-BUILD_DIR := $(abspath $(dir $(THISFILE))/../../build)
-BUILD_DIR_TEST := $(abspath $(dir $(THISFILE))/../../build-test)
-BUILD_DIR_DEBUG := $(abspath $(dir $(THISFILE))/../../build-debug)
-BUILD_DIR_COVERAGE := $(abspath $(dir $(THISFILE))/../../build-coverage)
-DEST := ${BUILD_DIR}
-
-.PHONY: all clean distclean configure build package help
-
-all: help
+ROOT_DIR := $(abspath $(dir $(THISFILE))/../..)
+
+# Build directories
+# Note that the debug directory is defined in relation to the release
+# directory (BUILD_DIR), this needs to be kept in mind if over-riding
+# it and building that widget types, the specific widget type variable
+# (e.g. BUILD_DIR_DEBUG) may also need to be specified to yield the
+# desired output hierarchy.
+BUILD_DIR = $(ROOT_DIR)/build
+BUILD_DIR_DEBUG = $(abspath $(BUILD_DIR)/../build-debug)
+
+# Output directory variable for use in pattern rules.
+# This is intended for internal use only, hence the explicit override
+# definition.
+override OUTPUT_DIR = $(BUILD_DIR)
+
+# Final install directory for widgets
+DEST = $(OUTPUT_DIR)
+
+# Default build type for release builds
+BUILD_TYPE = release
+
+.PHONY: all help update install distclean
+.PHONY: clean clean-release clean-debug clean-all
+.PHONY: configure configure-release configure-debug
+.PHONY: build build-release build-debug build-all
+.PHONY: package package-release package-debug package-all