diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 22415430a0..07c58cebb3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -108,6 +108,37 @@ you can require the `.node` file with Node and run your tests!
 __Note:__ To create a _Debug_ build of the bindings file, pass the `--debug` (or
 `-d`) switch when running either the `configure`, `build` or `rebuild` command.
 
+#### Usage without Python
+
+There is a [`gyp.js`](https://github.com/indutny/gyp.js/) project, a GYP
+implementation in JavaScript. It generates [`Ninja`](https://ninja-build.org/)
+build files and requires no Python installation.
+
+In this case you will need to install [`Ninja`](https://ninja-build.org/) build
+tool and a C/C++ compiler toolchain.
+
+To generate projects files with `gyp.js` instead of `gyp` and to build them with
+`ninja`, please supply a command-line option `--gypjs` in `node-gyp` command.
+
+``` bash
+$ node-gyp configure --gypjs
+```
+
+It is also possible to set `npm_config_gypjs` environment variable to turn on
+the `gyp.js` usage.
+
+``` bash
+$ npm_config_gypjs=1 node-gyp build
+```
+
+Path to an existing `ninja` installation can be set with a `--ninja` command-line
+option or in a `NINJA` environment variable.
+
+``` bash
+$ node-gyp configure --gypjs --ninja=/my/path/to/ninja
+$ npm_config_gypjs=1 NINJA=/my/path/to/ninja node-gyp build
+```
+
 
 The "binding.gyp" file
 ----------------------
@@ -184,6 +215,8 @@ Command Options
 | `--python=$path`                  | Set path to the python (2) binary
 | `--msvs_version=$version`         | Set Visual Studio version (win)
 | `--solution=$solution`            | Set Visual Studio Solution version (win)
+| `--gypjs`                         | Use gyp.js instead of gyp
+| `--ninja=$ninja`                  | Override ninja command (with --gypjs)
 
 
 License
diff --git a/addon.gypi b/addon.gypi
index 3be0f591bd..e65746078d 100644
--- a/addon.gypi
+++ b/addon.gypi
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
           '-luuid.lib',
           '-lodbc32.lib',
           '-lDelayImp.lib',
-          '-l"<(node_root_dir)/$(ConfigurationName)/<(node_lib_file)"'
+          '-l"<(node_lib_file)"'
         ],
         'msvs_disabled_warnings': [
           # warning C4251: 'node::ObjectWrap::handle_' : class 'v8::Persistent<T>'
diff --git a/lib/build.js b/lib/build.js
index 22f2583694..00056bf848 100644
--- a/lib/build.js
+++ b/lib/build.js
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ var fs = require('graceful-fs')
   , glob = require('glob')
   , log = require('npmlog')
   , which = require('which')
-  , mkdirp = require('mkdirp')
   , exec = require('child_process').exec
   , processRelease = require('./process-release')
   , win = process.platform == 'win32'
 
-exports.usage = 'Invokes `' + (win ? 'msbuild' : 'make') + '` and builds the module'
+exports.usage = 'Invokes `' + (process.env.npm_config_gypjs ? 'ninja' :
+  (win ? 'msbuild' : 'make')) + '` and builds the module'
 
 function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
   var platformMake = 'make'
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
     , config
     , arch
     , nodeDir
-    , copyDevLib
 
+  if (gyp.opts.gypjs) {
+    command = gyp.opts.ninja || process.env.NINJA || 'ninja'
+  }
   loadConfigGypi()
 
   /**
@@ -60,7 +62,6 @@ function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
       buildType = config.target_defaults.default_configuration
       arch = config.variables.target_arch
       nodeDir = config.variables.nodedir
-      copyDevLib = config.variables.copy_dev_lib == 'true'
 
       if ('debug' in gyp.opts) {
         buildType = gyp.opts.debug ? 'Debug' : 'Release'
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
       log.verbose('architecture', arch)
       log.verbose('node dev dir', nodeDir)
 
-      if (win) {
+      if (win && !gyp.opts.gypjs) {
         findSolutionFile()
       } else {
         doWhich()
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
     // First make sure we have the build command in the PATH
     which(command, function (err, execPath) {
       if (err) {
-        if (win && /not found/.test(err.message)) {
+        if (win && !gyp.opts.gypjs && /not found/.test(err.message)) {
           // On windows and no 'msbuild' found. Let's guess where it is
           findMsbuild()
         } else {
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
         return
       }
       log.verbose('`which` succeeded for `' + command + '`', execPath)
-      copyNodeLib()
+      doBuild()
     })
   }
 
@@ -173,36 +174,12 @@ function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
             return
           }
           command = msbuildPath
-          copyNodeLib()
+          doBuild()
         })
       })()
     })
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Copies the node.lib file for the current target architecture into the
-   * current proper dev dir location.
-   */
-
-  function copyNodeLib () {
-    if (!win || !copyDevLib) return doBuild()
-
-    var buildDir = path.resolve(nodeDir, buildType)
-      , archNodeLibPath = path.resolve(nodeDir, arch, release.name + '.lib')
-      , buildNodeLibPath = path.resolve(buildDir, release.name + '.lib')
-
-    mkdirp(buildDir, function (err, isNew) {
-      if (err) return callback(err)
-      log.verbose('"' + buildType + '" dir needed to be created?', isNew)
-      var rs = fs.createReadStream(archNodeLibPath)
-        , ws = fs.createWriteStream(buildNodeLibPath)
-      log.verbose('copying "' + release.name + '.lib" for ' + arch, buildNodeLibPath)
-      rs.pipe(ws)
-      rs.on('error', callback)
-      ws.on('error', callback)
-      rs.on('end', doBuild)
-    })
-  }
 
   /**
    * Actually spawn the process and compile the module.
@@ -212,57 +189,72 @@ function build (gyp, argv, callback) {
 
     // Enable Verbose build
     var verbose = log.levels[log.level] <= log.levels.verbose
-    if (!win && verbose) {
-      argv.push('V=1')
-    }
-    if (win && !verbose) {
-      argv.push('/clp:Verbosity=minimal')
-    }
+    if (!gyp.opts.gypjs) {
+      if (!win && verbose) {
+        argv.push('V=1')
+      }
+      if (win && !verbose) {
+        argv.push('/clp:Verbosity=minimal')
+      }
 
-    if (win) {
-      // Turn off the Microsoft logo on Windows
-      argv.push('/nologo')
-    }
+      if (win) {
+        // Turn off the Microsoft logo on Windows
+        argv.push('/nologo')
+      }
 
-    // Specify the build type, Release by default
-    if (win) {
-      var p = arch === 'x64' ? 'x64' : 'Win32'
-      argv.push('/p:Configuration=' + buildType + ';Platform=' + p)
-      if (jobs) {
-        var j = parseInt(jobs, 10)
-        if (!isNaN(j) && j > 0) {
-          argv.push('/m:' + j)
-        } else if (jobs.toUpperCase() === 'MAX') {
-          argv.push('/m:' + require('os').cpus().length)
+      // Specify the build type, Release by default
+      if (win) {
+        var p = arch === 'x64' ? 'x64' : 'Win32'
+        argv.push('/p:Configuration=' + buildType + ';Platform=' + p)
+        if (jobs) {
+          var j = parseInt(jobs, 10)
+          if (!isNaN(j) && j > 0) {
+            argv.push('/m:' + j)
+          } else if (jobs.toUpperCase() === 'MAX') {
+            argv.push('/m:' + require('os').cpus().length)
+          }
+        }
+      } else {
+        argv.push('BUILDTYPE=' + buildType)
+        // Invoke the Makefile in the 'build' dir.
+        argv.push('-C')
+        argv.push('build')
+        if (jobs) {
+          var j = parseInt(jobs, 10)
+          if (!isNaN(j) && j > 0) {
+            argv.push('--jobs')
+            argv.push(j)
+          } else if (jobs.toUpperCase() === 'MAX') {
+            argv.push('--jobs')
+            argv.push(require('os').cpus().length)
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (win) {
+        // did the user specify their own .sln file?
+        var hasSln = argv.some(function (arg) {
+          return path.extname(arg) == '.sln'
+        })
+        if (!hasSln) {
+          argv.unshift(gyp.opts.solution || guessedSolution)
         }
       }
     } else {
-      argv.push('BUILDTYPE=' + buildType)
-      // Invoke the Makefile in the 'build' dir.
-      argv.push('-C')
-      argv.push('build')
+      // build with ninja
+      if (verbose) {
+        argv.push('-v')
+      }
+      // Specify the build type, Release by default
+      argv.push('-C', path.join('build', buildType))
       if (jobs) {
-        var j = parseInt(jobs, 10)
+        var j = jobs.toUpperCase() === 'MAX'? require('os').cpus().length : parseInt(jobs, 10)
         if (!isNaN(j) && j > 0) {
-          argv.push('--jobs')
-          argv.push(j)
-        } else if (jobs.toUpperCase() === 'MAX') {
-          argv.push('--jobs')
-          argv.push(require('os').cpus().length)
+          argv.push('-j' + j)
         }
       }
     }
 
-    if (win) {
-      // did the user specify their own .sln file?
-      var hasSln = argv.some(function (arg) {
-        return path.extname(arg) == '.sln'
-      })
-      if (!hasSln) {
-        argv.unshift(gyp.opts.solution || guessedSolution)
-      }
-    }
-
     var proc = gyp.spawn(command, argv)
     proc.on('exit', onExit)
   }
diff --git a/lib/configure.js b/lib/configure.js
index 54bb2ccb3a..28e37f66cf 100644
--- a/lib/configure.js
+++ b/lib/configure.js
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ var fs = require('graceful-fs')
   , processRelease = require('./process-release')
   , win = process.platform == 'win32'
   , findNodeDirectory = require('./find-node-directory')
-  , msgFormat = require('util').format
+  , gypjs = undefined
 
-exports.usage = 'Generates ' + (win ? 'MSVC project files' : 'a Makefile') + ' for the current module'
+exports.usage = 'Generates ' + (process.env.npm_config_gypjs ? 'ninja build files' :
+  (win ? 'MSVC project files' : 'a Makefile')) + ' for the current module'
 
 function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
 
@@ -31,17 +32,28 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
     , buildDir = path.resolve('build')
     , configNames = [ 'config.gypi', 'common.gypi' ]
     , configs = []
+    , buildType
+    , arch
     , nodeDir
     , release = processRelease(argv, gyp, process.version, process.release)
 
-  findPython(python, function (err, found) {
-    if (err) {
-      callback(err)
-    } else {
-      python = found
-      getNodeDir()
+  if (!gyp.opts.gypjs) {
+    findPython(python, function (err, found) {
+      if (err) {
+        callback(err)
+      } else {
+        python = found
+        getNodeDir()
+      }
+    })
+  } else {
+    try {
+      gypjs = require('gyp.js')
+    } catch (err) {
+      return callback(new Error('Can\'t find module gyp.js, you can install it with `npm install gyp.js`'))
     }
-  })
+    getNodeDir()
+  }
 
   function getNodeDir () {
 
@@ -124,16 +136,14 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
     if (!defaults.default_configuration) {
       defaults.default_configuration = 'Release'
     }
+    buildType = defaults.default_configuration
 
     // set the target_arch variable
-    variables.target_arch = gyp.opts.arch || process.arch || 'ia32'
+    variables.target_arch = arch = gyp.opts.arch || process.arch || 'ia32'
 
     // set the node development directory
     variables.nodedir = nodeDir
 
-    // don't copy dev libraries with nodedir option
-    variables.copy_dev_lib = !gyp.opts.nodedir
-
     // disable -T "thin" static archives by default
     variables.standalone_static_library = gyp.opts.thin ? 0 : 1
 
@@ -188,35 +198,37 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
   function runGyp (err) {
     if (err) return callback(err)
 
-    if (!~argv.indexOf('-f') && !~argv.indexOf('--format')) {
-      if (win) {
-        log.verbose('gyp', 'gyp format was not specified; forcing "msvs"')
-        // force the 'make' target for non-Windows
-        argv.push('-f', 'msvs')
-      } else {
-        log.verbose('gyp', 'gyp format was not specified; forcing "make"')
-        // force the 'make' target for non-Windows
-        argv.push('-f', 'make')
+    if (!gyp.opts.gypjs) {
+      if (!~argv.indexOf('-f') && !~argv.indexOf('--format')) {
+        if (win) {
+          log.verbose('gyp', 'gyp format was not specified; forcing "msvs"')
+          // force the 'msvs' target for non-Windows
+          argv.push('-f', 'msvs')
+        } else {
+          log.verbose('gyp', 'gyp format was not specified; forcing "make"')
+          // force the 'make' target for non-Windows
+          argv.push('-f', 'make')
+        }
       }
-    }
 
-    function hasMsvsVersion () {
-      return argv.some(function (arg) {
-        return arg.indexOf('msvs_version') === 0
-      })
-    }
+      function hasMsvsVersion () {
+        return argv.some(function (arg) {
+          return arg.indexOf('msvs_version') === 0
+        })
+      }
 
-    if (win && !hasMsvsVersion()) {
-      if ('msvs_version' in gyp.opts) {
-        argv.push('-G', 'msvs_version=' + gyp.opts.msvs_version)
-      } else {
-        argv.push('-G', 'msvs_version=auto')
+      if (win && !hasMsvsVersion()) {
+        if ('msvs_version' in gyp.opts) {
+          argv.push('-G', 'msvs_version=' + gyp.opts.msvs_version)
+        } else {
+          argv.push('-G', 'msvs_version=auto')
+        }
       }
     }
 
     // include all the ".gypi" files that were found
     configs.forEach(function (config) {
-      argv.push('-I', config)
+      argv.push('-I' + config)
     })
 
     // for AIX we need to set up the path to the exp file
@@ -240,9 +252,8 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
       if (node_exp_file !== undefined) {
         log.verbose(logprefix, 'Found exports file: %s', node_exp_file)
       } else {
-        var msg = msgFormat('Could not find node.exp file in %s', node_root_dir)
         log.error(logprefix, 'Could not find exports file')
-        return callback(new Error(msg))
+        return callback(new Error('Could not find node.exp file in ' + node_root_dir))
       }
     }
 
@@ -260,9 +271,13 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
         output_dir = buildDir
       }
       var nodeGypDir = path.resolve(__dirname, '..')
+      var nodeLibFile = path.join(nodeDir,
+        !gyp.opts.nodedir ? '<(target_arch)' :
+          (gyp.opts.gypjs ? buildType : '$(Configuration)'),
+        release.name + '.lib')
 
-      argv.push('-I', addon_gypi)
-      argv.push('-I', common_gypi)
+      argv.push('-I' + addon_gypi)
+      argv.push('-I' + common_gypi)
       argv.push('-Dlibrary=shared_library')
       argv.push('-Dvisibility=default')
       argv.push('-Dnode_root_dir=' + nodeDir)
@@ -270,7 +285,7 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
         argv.push('-Dnode_exp_file=' + node_exp_file)
       }
       argv.push('-Dnode_gyp_dir=' + nodeGypDir)
-      argv.push('-Dnode_lib_file=' + release.name + '.lib')
+      argv.push('-Dnode_lib_file=' + nodeLibFile)
       argv.push('-Dmodule_root_dir=' + process.cwd())
       argv.push('--depth=.')
       argv.push('--no-parallel')
@@ -284,18 +299,25 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
       // enforce use of the "binding.gyp" file
       argv.unshift('binding.gyp')
 
-      // execute `gyp` from the current target nodedir
-      argv.unshift(gyp_script)
+      if (!gyp.opts.gypjs) {
+        // execute `gyp` from the current target nodedir
+        argv.unshift(gyp_script)
 
-      // make sure python uses files that came with this particular node package
-      var pypath = [path.join(__dirname, '..', 'gyp', 'pylib')]
-      if (process.env.PYTHONPATH) {
-        pypath.push(process.env.PYTHONPATH)
-      }
-      process.env.PYTHONPATH = pypath.join(win ? ';' : ':')
+        // make sure python uses files that came with this particular node package
+        var pypath = [path.join(__dirname, '..', 'gyp', 'pylib')]
+        if (process.env.PYTHONPATH) {
+          pypath.push(process.env.PYTHONPATH)
+        }
+        process.env.PYTHONPATH = pypath.join(win ? ';' : ':')
 
-      var cp = gyp.spawn(python, argv)
-      cp.on('exit', onCpExit)
+        var cp = gyp.spawn(python, argv)
+        cp.on('exit', onCpExit)
+      } else {
+        argv.push('-Dtarget_arch=' + arch)
+        log.info('using', 'gyp.js@' + gypjs.version)
+        log.info('gyp.js args', argv)
+        onCpExit(gypjs.main(argv, path.join(process.cwd(), 'build', buildType)))
+      }
     })
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/node-gyp.js b/lib/node-gyp.js
index a841161e32..ea0d87c1fa 100644
--- a/lib/node-gyp.js
+++ b/lib/node-gyp.js
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ proto.configDefs = {
   , 'tarball': String // 'install'
   , jobs: String      // 'build'
   , thin: String      // 'configure'
+  , gypjs: Boolean    // 'configure', 'build'
 }
 
 /**
@@ -165,6 +166,9 @@ proto.parseArgv = function parseOpts (argv) {
   if (this.opts.loglevel) {
     log.level = this.opts.loglevel
   }
+  if (this.opts.gypjs) {
+    process.env[npm_config_prefix + 'gypjs'] = true
+  }
   log.resume()
 }