Currently I'm using a Windows batch file to build my software. It does things like running MSBuild, copying files, creating a ZIP file, running some tests, including the subversion revision number, etc.
But the problem is, batch files are evil. So I would like to change to something better. I was planning to recreate my build script in Python. Is that a smart choice? What about all those build systems, like Ant, SCons, Maven, Rake, etc. Would using any of those be a better choice?
Note: I'm not planning to replace my Visual Studio solution/project files. I only want to script everything else that's required to create a release of my software.
Edit: I have good reasons to move away from batch, that's not what my question is about. I would like to know (for example) what SCons gives me, over a normal Python script.
Why should you use python? If your build script isn't broke don't fix it. If your having issues updating it to deal with new aditions to the project then you may want to look at rewriting it. I wouldn't use Python though tools like NANT or MSBuild do the job. I don't see the point in using a general purpis programming language to do something that tools have already been written to do unless you have a lot of obscure requirements existing tools can't deal with. Second what happens if you get hit by a bus or win the lotto? If you are determined to script everything I'd use powershell or some other Microsoft specific technology since your already wedded to Microsoft. If you leave will there be enough Python programmers to maintain the build scripts?
Is Python the right hammer for this nail? (build script)