Using Python packaging tools to maintain source distributions in other languages?

[eric.lemings at gmail.com]

Greetings all,

I would like to leverage the Python packaging tools (e.g. distutils, setuptools, distribute, et. al.) to maintain (i.e. download, extract, configure, make, install, package) source distributions other than Python modules (e.g. zlib, openssl).

Are there any open-source packages/tools that already do this?  Any documentation in print or on the web that outlines a basic plan for doing such?

Any and all help greatly appreciated.