Autotools, CMake, and SCons are popular build automation tools used in software development. Here are the key use cases of each:

Autotools: Best for projects requiring high portability across Unix-like systems; complex to set up and maintain.

CMake: User-friendly, supports cross-platform builds, generates native build scripts.

SCons: Highly flexible with Python scripting; slower for large projects.

Each tool has its strengths and is chosen based on the specific needs of the project and the development environment.