diff --git a/azure-pipelines.yml b/azure-pipelines.yml
index 8c7e0f91..8bb74339 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  # Ubuntu typically comes with an outdated meson
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       sudo apt-get install libgtk-3-dev ninja-build
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@ jobs:
   - script: |
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
 
 - job: linux_amd64_static_ninja
   displayName: 'Linux amd64 Static with Ninja'
@@ -27,6 +25,7 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       sudo apt-get install libgtk-3-dev ninja-build
@@ -34,9 +33,7 @@ jobs:
   - script: |
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
 
 # vs2015 {
 
@@ -47,16 +44,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
 
 - job: windows_386_msvc2015_static_ninja
   displayName: 'Windows 386 MSVC2015 Static Ninja'
@@ -65,16 +62,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
 
 - job: windows_386_msvc2015_shared_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows 386 MSVC2015 Shared with MSBuild'
@@ -83,16 +80,13 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=vs2015
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
 
 - job: windows_386_msvc2015_static_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows 386 MSVC2015 Static with MSBuild'
@@ -101,16 +95,13 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=vs2015
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2015_shared_ninja
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2015 Shared Ninja'
@@ -119,16 +110,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2015_static_ninja
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2015 Static Ninja'
@@ -137,16 +128,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2015_shared_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2015 Shared with MSBuild'
@@ -155,16 +146,13 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=vs2015
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2015_static_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2015 Static with MSBuild'
@@ -173,19 +161,18 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
-  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
+  - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=vs2015
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
 
 # }
 
+# vs2017 {
+
 - job: windows_386_msvc2017_shared_ninja
   displayName: 'Windows 386 MSVC2017 Shared Ninja'
   pool:
@@ -193,16 +180,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
 
 - job: windows_386_msvc2017_static_ninja
   displayName: 'Windows 386 MSVC2017 Static Ninja'
@@ -211,16 +198,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
 
 - job: windows_386_msvc2017_shared_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows 386 MSVC2017 Shared with MSBuild'
@@ -229,16 +216,13 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=vs2017
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
 
 - job: windows_386_msvc2017_static_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows 386 MSVC2017 Static with MSBuild'
@@ -247,16 +231,13 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" x86
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=vs2017
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2017_shared_ninja
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2017 Shared Ninja'
@@ -265,16 +246,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2017_static_ninja
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2017 Static Ninja'
@@ -283,16 +264,16 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=ninja
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - script: |
-      call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
-      ninja -C build
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
+    parameters:
+      beforeBuild: call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2017_shared_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2017 Shared with MSBuild'
@@ -301,16 +282,13 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=shared --backend=vs2017
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
 
 - job: windows_amd64_msvc2017_static_msbuild
   displayName: 'Windows amd64 MSVC2017 Static with MSBuild'
@@ -319,20 +297,15 @@ jobs:
   workspace:
     clean: all
   steps:
+  - template: azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
   - template: azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
   - script: |
       call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
       meson setup build --buildtype=release --default-library=static --backend=vs2017
     displayName: 'Configure'
-  - task: MSBuild@1
-    inputs:
-      solution: 'build/*.sln'
-      maximumCpuCount: true
-    displayName: 'Build'
+  - template: azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
+
+# }
 
 #    mac:
 #      imageName: 'macos-10.13'
-#    windowsVS2017:
-#      imageName: 'vs2017-win2016'
-#    windowsVS2015:
-#      imageName: 'vs2015-win2012r2'
diff --git a/azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml b/azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..69ab3598
--- /dev/null
+++ b/azure-pipelines/build-msbuild.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# 5 april 2019
+
+steps:
+- task: MSBuild@1
+  inputs:
+    solution: 'build/*.sln'
+    maximumCpuCount: true
+  displayName: 'Build'
diff --git a/azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml b/azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2fd591e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/azure-pipelines/build-ninja.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# 5 april 2019
+
+parameters:
+  beforeBuild: ''
+
+steps:
+- script: |
+    ${{ parameters.beforeBuild }}
+    ninja -C build
+  displayName: 'Build'
diff --git a/azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml b/azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
index 713533fc..4c86a01e 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines/install-latest-meson.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 # 4 april 2019
 
-# TODO figure out how to make the script step runnable in parallel with the other dependency installation steps
-
 steps:
-- task: UsePythonVersion@0
-  inputs:
-    versionSpec: '3.6'
-    architecture: 'x64'
 - script: |
     python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
     pip install meson
diff --git a/azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml b/azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fe321ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/azure-pipelines/setup-python3.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# 4 april 2019
+
+steps:
+- task: UsePythonVersion@0
+  inputs:
+    versionSpec: '3.6'
+    architecture: 'x64'
diff --git a/azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml b/azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
similarity index 82%
rename from azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
rename to azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
index 0f62ee64..93502fc4 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-latest-python3-meson.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines/vs2015-install-python3.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # 4 april 2019
 # see https://github.com/Microsoft/azure-pipelines-image-generation/issues/374 for context and source
+
 steps:
 - script: |
     powershell -Command "Invoke-WebRequest https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.7.1/python-3.7.1-amd64-webinstall.exe -OutFile C:\py3-setup.exe"
@@ -7,7 +8,3 @@ steps:
     @echo ##vso[task.prependpath]C:\Python37
     @echo ##vso[task.prependpath]C:\Python37\Scripts
   displayName: 'Install Python 3'
-- script: |
-    python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
-    pip install meson
-  displayName: 'Install Latest Meson'
diff --git a/azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml b/azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
index d80aedfe..d9fe366f 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines/windows-install-ninja.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # 4 april 2019
 # why this? because choco isn't available on the VS2015 image and is extremely slow on the VS2017 one (it should not take 2.5 minutes to install just ninja!)
+
 steps:
 - script: |
     powershell -Command "Invoke-WebRequest https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja/releases/download/v1.9.0/ninja-win.zip -OutFile C:\ninja-win.zip"