diff --git a/Buildhelper.py b/Buildhelper.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de44dce4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Buildhelper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# -*- python -*-
+##
+## Buildhelper.py  -  helpers, custom builders, for SConstruct
+##
+
+#  Copyright (C)         CinelerraCV
+#    2007,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
+#
+#  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+#  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+#  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of 
+#  the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+#
+#  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+#  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+#  GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+#  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+#  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+#####################################################################
+
+
+#
+# Common Helper Functions
+#
+def isCleanupOperation(env):
+    return env.GetOption('clean')
diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..58b8a30d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# -*- python -*-
+##
+## SConstruct  -  SCons based build-sytem for Cinelerra
+##
+
+#  Copyright (C)         CinelerraCV
+#    2007,               Hermann Vosseler <Ichthyostega@web.de>
+#
+#  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+#  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+#  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of 
+#  the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+#
+#  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+#  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+#  GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+#  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+#  Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+#####################################################################
+
+from Buildhelper import *
+
+
+# NOTE: the following code /defines/ what and how to build
+#       it doesn't "do" the build. SCons will do the "doing"
+
+env = setupBasicEnvironment()
+
+if not isCleanupOperation(env):
+    configurePlatform(env)
+    
+artifacts = {}
+# the various things we build. 
+# Each entry actually is a SCons-Node list.
+# Passing these entries to other builders defines dependencies.
+# 'cinelerra'   : the App
+# 'plugins'     : plugin shared lib
+# 'tools'       : small tool applications (e.g mpegtoc)
+# 'src,tar'     : source tree as tarball (without doc)
+# 'devdoc.tar'  : uml model, wiki, dev docu (no src)
+
+definePackagingTargets(env, artifacts)
+defineBuildTargets(env, artifacts)
+defineInstallTargets(env, artifacts)
+
+
+#####################################################################
+
+def setupBasicEnvironment():
+    ''' define cmdline options, decide build type 
+    ''' 
+
+
+def configurePlatform(env):
+    ''' locate required libs.
+        setup platform specific options.
+        Abort build in case of failure.
+    '''
+
+
+def definePackagingTargets(env, artifacts):
+    ''' build operations and targets to be done /before/ compiling.
+        things like creating a source tarball or preparing a version header.
+    '''
+
+
+def defineBuildTargets(env, artifacts):
+    ''' define the source file/dirs comprising each artifact to be built.
+        setup sub-environments with special build options if necessary 
+    '''
+
+
+def defineInstallTargets(env, artifacts):
+    ''' define install locations and cleanup after the build.
+        define alias targets to trigger the installing.
+    '''
+
+