diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 8491433524d..8c85d6ffa88 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ build/
 .build/
 *.bak
 .vagrant/
+quantum/version.h
 .idea/
 CMakeLists.txt
 .DS_STORE
@@ -26,4 +27,4 @@ CMakeLists.txt
 .project
 .settings/
 .idea
-.browse.VC.db*
\ No newline at end of file
+.browse.VC.db*
diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 26deac0cebc..297cf19a686 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ env:
   global:
   - secure: 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
 script:
-- make all-keyboards-quick AUTOGEN=true
+- make all-keyboards AUTOGEN=true
 addons:
   apt:
     packages:
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 980ab26b220..053c8532af1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ endif
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := all
 
 space := $(subst ,, )
-starting_makefile := $(subst $(space),_SPACE_,$(abspath $(firstword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
-mkfile_path := $(subst $(space),_SPACE_,$(abspath $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
+ESCAPED_ABS_PATH = $(subst $(space),_SPACE_,$(abspath $1))
+starting_makefile := $(call ESCAPED_ABS_PATH,$(firstword $(MAKEFILE_LIST)))
+mkfile_path := $(call ESCAPED_ABS_PATH,$(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
 abs_tmk_root := $(patsubst %/,%,$(dir $(mkfile_path)))
 
 ifneq (,$(findstring /keyboards/,$(starting_makefile)))
@@ -83,10 +84,8 @@ endif
 
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH)/$(KEYBOARD).c)","")
 	KEYBOARD_FILE = keyboards/$(KEYBOARD)/$(KEYBOARD).c
-	ifndef ARCH
-		ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYBOARD_PATH)/Makefile)","")
-			include $(KEYBOARD_PATH)/Makefile
-		endif
+	ifneq ($(call ESCAPED_ABS_PATH,$(KEYBOARD_PATH)/Makefile),$(starting_makefile))
+		-include $(KEYBOARD_PATH)/Makefile
 	endif
 else 
 $(error "$(KEYBOARD_PATH)/$(KEYBOARD).c" does not exist)
@@ -101,7 +100,9 @@ ifdef SUBPROJECT
 	ifneq ("$(wildcard $(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/$(SUBPROJECT).c)","")
 		OPT_DEFS += -DSUBPROJECT_$(SUBPROJECT)
 		SUBPROJECT_FILE = keyboards/$(KEYBOARD)/$(SUBPROJECT)/$(SUBPROJECT).c
-		-include $(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/Makefile
+		ifneq ($(call ESCAPED_ABS_PATH,$(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/Makefile),$(starting_makefile))
+			-include $(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/Makefile
+		endif
 	else 
 $(error "$(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/$(SUBPROJECT).c" does not exist)
 	endif
@@ -119,14 +120,18 @@ endif
 KEYMAP_PATH = $(KEYBOARD_PATH)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)
 ifneq ("$(wildcard $(KEYMAP_PATH)/keymap.c)","")
 	KEYMAP_FILE = keyboards/$(KEYBOARD)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)/keymap.c
-	-include $(KEYMAP_PATH)/Makefile
+	ifneq ($(call ESCAPED_ABS_PATH,$(KEYMAP_PATH)/Makefile),$(starting_makefile))
+		-include $(KEYMAP_PATH)/Makefile
+	endif
 else 
 	ifeq ("$(wildcard $(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)/keymap.c)","")
 $(error "$(KEYMAP_PATH)/keymap.c" does not exist)
 	else
 		KEYMAP_PATH = $(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)
 		KEYMAP_FILE = keyboards/$(KEYBOARD)/$(SUBPROJECT)/keymaps/$(KEYMAP)/keymap.c
-		-include $(KEYMAP_PATH)/Makefile
+		ifneq ($(call ESCAPED_ABS_PATH,$(KEYMAP_PATH)/Makefile),$(starting_makefile))
+			-include $(KEYMAP_PATH)/Makefile
+		endif
 	endif
 endif
 
@@ -135,7 +140,8 @@ ifdef SUBPROJECT
 else
 	TARGET ?= $(KEYBOARD)_$(KEYMAP)
 endif
-BUILD_DIR = .build
+
+BUILD_DIR = $(TOP_DIR)/.build
 
 # Object files directory
 #     To put object files in current directory, use a dot (.), do NOT make
@@ -265,4 +271,6 @@ include $(TMK_PATH)/rules.mk
 GIT_VERSION := $(shell git describe --abbrev=6 --dirty --always --tags 2>/dev/null || date +"%Y-%m-%d-%H:%M:%S")
 BUILD_DATE := $(shell date +"%Y-%m-%d-%H:%M:%S")
 OPT_DEFS += -DQMK_KEYBOARD=\"$(KEYBOARD)\" -DQMK_KEYMAP=\"$(KEYMAP)\"
-OPT_DEFS += -DQMK_VERSION=\"$(GIT_VERSION)\" -DQMK_BUILDDATE=\"$(BUILD_DATE)\"
+
+$(shell echo '#define QMK_VERSION "$(GIT_VERSION)"' > $(QUANTUM_PATH)/version.h)
+$(shell echo '#define QMK_BUILDDATE "$(BUILD_DATE)"' >> $(QUANTUM_PATH)/version.h)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/algernon/keymap.c b/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/algernon/keymap.c
index 6a14ef46762..c4de53da27c 100644
--- a/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/algernon/keymap.c
+++ b/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/algernon/keymap.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "keymap_plover.h"
 #include "eeconfig.h"
 #include "wait.h"
+#include "version.h"
 
 /* Layers */
 
diff --git a/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/default/keymap.c b/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/default/keymap.c
index f1a83f4e792..1b80cb3a236 100644
--- a/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/default/keymap.c
+++ b/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/default/keymap.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "ergodox.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "action_layer.h"
+#include "version.h"
 
 #define BASE 0 // default layer
 #define SYMB 1 // symbols
diff --git a/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/josh/keymap.c b/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/josh/keymap.c
index 488b2142736..b5463873a90 100644
--- a/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/josh/keymap.c
+++ b/keyboards/ergodox/keymaps/josh/keymap.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "ergodox.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "action_layer.h"
+#include "version.h"
 
 #define BASE 0 // default layer
 #define SYMB 1 // symbols
diff --git a/keyboards/planck/keymaps/cbbrowne/keymap.c b/keyboards/planck/keymaps/cbbrowne/keymap.c
index 14a5be17082..70eaefb7bea 100644
--- a/keyboards/planck/keymaps/cbbrowne/keymap.c
+++ b/keyboards/planck/keymaps/cbbrowne/keymap.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #endif
 #include "config.h"
 #include "quantum.h"
+#include "version.h"
 
 /* Each layer is given a name to aid in readability, which is then
    used in the keymap matrix below.  The underscores do not denote 
diff --git a/keyboards/planck/keymaps/experimental/keymap.c b/keyboards/planck/keymaps/experimental/keymap.c
index d9303fcae59..2c12700944c 100644
--- a/keyboards/planck/keymaps/experimental/keymap.c
+++ b/keyboards/planck/keymaps/experimental/keymap.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #include "eeconfig.h"
+#include "version.h"
 
 extern keymap_config_t keymap_config;
 
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index c3d866f36ba..57629f8be20 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -122,17 +122,16 @@ Below are some definitions that will be useful:
 
 Below is a list of the useful `make` commands in QMK:
 
-* `make` - cleans automatically and builds your keyboard and keymap depending on which folder you're in. This defaults to the "default" layout (unless in a keymap folder), and Planck keyboard in the root folder
+* `make` - builds your keyboard and keymap depending on which folder you're in. This defaults to the "default" layout (unless in a keymap folder), and Planck keyboard in the root folder
   * `make keyboard=<keyboard>` - specifies the keyboard (only to be used in root)
   * `make keymap=<keymap>` - specifies the keymap (only to be used in root and keyboard folder - not needed when in keymap folder)
-* `make quick` - skips the clean step (cannot be used immediately after modifying config.h or Makefiles)
+* `make clean` - cleans the `.build` folder, ensuring that everything is re-built
 * `make dfu` - (requires dfu-programmer) builds and flashes the keymap to your keyboard once placed in reset/dfu mode (button or press `KC_RESET`). This does not work for Teensy-based keyboards like the ErgoDox EZ.
   * `keyboard=` and `keymap=` are compatible with this
 * `make all-keyboards` - builds all keymaps for all keyboards and outputs status of each (use in root)
 * `make all-keyboards-default` - builds all default keymaps for all keyboards and outputs status of each (use in root)
 * `make all-keymaps [keyboard=<keyboard>]` - builds all of the keymaps for whatever keyboard folder you're in, or specified by `<keyboard>`
-* `make all-keyboards-quick`, `make all-keyboards-default-quick` and `make all-keymaps-quick [keyboard=<keyboard>]` - like the normal "make-all-*" commands, but they skip the clean steps
-
+* `make all-keyboards-*`, `make all-keyboards-default-*` and `make all-keymaps-* [keyboard=<keyboard>]` - like the normal "make-all-*" commands, but the last string aftter the `-` (for example clean) is passed to the keyboard make command.
 Other, less useful functionality:
 
 * `make COLOR=false` - turns off color output
diff --git a/tmk_core/rules.mk b/tmk_core/rules.mk
index c81fa685415..d2350f27c12 100644
--- a/tmk_core/rules.mk
+++ b/tmk_core/rules.mk
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@
 # Carlos Lamas
 #
 
+# Enable vpath seraching for source files only
+# Without this, output files, could be read from the wrong .build directories
+VPATH_SRC := $(VPATH)
+vpath %.c $(VPATH_SRC)
+vpath %.h $(VPATH_SRC)
+vpath %.cpp $(VPATH_SRC)
+vpath %.hpp $(VPATH_SRC)
+vpath %.S $(VPATH_SRC)
+VPATH :=
+
 
 # Output format. (can be srec, ihex, binary)
 FORMAT = ihex
@@ -35,11 +45,6 @@ ifeq ($(COLOR),true)
 	BOLD=\033[1m
 endif
 
-ifdef quick
-	QUICK = $(quick)
-endif
-
-QUICK ?= false
 AUTOGEN ?= false
 
 ifneq ($(shell awk --version 2>/dev/null),)
@@ -71,7 +76,7 @@ BUILD_CMD = LOG=$$($(CMD) 2>&1) ; if [ $$? -gt 0 ]; then $(PRINT_ERROR); elif [
 #     Each directory must be seperated by a space.
 #     Use forward slashes for directory separators.
 #     For a directory that has spaces, enclose it in quotes.
-EXTRAINCDIRS += $(subst :, ,$(VPATH))
+EXTRAINCDIRS += $(subst :, ,$(VPATH_SRC))
 
 
 # Compiler flag to set the C Standard level.
@@ -268,22 +273,21 @@ LST = $(patsubst %.c,$(OBJDIR)/%.lst,$(patsubst %.cpp,$(OBJDIR)/%.lst,$(patsubst
 
 # Compiler flags to generate dependency files.
 #GENDEPFLAGS = -MMD -MP -MF .dep/$(@F).d
-GENDEPFLAGS = -MMD -MP -MF $(BUILD_DIR)/.dep/$(subst /,_,$(subst $(BUILD_DIR)/,,$@)).d
+GENDEPFLAGS = -MMD -MP -MF $(patsubst %.o,%.td,$@)
 
 
 # Combine all necessary flags and optional flags.
 # Add target processor to flags.
 # You can give extra flags at 'make' command line like: make EXTRAFLAGS=-DFOO=bar
-ALL_CFLAGS = $(MCUFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) $(GENDEPFLAGS) $(EXTRAFLAGS)
-ALL_CPPFLAGS = $(MCUFLAGS) -x c++ $(CPPFLAGS) $(GENDEPFLAGS) $(EXTRAFLAGS)
+ALL_CFLAGS = $(MCUFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) $(EXTRAFLAGS)
+ALL_CPPFLAGS = $(MCUFLAGS) -x c++ $(CPPFLAGS) $(EXTRAFLAGS)
 ALL_ASFLAGS = $(MCUFLAGS) -x assembler-with-cpp $(ASFLAGS) $(EXTRAFLAGS)
 
+MOVE_DEP = mv -f $(patsubst %.o,%.td,$@) $(patsubst %.o,%.d,$@)
+
 # Default target.
 all: build sizeafter
 
-# Quick make that doesn't clean
-quick: build sizeafter
-
 # Change the build target to build a HEX file or a library.
 build: elf hex
 #build: elf hex eep lss sym
@@ -373,35 +377,62 @@ BEGIN = gccversion check_submodule sizebefore
 # Link: create ELF output file from object files.
 .SECONDARY : $(BUILD_DIR)/$(TARGET).elf
 .PRECIOUS : $(OBJ)
-%.elf: $(OBJ) | $(BEGIN)
+# Note the obj.txt depeendency is there to force linking if a source file is deleted
+%.elf: $(OBJ) $(OBJDIR)/cflags.txt $(OBJDIR)/ldflags.txt $(OBJDIR)/obj.txt | $(BEGIN)
 	@$(SILENT) || printf "$(MSG_LINKING) $@" | $(AWK_CMD)
-	$(eval CMD=$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $^ --output $@ $(LDFLAGS))
+	$(eval CMD=$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $(filter-out %.txt,$^) --output $@ $(LDFLAGS))
 	@$(BUILD_CMD)
 
 define GEN_OBJRULE
 # Compile: create object files from C source files.
-$1/%.o : %.c | $(BEGIN)
+$1/%.o : %.c $1/%.d $1/cflags.txt $1/compiler.txt | $(BEGIN)
 	@mkdir -p $$(@D)
 	@$$(SILENT) || printf "$$(MSG_COMPILING) $$<" | $$(AWK_CMD)
-	$$(eval CMD=$$(CC) -c $$(ALL_CFLAGS) $$< -o $$@)
+	$$(eval CMD=$$(CC) -c $$(ALL_CFLAGS) $$(GENDEPFLAGS) $$< -o $$@ && $$(MOVE_DEP))
 	@$$(BUILD_CMD)
 
 # Compile: create object files from C++ source files.
-$1/%.o : %.cpp | $(BEGIN)
+$1/%.o : %.cpp $1/%.d $1/cppflags.txt $1/compiler.txt | $(BEGIN)
 	@mkdir -p $$(@D)
 	@$$(SILENT) || printf "$$(MSG_COMPILING_CPP) $$<" | $$(AWK_CMD)
-	$$(eval CMD=$$(CC) -c $$(ALL_CPPFLAGS) $$< -o $$@)
+	$$(eval CMD=$$(CC) -c $$(ALL_CPPFLAGS) $$(GENDEPFLAGS) $$< -o $$@ && $$(MOVE_DEP))
 	@$(BUILD_CMD)
 
 # Assemble: create object files from assembler source files.
-$1/%.o : %.S | $(BEGIN)
+$1/%.o : %.S $1/asflags.txt $1/compiler.txt | $(BEGIN)
 	@mkdir -p $$(@D)
 	@$(SILENT) || printf "$$(MSG_ASSEMBLING) $$<" | $$(AWK_CMD)
 	$$(eval CMD=$$(CC) -c $$(ALL_ASFLAGS) $$< -o $$@)
 	@$$(BUILD_CMD)
 
+$1/force:
+
+$1/cflags.txt: $1/force
+	echo '$$(ALL_CFLAGS)' | cmp -s - $$@ || echo '$$(ALL_CFLAGS)' > $$@
+
+$1/cppflags.txt: $1/force
+	echo '$$(ALL_CPPFLAGS)' | cmp -s - $$@ || echo '$$(ALL_CPPFLAGS)' > $$@
+
+$1/asflags.txt: $1/force
+	echo '$$(ALL_ASFLAGS)' | cmp -s - $$@ || echo '$$(ALL_ASFLAGS)' > $$@
+
+$1/ldflags.txt: $1/force
+	echo '$$(LDFLAGS)' | cmp -s - $$@ || echo '$$(LDFLAGS)' > $$@
+
+$1/obj.txt: $1/force
+	echo '$$(OBJ)' | cmp -s - $$@ || echo '$$(OBJ)' > $$@
+
+$1/compiler.txt: $1/force
+	$$(CC) --version | cmp -s - $$@ || $$(CC) --version > $$@
 endef
 
+# We have to use static rules for the .d files for some reason
+DEPS = $(patsubst %.o,%.d,$(OBJ))
+# Keep the .d files
+.PRECIOUS: $(DEPS)
+# Empty rule to force recompilation if the .d file is missing
+$(DEPS):
+
 # Since the object files could be in two different folders, generate
 # separate rules for them, rather than having too generic rules
 $(eval $(call GEN_OBJRULE,$(OBJDIR)))
@@ -424,7 +455,10 @@ $(eval $(call GEN_OBJRULE,$(KBOBJDIR)))
 	$(CC) -E -mmcu=$(MCU) $(CFLAGS) $< -o $@
 
 # Target: clean project.
-clean: 
+clean:
+	$(REMOVE) -r $(OBJDIR) 2>/dev/null
+	$(REMOVE) -r $(KBOBJDIR) 2>/dev/null
+	$(REMOVE) $(BUILD_DIR)/$(TARGET).*
 
 show_path:
 	@echo VPATH=$(VPATH)
@@ -444,7 +478,6 @@ all-keyboards-defaults: all-keyboards-defaults-all
 
 KEYBOARDS := $(SUBDIRS:$(TOP_DIR)/keyboards/%/=/keyboards/%)
 all-keyboards-all: $(addsuffix -all,$(KEYBOARDS))
-all-keyboards-quick: $(addsuffix -quick,$(KEYBOARDS))
 all-keyboards-clean: $(addsuffix -clean,$(KEYBOARDS))
 all-keyboards: all-keyboards-all
 
@@ -461,12 +494,10 @@ done
 endef
 
 define make_keyboard_helper
-# Just remove the -quick, -all and so on from the first argument and pass it forward
+# Just remove the -all and so on from the first argument and pass it forward
 $(call make_keyboard,$(subst -$2,,$1),$2)
 endef
 
-/keyboards/%-quick:
-	$(call make_keyboard_helper,$@,quick)
 /keyboards/%-all:
 	$(call make_keyboard_helper,$@,all)
 /keyboards/%-clean:
@@ -484,19 +515,6 @@ all-keymaps-%:
 
 all-keymaps: all-keymaps-all
 
-GOAL=$(MAKECMDGOALS)
-ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),)
-GOAL = all
-endif
-CLEANING_GOALS=clean clean_list all
-ifneq ($(findstring $(GOAL),$(CLEANING_GOALS)),)
-$(shell $(REMOVE) -r $(BUILD_DIR) 2>/dev/null)
-$(shell $(REMOVE) -r $(TOP_DIR)/$(BUILD_DIR))
-$(shell $(REMOVE) -r $(KEYBOARD_PATH)/$(BUILD_DIR))
-$(shell if $$SUBPROJECT; then $(REMOVE) -r $(SUBPROJECT_PATH)/$(BUILD_DIR); fi)
-$(shell $(REMOVE) -r $(KEYMAP_PATH)/$(BUILD_DIR))
-endif
-
 # Create build directory
 $(shell mkdir $(BUILD_DIR) 2>/dev/null)
 
@@ -505,11 +523,11 @@ $(shell mkdir $(OBJDIR) 2>/dev/null)
 $(shell mkdir $(KBOBJDIR) 2>/dev/null)
 
 # Include the dependency files.
--include $(shell mkdir $(BUILD_DIR)/.dep 2>/dev/null) $(wildcard $(BUILD_DIR)/.dep/*)
+-include $(patsubst %.o,%.d,$(OBJ))
 
 
 # Listing of phony targets.
-.PHONY : all quick finish sizebefore sizeafter gccversion \
+.PHONY : all finish sizebefore sizeafter gccversion \
 build elf hex eep lss sym coff extcoff check_submodule \
 clean clean_list debug gdb-config show_path \
 program teensy dfu flip dfu-ee flip-ee dfu-start \