I've noticed there's much work planned/done for maven integration into 7.0. I'd suggest to create some generic build
system api (which would be applicable to Ant, Maven, Make, SCons and others). The build system (BS) could be provided
with property and build files (while usually working with default values, like Ant projects use build.xml,
nbproject/build-impl.xml, nbproject/project.properties etc.), with source and destination paths (while usually found in
project.properties). The BS itself would provide actions for clean, build etc. like this:
[0] = MyBuildAction.instance
[1] = null   # separator
[2] = MyOtherAction.instance
These actions would be placed into the popup menu after the editor actions.

What do You think about it? Any chance for 7.0?

Note that the same request has been made for bjam in #161569 (assigned to cnd/projects)

It would be possible to get a lot more from SCons, since it's possible
to extract the include path/defines from the SCons{truct,cript} files

I took a quick look into the cnd.makeproject module, where it seems
all the C++ build systems are handled - there is no "extension point"
that would allow us to plug our code there.

I support this as it would allow for me to develop a certain open source project in netbeans that uses SCONS. (right now i have to use Eclipse or
Visual Studio, and I don't like ether of them as much as netbeans...)

SCons is a powerful build system and many open source projects use that. I need SCons for all projects and use SCons for
own projects.

However, SCons promote the popularity and distribtution. I hope, the next Netbeans version includes a SCons support.

Really hope that netbeans will add support for scons since I we are using scons toe develop our software

NetBeans without Scons is unfortunately useless for many users. At least a less restrictive C/C++ environment that don't force us to use Makefile (or whatsoever) would be really appreciated.

C/C++ has Project From Existing sources template. 
There you can specify anything_you_type_in_shell as your "clean" and "build" commands => either wrap scons in script or type scons commands directly in "build".

Dear Users.
As I've wrote in my last comment. Scons is natively supported by our project system. In clean&build you just should specify corresponding commands you use in command line to build and clean your sources.

Vladimir, that doesn't work over here (7.4p3).

The C++ project with existing sources wizard does not allow you to continue without specifying a makefile or configure script...

Is it certain that there is no way of using SCons as the build specification? I too find the dialogue requiring a Make file (manual, configure or CMake) cannot be got past and so Netbeans is mandating use of Makefiles for C++/D/Rust builds.

I use the SCons build system with Netbeans 8 for all my C and C++ projects now. Just specify /usr/local/bin/scons as your make target. After your project is created change the build and clean targets from "make /usr/local/bin/scons" to /usr/local/bin/scons and /usr/local/bin/scons -c

(In reply to RusselWinder from comment #10)
> Is it certain that there is no way of using SCons as the build
> specification? I too find the dialogue requiring a Make file (manual,
> configure or CMake) cannot be got past and so Netbeans is mandating use of
> Makefiles for C++/D/Rust builds.
Russel, let me confirm, that current workaround is:
- specify "any" existing file as your Makefile, then Next is enabled
- on the Next step specify your clean and build commands (as you do it with scons in command line)
that's it. Project is ready

I think we should change Wizard to prevent the current confusion.

Today, all our projects are using scons, so without this feature netbeans is 99% useless :-(

fixed as a part of bug #247758