The author also doesn't cover autoconf/automake, which operates in the same vein as cmake (generating files for use by another build tool).

I agree, it would be useful to evaluate it here as it provides a bunch of the features the other "build tools" provide.

For c and c++, I've recently starting using meson.

It's a breath of fresh air compared to some other build tools, and the config files are both expressive and concise.

For those curious (like me): meson's home page -- http://mesonbuild.com/