diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 518806c..c3b5b7b 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -272,6 +272,7 @@
 # Make sure build_root exists (might not if this is the first build there)
 if not isdir(build_root):
     mkdir(build_root)
+main['BUILDROOT'] = build_root
 
 Export('main')
 
@@ -306,6 +307,7 @@
 global_sticky_vars_file = joinpath(build_root, 'variables.global')
 
 global_sticky_vars = Variables(global_sticky_vars_file, args=ARGUMENTS)
+global_nonsticky_vars = Variables(args=ARGUMENTS)
 
 global_sticky_vars.AddVariables(
     ('CC', 'C compiler', environ.get('CC', main['CC'])),
@@ -317,6 +319,12 @@
      PathListAllExist, PathListMakeAbsolute),
     )
 
+global_nonsticky_vars.AddVariables(
+    ('VERBOSE', 'Print full tool command lines', False),
+    ('update_ref', 'Update test reference outputs', False)
+    )
+
+
 # base help text
 help_text = '''
 Usage: scons [scons options] [build options] [target(s)]
@@ -326,8 +334,10 @@
 
 # Update main environment with values from ARGUMENTS & global_sticky_vars_file
 global_sticky_vars.Update(main)
+global_nonsticky_vars.Update(main)
 
 help_text += global_sticky_vars.GenerateHelpText(main)
+help_text += global_nonsticky_vars.GenerateHelpText(main)
 
 # Save sticky variable settings back to current variables file
 global_sticky_vars.Save(global_sticky_vars_file, main)
@@ -346,6 +356,40 @@
 # the ext directory should be on the #includes path
 main.Append(CPPPATH=[Dir('ext')])
 
+def _STRIP(path, env):
+    path = str(path)
+    variant_base = env['BUILDROOT'] + os.path.sep
+    if path.startswith(variant_base):
+        path = path[len(variant_base):]
+    elif path.startswith('build/'):
+        path = path[6:]
+    return path
+
+def _STRIP_SOURCE(target, source, env, for_signature):
+    return _STRIP(source[0], env)
+main['STRIP_SOURCE'] = _STRIP_SOURCE
+
+def _STRIP_TARGET(target, source, env, for_signature):
+    return _STRIP(target[0], env)
+main['STRIP_TARGET'] = _STRIP_TARGET
+
+if main['VERBOSE']:
+    def MakeAction(action, string, *args, **kwargs):
+        return Action(action, *args, **kwargs)
+else:
+    MakeAction = Action
+    main['CCCOMSTR']        = ' [      CC] $STRIP_SOURCE'
+    main['CXXCOMSTR']       = ' [     CXX] $STRIP_SOURCE'
+    main['ASCOMSTR']        = ' [      AS] $STRIP_SOURCE'
+    main['SWIGCOMSTR']      = ' [    SWIG] $STRIP_SOURCE'
+    main['ARCOMSTR']        = ' [      AR] $STRIP_TARGET'
+    main['LINKCOMSTR']      = ' [    LINK] $STRIP_TARGET'
+    main['RANLIBCOMSTR']    = ' [  RANLIB] $STRIP_TARGET'
+    main['M4COMSTR']        = ' [      M4] $STRIP_TARGET'
+    main['SHCCCOMSTR']      = ' [    SHCC] $STRIP_TARGET'
+    main['SHCXXCOMSTR']     = ' [   SHCXX] $STRIP_TARGET'
+Export('MakeAction')
+
 CXX_version = readCommand([main['CXX'],'--version'], exception=False)
 CXX_V = readCommand([main['CXX'],'-V'], exception=False)
 
@@ -666,10 +710,6 @@
 export_vars = []
 Export('export_vars')
 
-# Non-sticky variables only apply to the current build.
-nonsticky_vars = Variables(args=ARGUMENTS)
-Export('nonsticky_vars')
-
 # Walk the tree and execute all SConsopts scripts that wil add to the
 # above variables
 for bdir in [ base_dir ] + extras_dir_list:
@@ -706,10 +746,6 @@
     BoolVariable('RUBY', 'Build with Ruby', False),
     )
 
-nonsticky_vars.AddVariables(
-    BoolVariable('update_ref', 'Update test reference outputs', False)
-    )
-
 # These variables get exported to #defines in config/*.hh (see src/SConscript).
 export_vars += ['FULL_SYSTEM', 'USE_FENV', 'USE_MYSQL',
                 'NO_FAST_ALLOC', 'FAST_ALLOC_DEBUG', 'FAST_ALLOC_STATS',
@@ -787,15 +823,11 @@
         print >>f, '#include "%s/%s/%s"' % (dname, isa, basename(fname))
         f.close()
 
-    # String to print when generating header
-    def gen_switch_hdr_string(target, source, env):
-        return "Generating switch header " + str(target[0])
-
     # Build SCons Action object. 'varlist' specifies env vars that this
     # action depends on; when env['ALL_ISA_LIST'] changes these actions
     # should get re-executed.
-    switch_hdr_action = Action(gen_switch_hdr, gen_switch_hdr_string,
-                               varlist=['ALL_ISA_LIST'])
+    switch_hdr_action = MakeAction(gen_switch_hdr,
+                     " [GENERATE] $STRIP_TARGET", varlist=['ALL_ISA_LIST'])
 
     # Instantiate actions for each header
     for hdr in switch_headers:
@@ -852,12 +884,9 @@
 
     # Apply current variable settings to env
     sticky_vars.Update(env)
-    nonsticky_vars.Update(env)
 
     help_text += "\nSticky variables for %s:\n" % variant_dir \
-                 + sticky_vars.GenerateHelpText(env) \
-                 + "\nNon-sticky variables for %s:\n" % variant_dir \
-                 + nonsticky_vars.GenerateHelpText(env)
+                 + sticky_vars.GenerateHelpText(env)
 
     # Process variable settings.
 
diff --git a/src/SConscript b/src/SConscript
index c0718c6..524841d 100644
--- a/src/SConscript
+++ b/src/SConscript
@@ -289,7 +289,8 @@
 
     code.write(str(target[0]))
 
-env.Command('config/the_isa.hh', map(Value, all_isa_list), makeTheISA)
+env.Command('config/the_isa.hh', map(Value, all_isa_list),
+            MakeAction(makeTheISA, " [ CFG ISA] $STRIP_TARGET"))
 
 ########################################################################
 #
@@ -431,7 +432,8 @@
 
 defines_info = [ Value(build_env), Value(env['HG_INFO']) ]
 # Generate a file with all of the compile options in it
-env.Command('python/m5/defines.py', defines_info, makeDefinesPyFile)
+env.Command('python/m5/defines.py', defines_info,
+            MakeAction(makeDefinesPyFile, " [ DEFINES] $STRIP_TARGET"))
 PySource('m5', 'python/m5/defines.py')
 
 # Generate python file containing info about the M5 source code
@@ -445,7 +447,7 @@
 # Generate a file that wraps the basic top level files
 env.Command('python/m5/info.py',
             [ '#/AUTHORS', '#/LICENSE', '#/README', '#/RELEASE_NOTES' ],
-            makeInfoPyFile)
+            MakeAction(makeInfoPyFile, " [    INFO] $STRIP_TARGET"))
 PySource('m5', 'python/m5/info.py')
 
 ########################################################################
@@ -520,7 +522,8 @@
 
     hh_file = File('params/%s.hh' % name)
     params_hh_files.append(hh_file)
-    env.Command(hh_file, Value(name), createSimObjectParam)
+    env.Command(hh_file, Value(name),
+                MakeAction(createSimObjectParam, " [SO PARAM] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     env.Depends(hh_file, depends + extra_deps)
 
 # Generate any parameter header files needed
@@ -528,7 +531,8 @@
 for name,param in all_params.iteritems():
     i_file = File('python/m5/internal/%s_%s.i' % (param.file_ext, name))
     params_i_files.append(i_file)
-    env.Command(i_file, Value(name), createSwigParam)
+    env.Command(i_file, Value(name),
+                MakeAction(createSwigParam, " [SW PARAM] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     env.Depends(i_file, depends)
     SwigSource('m5.internal', i_file)
 
@@ -538,16 +542,19 @@
     extra_deps = [ py_source.tnode ]
 
     cc_file = File('enums/%s.cc' % name)
-    env.Command(cc_file, Value(name), createEnumStrings)
+    env.Command(cc_file, Value(name),
+                MakeAction(createEnumStrings, " [ENUM STR] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     env.Depends(cc_file, depends + extra_deps)
     Source(cc_file)
 
     hh_file = File('enums/%s.hh' % name)
-    env.Command(hh_file, Value(name), createEnumParam)
+    env.Command(hh_file, Value(name),
+                MakeAction(createEnumParam, " [EN PARAM] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     env.Depends(hh_file, depends + extra_deps)
 
     i_file = File('python/m5/internal/enum_%s.i' % name)
-    env.Command(i_file, Value(name), createEnumSwig)
+    env.Command(i_file, Value(name),
+                MakeAction(createEnumSwig, " [ENUMSWIG] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     env.Depends(i_file, depends + extra_deps)
     SwigSource('m5.internal', i_file)
 
@@ -586,7 +593,8 @@
 
 for name in sim_objects.iterkeys():
     params_file = File('python/m5/internal/param_%s.i' % name)
-    env.Command(params_file, Value(name), buildParam)
+    env.Command(params_file, Value(name),
+                MakeAction(buildParam, " [BLDPARAM] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     env.Depends(params_file, depends)
     SwigSource('m5.internal', params_file)
 
@@ -608,10 +616,11 @@
 # Build all swig modules
 for swig in SwigSource.all:
     env.Command([swig.cc_source.tnode, swig.py_source.tnode], swig.tnode,
-                '$SWIG $SWIGFLAGS -outdir ${TARGETS[1].dir} '
-                '-o ${TARGETS[0]} $SOURCES')
+                MakeAction('$SWIG $SWIGFLAGS -outdir ${TARGETS[1].dir} '
+                '-o ${TARGETS[0]} $SOURCES', " [    SWIG] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     init_file = 'python/swig/init_%s.cc' % swig.module
-    env.Command(init_file, Value(swig.module), makeEmbeddedSwigInit)
+    env.Command(init_file, Value(swig.module),
+                MakeAction(makeEmbeddedSwigInit, " [EMBED SW] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     Source(init_file)
     env.Depends(swig.py_source.tnode, swig.tnode)
     env.Depends(swig.cc_source.tnode, swig.tnode)
@@ -836,11 +845,14 @@
     code.write(str(target[0]))
 
 flags = map(Value, trace_flags.values())
-env.Command('base/traceflags.py', flags, traceFlagsPy)
+env.Command('base/traceflags.py', flags, 
+            MakeAction(traceFlagsPy, " [ TRACING] $STRIP_TARGET"))
 PySource('m5', 'base/traceflags.py')
 
-env.Command('base/traceflags.hh', flags, traceFlagsHH)
-env.Command('base/traceflags.cc', flags, traceFlagsCC)
+env.Command('base/traceflags.hh', flags,
+            MakeAction(traceFlagsHH, " [ TRACING] $STRIP_TARGET"))
+env.Command('base/traceflags.cc', flags, 
+            MakeAction(traceFlagsCC, " [ TRACING] $STRIP_TARGET"))
 Source('base/traceflags.cc')
 
 # Embed python files.  All .py files that have been indicated by a
@@ -897,7 +909,8 @@
     code.write(str(target[0]))
 
 for source in PySource.all:
-    env.Command(source.cpp, source.tnode, embedPyFile)
+    env.Command(source.cpp, source.tnode, 
+                MakeAction(embedPyFile, " [EMBED PY] $STRIP_TARGET"))
     Source(source.cpp)
 
 ########################################################################
@@ -988,7 +1001,8 @@
             cmd = 'cp $SOURCE $TARGET; strip $TARGET'
         else:
             cmd = 'strip $SOURCE -o $TARGET'
-        targets = new_env.Command(exename, progname, cmd)
+        targets = new_env.Command(exename, progname,
+                    MakeAction(cmd, " [   STRIP] $STRIP_TARGET"))
             
     new_env.M5Binary = targets[0]
     envList.append(new_env)
diff --git a/src/arch/SConscript b/src/arch/SConscript
index 9ebc698..dd337b1 100644
--- a/src/arch/SConscript
+++ b/src/arch/SConscript
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
 # import ply here because SCons screws with sys.path when performing actions.
 import ply
 
-def isa_desc_action(target, source, env):
+def isa_desc_action_func(target, source, env):
     # Add the current directory to the system path so we can import files
     sys.path[0:0] = [ ARCH_DIR.srcnode().abspath ]
     import isa_parser
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@
     cpu_models = [CpuModel.dict[cpu] for cpu in models]
     parser = isa_parser.ISAParser(target[0].dir.abspath, cpu_models)
     parser.parse_isa_desc(source[0].abspath)
+isa_desc_action = MakeAction(isa_desc_action_func, " [ISA DESC] $STRIP_SOURCE")
 
 # Also include the CheckerCPU as one of the models if it is being
 # enabled via command line.
diff --git a/src/arch/isa_parser.py b/src/arch/isa_parser.py
index 8e13b6a..4c23529 100755
--- a/src/arch/isa_parser.py
+++ b/src/arch/isa_parser.py
@@ -1945,7 +1945,7 @@
             else:
                 print 'File', file, 'is unchanged'
         else:
-            print 'Generating', file
+            print ' [GENERATE]', file
             update = True
         if update:
             f = open(file, 'w')
diff --git a/src/cpu/SConscript b/src/cpu/SConscript
index 6b4c43d..35e92a1 100644
--- a/src/cpu/SConscript
+++ b/src/cpu/SConscript
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 
 # Generate string that gets printed when header is rebuilt
 def gen_sigs_string(target, source, env):
-    return "Generating static_inst_exec_sigs.hh: " \
+    return " [GENERATE] static_inst_exec_sigs.hh: " \
            + ', '.join(temp_cpu_list)
 
 # Add command to generate header to environment.