+# Compiler options
 opts.Add('CXX', 'The C++ compiler to use (defaults to g++).', 'g++')
+opts.Add(EnumVariable('OPTIMIZATION','Set g++ optimization level','2', ['0','1','2','3']))
+# Note: setting DEBUG=True will override any custom OPTIMIZATION level
+opts.Add(BoolVariable('DEBUG', 'Compile a debug version of mapnik', 'False'))
+
+# Install Variables
 opts.Add('PREFIX', 'The install path "prefix"', '/usr/local')
+opts.Add('DESTDIR', 'The root directory to install into. Useful mainly for binary package building', '/')
+
+
+# SCons build behavior options
+opts.Add('CONFIG', 'The file and path of a SCons user config .py file', SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG)
+opts.Add(BoolVariable('SCONS_CACHE', 'Use SCons dependency caching to speed build process', 'False'))
+opts.Add(BoolVariable('USE_USER_ENV', 'Allow the SCons build env to inherit from the current user environment', 'True'))
+
+# Boost variables
 opts.Add(PathVariable('BOOST_INCLUDES', 'Search path for boost include files', '/usr/include'))
 opts.Add(PathVariable('BOOST_LIBS', 'Search path for boost library files', '/usr/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
 opts.Add('BOOST_TOOLKIT','Specify boost toolkit, e.g., gcc41.','',False)
 opts.Add('BOOST_ABI', 'Specify boost ABI, e.g., d.','',False)
 opts.Add('BOOST_VERSION','Specify boost version, e.g., 1_35.','',False)
+
+# Variables for required dependencies
 opts.Add(('FREETYPE_CONFIG', 'The path to the freetype-config executable.', 'freetype-config'))
 opts.Add(('XML2_CONFIG', 'The path to the xml2-config executable.', 'xml2-config'))
 opts.Add(PathVariable('ICU_INCLUDES', 'Search path for ICU include files', '/usr/include'))
@@ -51,35 +83,101 @@ opts.Add(PathVariable('JPEG_INCLUDES', 'Search path for libjpeg include files',
 opts.Add(PathVariable('JPEG_LIBS', 'Search path for libjpeg library files', '/usr/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
 opts.Add(PathVariable('TIFF_INCLUDES', 'Search path for libtiff include files', '/usr/include'))
 opts.Add(PathVariable('TIFF_LIBS', 'Search path for libtiff library files', '/usr/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
-opts.Add(PathVariable('PGSQL_INCLUDES', 'Search path for PostgreSQL include files', '/usr/include/postgresql', PathVariable.PathAccept))
-opts.Add(PathVariable('PGSQL_LIBS', 'Search path for PostgreSQL library files', '/usr/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
 opts.Add(PathVariable('PROJ_INCLUDES', 'Search path for PROJ.4 include files', '/usr/local/include'))
 opts.Add(PathVariable('PROJ_LIBS', 'Search path for PROJ.4 library files', '/usr/local/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
-opts.Add(PathVariable('GDAL_INCLUDES', 'Search path for GDAL include files', '/usr/include/gdal', PathVariable.PathAccept))
-opts.Add(PathVariable('GDAL_LIBS', 'Search path for GDAL library files', '/usr/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
-opts.Add(PathVariable('PYTHON','Python executable', sys.executable))
-opts.Add(ListVariable('INPUT_PLUGINS','Input drivers to include','all',['postgis','shape','raster','gdal']))
-opts.Add(ListVariable('BINDINGS','Language bindings to build','all',['python']))
-opts.Add(BoolVariable('DEBUG', 'Compile a debug version of mapnik', 'False'))
-opts.Add('DESTDIR', 'The root directory to install into. Useful mainly for binary package building', '/')
-opts.Add(EnumVariable('THREADING','Set threading support','multi', ['multi','single']))
-opts.Add(EnumVariable('XMLPARSER','Set xml parser ','tinyxml', ['tinyxml','spirit','libxml2']))
+
+# Variables affecting rendering backends
 opts.Add(BoolVariable('INTERNAL_LIBAGG', 'Use provided libagg', 'True'))
 
-env = Environment(ENV=os.environ, options=opts)
 
-def color_print(color,text):
-    # 1 - red
-    # 2 - green
-    # 3 - yellow
-    # 4 - blue
-    print "\033[9%sm%s\033[0m" % (color,text)
+# Variables for optional dependencies
+# Note: Cairo, Cairomm, and PyCairo all optional but configured automatically through pkg-config
+# Therefore, we use a single boolean for whether to attempt to build cairo support.
+opts.Add(BoolVariable('CAIRO', 'Attempt to build with Cairo rendering support', 'True'))
+opts.Add(ListVariable('INPUT_PLUGINS','Input drivers to include','all',['postgis','shape','raster','gdal']))
+opts.Add(PathVariable('PGSQL_INCLUDES', 'Search path for PostgreSQL include files', '/usr/include/postgresql', PathVariable.PathAccept))
+opts.Add(PathVariable('PGSQL_LIBS', 'Search path for PostgreSQL library files', '/usr/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
+opts.Add(PathVariable('GDAL_INCLUDES', 'Search path for GDAL include files', '/usr/include/gdal', PathVariable.PathAccept))
+opts.Add(PathVariable('GDAL_LIBS', 'Search path for GDAL library files', '/usr/' + LIBDIR_SCHEMA))
+
+# Other variables
+opts.Add(PathVariable('PYTHON','Python executable', sys.executable))
+opts.Add(ListVariable('BINDINGS','Language bindings to build','all',['python']))
+opts.Add(EnumVariable('THREADING','Set threading support','multi', ['multi','single']))
+opts.Add(EnumVariable('XMLPARSER','Set xml parser ','libxml2', ['tinyxml','spirit','libxml2']))
+
+# Construct the SCons build environment as a union of the users environment and the `opts`
+
+
+# Build up base environment, then reinitate based on user constomizations.
+
+# This method seems unpythonic and a bit dodgy, but it works.
+# It seems that creating an alternative environment that loads user options
+# and then updating the main env using those options is the more logical route
+# But my testing indicate that something like:
+# >>>user_opts = Variables([env['CONFIG']])
+# >>> user_opts.Update(env)
+# does not seem to work as expected.
+
+# Create clean environment with only the options within this SConstruct file
+color_print(4,'Constructing build environment...')
+env = Environment(options=opts)
+
+# Unless USE_USER_ENV=False, recreate the base environment
+# using all variables (for example) in the shell users .profile or /etc/profile
+if env['USE_USER_ENV']:
+    env = Environment(ENV=os.environ,options=opts)
+else:
+    # Default has been overridden, so print a warning
+    color_print(4,'USER_USER_ENV specified as false, will not inherit variables from user environment...')
+
+# Unless USE_USER_ENV=False, recreate the base environment
+# using all variables (for example) in the shell users .profile or /etc/profile
+user_conf = env['CONFIG']
+if not user_conf == '' and not user_conf == 'n' and user_conf:
+    if not user_conf.endswith('.py'):
+        color_print(1,'SCONS_USER_CONFIG file specified is not a python file, will not be read...')
+    else:
+        # Accept more than one file as comma-delimited list
+        user_confs = user_conf.split(',')
+        # If they exist add the files to the existing `opts`
+        for conf in user_confs:
+            if os.path.exists(conf):
+                opts.files.append(conf)
+                color_print(4,"SCons CONFIG found: '%s', settings with be included..." % conf)
+            elif not conf == SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG:
+                # if default missing, no worries
+                # but if default is overriden and file not found, give warning
+                color_print(1,"SCONS_USER_CONFIG file: '%s' could not be found..." % conf)
+        # Recreate the base environment using modified `opts`
+        env = Environment(ENV=os.environ,options=opts)
+else:
+    color_print(4,'SCONS_USER_CONFIG specified as false, will not inherit variables python config file')
+
+#Progress(['/\r', '|\r', '\\\r', '-\r'], interval=5, file=open('/dev/tty', 'w'))
+
+env['MISSING_DEPS'] = []
+env['SKIPPED_DEPS'] = []
 
 env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] = LIBDIR_SCHEMA
 env['PLATFORM'] = platform.uname()[0]
-color_print (4,"Building on %s ..." % env['PLATFORM'])
+
+if env['DEBUG']:
+  mode = 'debug mode'
+else:
+  mode = 'release mode'
+
+color_print (4,"Building on %s in *%s*..." % (env['PLATFORM'],mode))
 Help(opts.GenerateHelpText(env))
 
+if env['SCONS_CACHE']:
+    pass # caching is 'auto' by default in SCons
+else:
+    # Set the cache mode to 'force' unless requested, avoiding hidden caching of Scons 'opts' in '.sconsign.dblite'
+    # This allows for a 'user_config.py', if present, to be used as the primary means of storing paths to succesful build depedencies
+    from SCons.SConf import SetCacheMode
+    SetCacheMode('force')
+
 thread_suffix = 'mt'
 if env['PLATFORM'] == 'FreeBSD':
     thread_suffix = ''
@@ -97,15 +195,12 @@ def CheckPKG(context, name):
     context.Result( ret )
     return ret
 
+
 conf = Configure(env, custom_tests = { 'CheckPKGConfig' : CheckPKGConfig,
                                        'CheckPKG' : CheckPKG })
 
 #### Libraries and headers dependency checks ####
 
-# Helper function for uniquely appending paths to a SCons path listing.
-def uniq_add(env, key, val):
-    if not val in env[key]: env[key].append(val)
-
 # Libraries and headers dependency checks
 env['CPPPATH'] = ['#tinyxml', '#include', '#']
 env['LIBPATH'] = ['#src']
@@ -138,6 +233,8 @@ if env['INTERNAL_LIBAGG']:
 else:
     env.ParseConfig('pkg-config --libs --cflags libagg')
 
+        
+
 # Adding the prerequisite library directories to the include path for
 # compiling and the library path for linking, respectively.
 for prereq in ('BOOST', 'PNG', 'JPEG', 'TIFF', 'PGSQL', 'PROJ', 'GDAL',):
@@ -146,17 +243,19 @@ for prereq in ('BOOST', 'PNG', 'JPEG', 'TIFF', 'PGSQL', 'PROJ', 'GDAL',):
     uniq_add(env, 'CPPPATH', inc_path)
     uniq_add(env, 'LIBPATH', lib_path)
     
-env.ParseConfig(env['FREETYPE_CONFIG'] + ' --libs --cflags')
- 
-if conf.CheckPKGConfig('0.15.0') and conf.CheckPKG('cairomm-1.0'):
-    env.ParseConfig('pkg-config --libs --cflags cairomm-1.0')
-    env.Append(CXXFLAGS = '-DHAVE_CAIRO')
+try:
+    env.ParseConfig(env['FREETYPE_CONFIG'] + ' --libs --cflags')
+except OSError:
+    env['MISSING_DEPS'].append(env['FREETYPE_CONFIG'])
 
 if env['XMLPARSER'] == 'tinyxml':
     env.Append(CXXFLAGS = '-DBOOST_PROPERTY_TREE_XML_PARSER_TINYXML -DTIXML_USE_STL')
 elif env['XMLPARSER'] == 'libxml2':
-    env.ParseConfig(env['XML2_CONFIG'] + ' --libs --cflags')
-    env.Append(CXXFLAGS = '-DHAVE_LIBXML2')
+    try:
+        env.ParseConfig(env['XML2_CONFIG'] + ' --libs --cflags')
+        env.Append(CXXFLAGS = '-DHAVE_LIBXML2')
+    except OSError:
+        env['MISSING_DEPS'].append(env['XML2_CONFIG'])
 
 C_LIBSHEADERS = [
     ['m', 'math.h', True],
@@ -169,6 +268,12 @@ C_LIBSHEADERS = [
     ['pq', 'libpq-fe.h', False]
 ]
 
+if env['CAIRO'] and conf.CheckPKGConfig('0.15.0') and conf.CheckPKG('cairomm-1.0'):
+        env.ParseConfig('pkg-config --libs --cflags cairomm-1.0')
+        env.Append(CXXFLAGS = '-DHAVE_CAIRO')
+else:
+   env['SKIPPED_DEPS'].extend(['cairo','cairomm','pycairo'])
+        
 CXX_LIBSHEADERS = [
     ['icuuc','unicode/unistr.h',True],
     ['icudata','unicode/utypes.h' , True],
@@ -202,14 +307,27 @@ else:
     thread_flag = ''
 
 for libinfo in C_LIBSHEADERS:
-    if not conf.CheckLibWithHeader(libinfo[0], libinfo[1], 'C') and libinfo[2]:
-        color_print (1,'Could not find header or shared library for %s, exiting!' % libinfo[0])
-        Exit(1)
+    if not conf.CheckLibWithHeader(libinfo[0], libinfo[1], 'C'):
+        if libinfo[2]:
+            color_print (1,'Could not find required header or shared library for %s' % libinfo[0])
+            env['MISSING_DEPS'].append(libinfo[0])
+        else:
+            color_print(4,'Could not find optional header or shared library for %s' % libinfo[0])
+            if libinfo[0] == 'pq':
+                # Make `pq` lib more understandable
+                env['SKIPPED_DEPS'].append('pq (postgres/postgis)')
+            else:
+                env['SKIPPED_DEPS'].append(libinfo[0])
+        
 
 for libinfo in CXX_LIBSHEADERS:
-    if not conf.CheckLibWithHeader(libinfo[0], libinfo[1], 'C++') and libinfo[2]:
-        color_print(1,'Could not find header or shared library for %s, exiting!' % libinfo[0])
-        Exit(1)
+    if not conf.CheckLibWithHeader(libinfo[0], libinfo[1], 'C++'):
+        if libinfo[2]:
+            color_print(1,'Could not find required header or shared library for %s' % libinfo[0])
+            env['MISSING_DEPS'].append(libinfo[0])
+        else:
+            color_print(4,'Could not find optional header or shared library for %s' % libinfo[0])
+            env['SKIPPED_DEPS'].append(libinfo[0])
 
 # Creating BOOST_APPEND according to the Boost library naming order,
 # which goes <toolset>-<threading>-<abi>-<version>. See:
@@ -229,114 +347,147 @@ else:
 
 for count, libinfo in enumerate(BOOST_LIBSHEADERS):
     if thread_flag:
-        if not conf.CheckLibWithHeader('boost_%s%s' % (libinfo[0],env['BOOST_APPEND']), libinfo[1], 'C++') and libinfo[2]:
-            color_print(1,'Could not find header or shared library for boost %s, exiting!' % libinfo[0])
-            Exit(1)
+        if not conf.CheckLibWithHeader('boost_%s%s' % (libinfo[0],env['BOOST_APPEND']), libinfo[1], 'C++'):
+            if libinfo[2]:
+              color_print(1,'Could not find required header or shared library for boost %s' % libinfo[0])
+              env['MISSING_DEPS'].append('boost ' + libinfo[0])
+            else:
+              color_print(4,'Could not find optional header or shared library for boost %s' % libinfo[0])
+              env['SKIPPED_DEPS'].append('boost ' + libinfo[0])
+              
     elif not conf.CheckLibWithHeader('boost_%s%s' % (libinfo[0], env['BOOST_APPEND']), libinfo[1], 'C++') :
-        color_print(1,'Could not find header or shared library for boost %s, exiting!' % libinfo[0])
-        Exit(1)    
-  
-Export('env')
-Export('conf')
+        color_print(1,'Could not find header or shared library for boost %s' % libinfo[0])
+        env['MISSING_DEPS'].append('boost ' + libinfo[0])
+              
+#### End Config Stage ####
 
-inputplugins = [ driver.strip() for driver in Split(env['INPUT_PLUGINS'])]
-
-bindings = [ binding.strip() for binding in Split(env['BINDINGS'])]
-
-#### Build instructions & settings ####
-
-# Build agg first, doesn't need anything special
-if env['INTERNAL_LIBAGG']:
-    SConscript('agg/SConscript')
-
-# Build the core library
-SConscript('src/SConscript')
-
-# Build shapeindex and remove its dependency from the LIBS
-if 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'] in env['LIBS']:
-    SConscript('utils/shapeindex/SConscript')
-    env['LIBS'].remove('boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
-else :
-    color_print(1,"WARNING: Cannot find boost_program_options. 'shapeindex' won't be available")
-
-# Build the input plug-ins
-if 'postgis' in inputplugins and 'pq' in env['LIBS']:
-    SConscript('plugins/input/postgis/SConscript')
-    env['LIBS'].remove('pq')
-
-if 'shape' in inputplugins:
-    SConscript('plugins/input/shape/SConscript')
-
-if 'raster' in inputplugins:
-    SConscript('plugins/input/raster/SConscript')
-
-if 'gdal' in inputplugins and 'gdal' in env['LIBS']:
-    SConscript('plugins/input/gdal/SConscript')
-
-if 'gigabase' in inputplugins and 'gigabase_r' in env['LIBS']:
-    SConscript('plugins/input/gigabase/SConscript')
-
-# Build the Python bindings.
-if 'python' in env['BINDINGS']:
-    if not os.access(env['PYTHON'], os.X_OK):
-        color_print(1,"Cannot run python interpreter at '%s', make sure that you have the permissions to execute it." % env['PYTHON'])
-        Exit(1)
-
-    env['PYTHON_PREFIX'] = os.popen("%s -c 'import sys; print sys.prefix'" % env['PYTHON']).read().strip()
-    env['PYTHON_VERSION'] = os.popen("%s -c 'import sys; print sys.version'" % env['PYTHON']).read()[0:3]
-
-    color_print(4,'Bindings Python version... %s' % env['PYTHON_VERSION'])
-
-    majver, minver = env['PYTHON_VERSION'].split('.')
-
-    if (int(majver), int(minver)) < (2, 2):
-        color_print(1,"Python version 2.2 or greater required")
-        Exit(1)
-
-    color_print(4,'Python %s prefix... %s' % (env['PYTHON_VERSION'], env['PYTHON_PREFIX']))
-
-    SConscript('bindings/python/SConscript')
+if env['MISSING_DEPS']:
+    # if required dependencies are missing, print warnings and then let SCons finish without building or saving local config
+    color_print(1,'\nExiting... the following required dependencies were not found:\n   - %s' % '\n   - '.join(env['MISSING_DEPS']))
+   
+    if env['SKIPPED_DEPS']:
+        color_print(4,'\nAlso the these optional dependencies were skipped:\n   - %s' % '\n   - '.join(env['SKIPPED_DEPS']))
     
-env = conf.Finish()
-
-# Common C++ flags.
-if env['THREADING'] == 'multi' :
-    common_cxx_flags = '-D%s -DBOOST_SPIRIT_THREADSAFE -DMAPNIK_THREADSAFE ' % env['PLATFORM'].upper()
-else :
-    common_cxx_flags = '-D%s ' % env['PLATFORM'].upper()
+    color_print(4,"\n\nSet custom paths to these libraries and header files on the commandline or in a file called '%s'\n\nTo view available path variables:\n    $ python scons/scons.py --help or -h" % SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG)
     
-# Mac OSX (Darwin) special settings
-if env['PLATFORM'] == 'Darwin':
-    pthread = ''
-    # Getting the macintosh version number, sticking as a compiler macro
-    # for Leopard -- needed because different workarounds are needed than
-    # for Tiger.
-    if platform.mac_ver()[0].startswith('10.5'):
-        common_cxx_flags += '-DOSX_LEOPARD '
+    color_print(4,'\n\nTo see overall SCons help options:\n    $ python scons/scons.py --help-options or -H\n')
+    
+    color_print(4,'More info: http://trac.mapnik.org/wiki/MapnikInstallation')
+    
+    # Need some way to exit cleanly here...
+    # calling Exit() does not work because that will abort the users ability to get help
+    env = conf.Finish()
+    #Exit()
 else:
-    pthread = '-pthread'
+    # Save the custom variables in a config.py that will be reloaded to allow for `install` without re-specifying custom variables
+    color_print(4,"All Required dependencies found!")
+    if OVERWRITE_CONFIG:
+      color_print(4,"Saving '%s' file to hold successful path variables." % SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG)
+      if os.path.exists(SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG):
+        os.unlink(SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG)
+    # Serialize all user customizations into local config file
+    opts.Save(SCONS_LOCAL_CONFIG,env)
 
-# Common debugging flags.
-debug_flags  = '-g -DDEBUG -DMAPNIK_DEBUG'
-ndebug_flags = '-DNDEBUG'
-
-# Customizing the C++ compiler flags depending on: 
-#  (1) the C++ compiler used; and
-#  (2) whether debug binaries are requested.
-if SUNCC:
-    if env['DEBUG']:
-        env.Append(CXXFLAGS = common_cxx_flags + debug_flags)
+    Export('env')
+    Export('conf')
+    
+    inputplugins = [ driver.strip() for driver in Split(env['INPUT_PLUGINS'])]
+    
+    bindings = [ binding.strip() for binding in Split(env['BINDINGS'])]
+    
+    #### Build instructions & settings ####
+    
+    # Build agg first, doesn't need anything special
+    if env['INTERNAL_LIBAGG']:
+        SConscript('agg/SConscript')
+    
+    # Build the core library
+    SConscript('src/SConscript')
+    
+    # Build shapeindex and remove its dependency from the LIBS
+    if 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'] in env['LIBS']:
+        SConscript('utils/shapeindex/SConscript')
+        env['LIBS'].remove('boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
+    else :
+        color_print(1,"WARNING: Cannot find boost_program_options. 'shapeindex' won't be available")
+    
+    # Build the input plug-ins
+    if 'postgis' in inputplugins and 'pq' in env['LIBS']:
+        SConscript('plugins/input/postgis/SConscript')
+        env['LIBS'].remove('pq')
+    
+    if 'shape' in inputplugins:
+        SConscript('plugins/input/shape/SConscript')
+    
+    if 'raster' in inputplugins:
+        SConscript('plugins/input/raster/SConscript')
+    
+    if 'gdal' in inputplugins and 'gdal' in env['LIBS']:
+        SConscript('plugins/input/gdal/SConscript')
+    
+    if 'gigabase' in inputplugins and 'gigabase_r' in env['LIBS']:
+        SConscript('plugins/input/gigabase/SConscript')
+    
+    # Build the Python bindings.
+    if 'python' in env['BINDINGS']:
+        if not os.access(env['PYTHON'], os.X_OK):
+            color_print(1,"Cannot run python interpreter at '%s', make sure that you have the permissions to execute it." % env['PYTHON'])
+            Exit(1)
+    
+        env['PYTHON_PREFIX'] = os.popen("%s -c 'import sys; print sys.prefix'" % env['PYTHON']).read().strip()
+        env['PYTHON_VERSION'] = os.popen("%s -c 'import sys; print sys.version'" % env['PYTHON']).read()[0:3]
+    
+        color_print(4,'Bindings Python version... %s' % env['PYTHON_VERSION'])
+    
+        majver, minver = env['PYTHON_VERSION'].split('.')
+    
+        if (int(majver), int(minver)) < (2, 2):
+            color_print(1,"Python version 2.2 or greater required")
+            Exit(1)
+    
+        color_print(4,'Python %s prefix... %s' % (env['PYTHON_VERSION'], env['PYTHON_PREFIX']))
+    
+        SConscript('bindings/python/SConscript')
+        
+    env = conf.Finish()
+    
+    # Common C++ flags.
+    if env['THREADING'] == 'multi' :
+        common_cxx_flags = '-D%s -DBOOST_SPIRIT_THREADSAFE -DMAPNIK_THREADSAFE ' % env['PLATFORM'].upper()
+    else :
+        common_cxx_flags = '-D%s ' % env['PLATFORM'].upper()
+        
+    # Mac OSX (Darwin) special settings
+    if env['PLATFORM'] == 'Darwin':
+        pthread = ''
+        # Getting the macintosh version number, sticking as a compiler macro
+        # for Leopard -- needed because different workarounds are needed than
+        # for Tiger.
+        if platform.mac_ver()[0].startswith('10.5'):
+            common_cxx_flags += '-DOSX_LEOPARD '
     else:
-        env.Append(CXXFLAGS = common_cxx_flags + '-O %s' % ndebug_flags)
-else:
-    # Common flags for GCC.
-    gcc_cxx_flags = '-ansi -Wall %s -ftemplate-depth-100 %s' % (pthread, common_cxx_flags)
-
-    if env['DEBUG']:
-        env.Append(CXXFLAGS = gcc_cxx_flags + '-O0 -fno-inline %s' % debug_flags)
+        pthread = '-pthread'
+    
+    # Common debugging flags.
+    debug_flags  = '-g -DDEBUG -DMAPNIK_DEBUG'
+    ndebug_flags = '-DNDEBUG'
+    
+    # Customizing the C++ compiler flags depending on: 
+    #  (1) the C++ compiler used; and
+    #  (2) whether debug binaries are requested.
+    if SUNCC:
+        if env['DEBUG']:
+            env.Append(CXXFLAGS = common_cxx_flags + debug_flags)
+        else:
+            env.Append(CXXFLAGS = common_cxx_flags + '-O %s' % ndebug_flags)
     else:
-        env.Append(CXXFLAGS = gcc_cxx_flags + '-O2 -finline-functions -Wno-inline %s' % ndebug_flags)
-
-
-SConscript('fonts/SConscript')
-
+        # Common flags for GCC.
+        gcc_cxx_flags = '-ansi -Wall %s -ftemplate-depth-100 %s' % (pthread, common_cxx_flags)
+    
+        if env['DEBUG']:
+            env.Append(CXXFLAGS = gcc_cxx_flags + '-O0 -fno-inline %s' % debug_flags)
+        else:
+            env.Append(CXXFLAGS = gcc_cxx_flags + '-O%s -finline-functions -Wno-inline %s' % (env['OPTIMIZATION'],ndebug_flags))
+    
+    
+    SConscript('fonts/SConscript')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bindings/python/SConscript b/bindings/python/SConscript
index d054af42e..bd5480e8f 100644
--- a/bindings/python/SConscript
+++ b/bindings/python/SConscript
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import os
 Import('env')
 Import('conf')
 
-if conf.CheckPKGConfig('0.15.0') and conf.CheckPKG('pycairo'):
+if env['CAIRO'] and conf.CheckPKGConfig('0.15.0') and conf.CheckPKG('pycairo'):
     env.ParseConfig('pkg-config --cflags pycairo')
     env.Append(CXXFLAGS = '-DHAVE_PYCAIRO');