diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 8743964dd..8e9d8e21b 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 NULL =
 
 SUBDIRS = build clutter tests doc po
@@ -27,10 +25,6 @@ DISTCLEANFILES =
 
 DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS = --enable-gtk-doc --enable-maintainer-flags --enable-docs
 
-# .release requires .changelog rules
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.changelog
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
-
 # proxy rules for tests
 test-report full-report:
 	$(MAKE) -C tests/conform $(@)
diff --git a/build/autotools/Makefile.am b/build/autotools/Makefile.am
index 19dfd1c72..cfc34fac3 100644
--- a/build/autotools/Makefile.am
+++ b/build/autotools/Makefile.am
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
 NULL =
 
 EXTRA_DIST = \
-	Makefile.am.silent	\
 	Makefile.am.marshal	\
 	Makefile.am.enums	\
-	Makefile.am.changelog	\
-	Makefile.am.gitignore	\
-	Makefile.am.release	\
 	introspection.m4	\
 	gtk-doc.m4		\
 	as-compiler-flag.m4	\
diff --git a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.changelog b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.changelog
deleted file mode 100644
index ca1ebc458..000000000
--- a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.changelog
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-# Taken from Cairo - build/Makefile.am.changelog
-# Modified to fit the Clutter build environment
-
-CURR_CHANGELOG_VERSION=$(CLUTTER_MAJOR_VERSION).$$(echo "($(CLUTTER_MINOR_VERSION)+1)/2*2" | bc)
-# examines $version
-PREV_CHANGELOG_VERSION=$$(if test "x$$(echo "($$version-0.1)*2/2"|bc)" = "x$$(echo "$$version*2/2"|bc)"; \
-			  then echo "$$version-$$(echo "$$version" | sed 's/[0-9]/0/g;s/[0-9]$$/2/')"; \
-			  else echo "$$version-1.0"; \
-			  fi | bc | sed 's/[.]0*/./;s/^0[.]\?$$/git-import/;s/[.]$$/.0/')
-
-CHANGELOGS = ChangeLog \
-	`version=$(CURR_CHANGELOG_VERSION); \
-	version=$(PREV_CHANGELOG_VERSION); \
-	while test "x$$version" != "xgit-import"; do \
-		echo ChangeLog.pre-$$version; \
-		version=$(PREV_CHANGELOG_VERSION); \
-	done`
-
-CLEANFILES += $(srcdir)/ChangeLog.cache-*
-
-changelogs:
-	@$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) $(CHANGELOGS)
-
-dist-hook: changelogs
-	changelogs="$(CHANGELOGS)"; \
-	for changelog in $$changelogs; do \
-		cp $(srcdir)/$$changelog $(distdir)/ 2>/dev/null || \
-		cp $$changelog $(distdir)/; \
-	done
-
-$(srcdir)/ChangeLog:
-	@if test -d "$(srcdir)/.git"; then \
-		version=$(CURR_CHANGELOG_VERSION); \
-		prev=$(PREV_CHANGELOG_VERSION).0; \
-		nearest_tag=`git describe | sed 's/-.*//'`; \
-		before=$(srcdir)/ChangeLog.cache-$$prev..$$nearest_tag; \
-		after=$(srcdir)/ChangeLog.cache-$$nearest_tag..; \
-		$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) $$before $$after && \
-		echo Creating $@ && \
-		{ echo '# Generated by configure.  Do not edit.'; echo; \
-		  cat $$after; echo; cat $$before; } > $@; \
-	else \
-		test -f $@ || \
-		(echo A git checkout is required to generate $@ >&2 && \
-		 echo A git checkout is required to generate this file >> $@); \
-	fi
-
-DISTCLEANFILES += ChangeLog.cache-*
-
-ChangeLog.cache-*..: .git
-
-ChangeLog%: $(srcdir)/ChangeLog%
-
-$(srcdir)/ChangeLog.cache-% $(srcdir)/ChangeLog.pre-%:
-	@echo "Creating $@"
-	@if test -d "$(srcdir)/.git"; then \
-	    (cd "$(srcdir)" && \
-	    version=$$(echo "$@" | sed 's/.*ChangeLog\([.].*-\)\?//'); \
-	    if echo "$@" | grep -q '^ChangeLog[.]cache'; then \
-	      spec=$$version; \
-	    else \
-	      to=$$version; \
-	      test "x$$version" = x && version=$(CURR_CHANGELOG_VERSION); \
-	      from=$(PREV_CHANGELOG_VERSION); \
-	      test "x$$to" = x || to=$$to.0; \
-	      test "x$$from" = xgit-import || from=$$from.0; \
-	      spec=$$from..$$to; \
-	    fi; \
-	    $(top_srcdir)/build/missing --run git log --stat "$$spec") > $@.tmp \
-	    && mv -f $@.tmp $@ \
-	    || ($(RM) $@.tmp; \
-	        echo Failed to generate $@, your $@ may be outdated >&2); \
-	  else \
-	    echo A git checkout is required to generate $@ >&2; \
-	fi
-
-.PHONY: changelogs ChangeLog $(srcdir)/ChangeLog
diff --git a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore
deleted file mode 100644
index ec3f3c796..000000000
--- a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-# this file should only be used in directories that generate test
-# or example binaries through noinst_PROGRAMS; it is *not* a full
-# generator of Git ignore files, and it's not meant to be used as
-# the top-level Git ignore file generator.
-
-GIT_IGNORE_FILES = $(noinst_PROGRAMS) $(check_PROGRAMS) $(check_SCRIPTS) $(GIT_IGNORE_EXTRA)
-
-.gitignore: Makefile.am
-	$(QUIET_GEN)if test -d "$(top_srcdir)/.git"; then \
-		( echo "*.o" ; \
-		  echo ".gitignore" ; \
-		) > .gitignore ; \
-		for p in $(GIT_IGNORE_FILES); do \
-			echo "/$$p" >> .gitignore ; \
-		done \
-	fi
-
-gitignore: .gitignore
-
-gitignore-clean:
-	$(QUIET_RM)rm -f .gitignore
-
-.PHONY: gitignore gitignore-clean
-
-all-am: gitignore
-
-maintainer-clean: gitignore-clean
diff --git a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
deleted file mode 100644
index 4a670b687..000000000
--- a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,166 +0,0 @@
-# To make real stable releases or devel snapshots, use either:
-# 	make release-check
-# or	make release-publish
-
-TAR_OPTIONS = --owner=0 --group=0
-
-#RELEASE_UPLOAD_HOST = clutter-project.org
-#RELEASE_UPLOAD_USER = clutter
-#RELEASE_UPLOAD_DIR  = $(RELEASE_UPLOAD_USER)@$(RELEASE_UPLOAD_HOST):~$(RELEASE_UPLOAD_USER)/upload-source
-
-#RELEASE_URL_BASE = http://source.clutter-project.org/sources/clutter
-#RELEASE_URL      = $(RELEASE_URL_BASE)/$(CLUTTER_MAJOR_VERSION).$(CLUTTER_MINOR_VERSION)
-
-RELEASE_ANNOUNCE_LIST = clutter-list@gnome.org
-RELEASE_ANNOUNCE_CC   = gnome-announce-list@gnome.org
-
-RELEASE_DOWNLOAD_URL = https://download.gnome.org/sources/clutter
-
-RELEASE_DOC_URL = https://developer.gnome.org
-REFERENCE_DOC_URL = $(RELEASE_DOC_URL)/clutter
-COOKBOOK_DOC_URL = $(RELEASE_DOC_URL)/clutter-cookbook
-
-BUGS_URL = https://bugzilla.gnome.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=clutter
-
-tar_file    = $(distdir).tar.xz
-sha256_file = $(distdir).sha256sum
-
-$(sha256_file): $(tar_file)
-	$(AM_V_GEN)sha256sum $^ > $@
-
-release-tag:
-	@if test "x$(CLUTTER_RELEASE_STATUS)" = "xgit"; then \
-	  echo "*** Cannot tag a Git version; please, update the Clutter version" >&2; \
-	else \
-	  if test -d "$(top_srcdir)/.git"; then \
-	    echo "  TAG      Tagging release $(CLUTTER_VERSION)..." ; \
-	    $(top_srcdir)/build/missing --run git tag \
-	 	-s \
-	      	-m "Clutter $(CLUTTER_VERSION) ($(CLUTTER_RELEASE_STATUS))" \
-		$(CLUTTER_VERSION) ; \
-	  else \
-	    echo "*** A git checkout is required to tag a release" >&2; \
-	  fi \
-	fi
-
-release-check: release-verify-even-micro release-verify-sane-changelogs release-verify-news
-	TAR_OPTIONS="$(TAR_OPTIONS)" $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) distcheck
-
-release-verify-news:
-	@echo -n "  CHK      Checking that the NEWS file has been updated..."
-	@if ! grep -q "$(CLUTTER_VERSION)" $(top_srcdir)/NEWS; then \
-	  (echo "Ouch." && \
-	   echo "*** The version in the NEWS file does not match $(CLUTTER_VERSION)." && \
-	   echo "*** This probably means you haven't updated the NEWS file." && \
-	   false); else :; fi
-	@echo "Good."
-
-release-verify-sane-changelogs: changelogs
-	@echo -n "  CHK      Checking that the ChangeLog files are sane..."
-	@if grep -q "is required to generate" $(CHANGELOGS); then \
-	  (echo "Ouch." && \
-	   echo "*** Some of the ChangeLogs are not generated correctly." && \
-	   echo "*** Remove ChangeLog* and make changelogs" && false); else :; fi
-	@echo "Good."
-
-release-verify-even-micro:
-	@echo -n "  CHK      Checking that $(VERSION) has an even micro component..."
-	@test "$(CLUTTER_MICRO_VERSION)" = "`echo $(CLUTTER_MICRO_VERSION)/2*2 | bc`" || \
-	  (echo "Ouch." && \
-	   echo "*** The version micro component '$(CLUTTER_MICRO_VERSION)' is not an even number." && \
-	   echo "*** The version in configure.ac must be incremented before a new release." && \
-	   false)
-	@echo "Good."
-
-release-upload: $(sha256_file)
-	@echo -n "  SCP      Uploading to master.gnome.org... "
-	@scp $(tar_file) master.gnome.org:
-	@echo "Done."
-	@echo -n "  EXEC     Running ftpadmin install... "
-	@ssh master.gnome.org ftpadmin install $(tar_file)
-	@mv -f $(sha256_file) $(top_builddir)/build/$(sha256_file)
-	@echo "Done."
-
-release-message:
-	@echo "     Release URL: $(RELEASE_URL)/$(tar_file)"
-	@echo "Release checksum: $(RELEASE_URL)/$(sha256_file)"
-	@echo "Send an email to: $(RELEASE_ANNOUNCE_LIST)"
-	@echo "              Cc: $(RELEASE_ANNOUNCE_CC)"
-	@echo "         Subject: ANNOUNCE: Clutter $(CLUTTER_VERSION) ($(CLUTTER_RELEASE_STATUS))"
-	@echo "        Contents:"
-	@echo "--- CUT HERE ---"
-	@echo "Good news, everyone!"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "A new Clutter $(CLUTTER_RELEASE_STATUS) is now available at:"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "  $(RELEASE_DOWNLOAD_URL)/$(CLUTTER_MAJOR_VERSION).$(CLUTTER_MINOR_VERSION)/"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "SHA256 Checksum:"
-	@echo ""
-	@cat $(top_builddir)/build/$(sha256_file)
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "Additionally, a git clone of the source tree:"
-	@echo "  git clone git://git.gnome.org/clutter"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "will include a signed $(CLUTTER_VERSION) tag which points to a commit named:"
-	@echo "  `git cat-file tag $(CLUTTER_VERSION) | $(GREP) ^object | $(SED) -e 's,object ,,'`"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "which can be verified with:"
-	@echo "  git verify-tag $(CLUTTER_VERSION)"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "and can be checked out with a command such as:"
-	@echo "  git checkout -b build $(CLUTTER_VERSION)"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "Clutter is a library for creating compelling, dynamic, and portable graphical"
-	@echo "user interfaces. Clutter is released under the terms of the GNU Lesser"
-	@echo "General Public License, version 2.1 or (at your option) later."
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "Clutter depends on:"
-	@echo "  GLib ≥ @GLIB_REQ_VERSION@"
-	@echo "  JSON-GLib ≥ @JSON_GLIB_REQ_VERSION@"
-	@echo "  Cogl ≥ @COGL_REQ_VERSION@"
-	@echo "  Cairo ≥ @CAIRO_REQ_VERSION@"
-	@echo "  Pango ≥ @PANGO_REQ_VERSION@"
-	@echo "  Atk ≥ @ATK_REQ_VERSION@"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "Clutter also has platform-specific dependencies; for more information, see"
-	@echo "the README file included in the release."
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "Documentation:"
-	@if test "x$(CLUTTER_RELEASE_STATUS)" = "xsnapshot"; then \
-	   echo "   Clutter: $(REFERENCE_DOC_URL)/unstable/"; \
-	 else \
-	   echo "   Clutter: $(REFERENCE_DOC_URL)/stable/"; \
-	 fi
-	@echo "  Cookbook: $(COOKBOOK_DOC_URL)/$(CLUTTER_MAJOR_VERSION).$(CLUTTER_MINOR_VERSION)/"
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "Release Notes:"
-	@if test "x$(CLUTTER_RELEASE_STATUS)" = "xsnapshot"; then \
-	   echo "  - This is an unstable snapshot of Clutter; there are no compatibility"; \
-	   echo "    guarantees for API added during a development cycle." ; \
-	 fi
-	@echo "  - This version is API and ABI compatible with the previous stable"
-	@echo "    release of Clutter."
-	@echo "  - Installing the contents of this release will overwrite the files"
-	@echo "    from the installation of the previous release of Clutter."
-	@echo "  - Bugs should be reported on the Clutter Bugzilla product, at:"
-	@echo "    ${BUGS_URL}"
-	@echo ""
-	@$(SED) -n '1bend;/^Clutter /q;:end;2,$$p' $(top_srcdir)/NEWS | $(GREP) -v '^======'
-	@echo ""
-	@echo "Have fun with Clutter!"
-	@echo "--- CUT HERE ---"
-
-release-publish: release-check
-	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) release-tag
-	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) release-upload
-	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) release-message
-	
-.PHONY: \
-	release-check \
-	release-message \
-	release-publish \
-	release-tag \
-	release-upload \
-	release-verify-even-micro \
-	release-verify-sane-changelogs
diff --git a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a1605c6e..000000000
--- a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-# custom rules for quiet builds
-
-QUIET_GEN = $(AM_V_GEN)
-
-QUIET_LN     = $(QUIET_LN_$(V))
-QUIET_LN_    = $(QUIET_LN_$(AM_DEFAULT_VERBOSITY))
-QUIET_LN_0   = @echo '  LN       '$@;
-
-QUIET_RM     = $(QUIET_RM_$(V))
-QUIET_RM_    = $(QUIET_RM_$(AM_DEFAULT_VERBOSITY))
-QUIET_RM_0   = @echo '  RM       '$@;
-
-QUIET_SCAN   = $(QUIET_SCAN_$(V))
-QUIET_SCAN_  = $(QUIET_SCAN_$(AM_DEFAULT_VERBOSITY))
-QUIET_SCAN_0 = @echo '  GISCAN   '$@;
-
-QUIET_COMP   = $(QUIET_COMP_$(V))
-QUIET_COMP_  = $(QUIET_COMP_$(AM_DEFAULT_VERBOSITY))
-QUIET_COMP_0 = @echo '  GICOMP   '$@;
diff --git a/clutter/Makefile.am b/clutter/Makefile.am
index e3f3bc3c9..edfb76285 100644
--- a/clutter/Makefile.am
+++ b/clutter/Makefile.am
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
 
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 # preamble
 NULL =
 
diff --git a/doc/cookbook/Makefile.am b/doc/cookbook/Makefile.am
index 6c335707a..0f2aff53e 100644
--- a/doc/cookbook/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/cookbook/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 SUBDIRS = examples
 
 NULL =
diff --git a/doc/cookbook/examples/Makefile.am b/doc/cookbook/examples/Makefile.am
index 0d97ce6be..80118527f 100644
--- a/doc/cookbook/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/cookbook/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 NULL =
 
 EXTRA_DIST =
@@ -140,5 +138,3 @@ EXTRA_DIST += $(ui_data) $(img_data)
 
 examples_DATA += $(ui_data) $(img_data) $(srcdir)/*.c $(srcdir)/*.h
 noinst_PROGRAMS += $(all_examples)
-
--include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore
diff --git a/examples/Makefile.am b/examples/Makefile.am
index d61f53d18..71c44599d 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 all_examples = \
 	actor-model \
 	basic-actor \
@@ -36,5 +34,3 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS = \
 noinst_PROGRAMS = $(all_examples)
 
 EXTRA_DIST = redhand.png
-
--include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore
diff --git a/tests/accessibility/Makefile.am b/tests/accessibility/Makefile.am
index 665bfd144..783e2dd80 100644
--- a/tests/accessibility/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/accessibility/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 common_ldadd = \
 	$(top_builddir)/clutter/libmutter-clutter-@CLUTTER_API_VERSION@.la
 
@@ -34,5 +32,3 @@ cally_atkeditabletext_example_SOURCES = $(common_sources) cally-atkeditabletext-
 cally_clone_example_SOURCES           = $(common_sources) cally-clone-example.c
 
 DISTCLEANFILES =
-
--include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore
diff --git a/tests/interactive/Makefile.am b/tests/interactive/Makefile.am
index 9613fd3a2..b204e6a4b 100644
--- a/tests/interactive/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/interactive/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 UNIT_TESTS = \
 	test-texture-slicing.c \
 	test-texture-async.c \
@@ -73,8 +71,6 @@ GIT_IGNORE_EXTRA = \
 	test-unit-names.h \
 	$(UNIT_TESTS:.c=$(SHEXT))
 
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore
-
 stamp-test-interactive: Makefile
 	@wrapper=$(abs_builddir)/wrapper.sh ; \
 	chmod +x $$wrapper && \
diff --git a/tests/micro-bench/Makefile.am b/tests/micro-bench/Makefile.am
index c2f28253d..a981dd677 100644
--- a/tests/micro-bench/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/micro-bench/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 common_ldadd = $(top_builddir)/clutter/libmutter-clutter-@CLUTTER_API_VERSION@.la
 
 check_PROGRAMS = \
@@ -29,5 +27,3 @@ test_picking_SOURCES = test-picking.c
 test_text_perf_SOURCES = test-text-perf.c
 test_random_text_SOURCES = test-random-text.c
 test_cogl_perf_SOURCES = test-cogl-perf.c
-
--include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore
diff --git a/tests/performance/Makefile.am b/tests/performance/Makefile.am
index 9b4d0eff5..5948a5007 100644
--- a/tests/performance/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/performance/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.silent
-
 check_PROGRAMS = \
 	test-picking \
 	test-text-perf \
@@ -40,5 +38,3 @@ test_state_interactive_SOURCES = test-state-interactive.c
 test_state_mini_SOURCES = test-state-mini.c
 
 EXTRA_DIST = Makefile-retrospect Makefile-tests create-report.rb test-common.h
-
--include $(top_srcdir)/build/autotools/Makefile.am.gitignore