diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index fc935879..f1d57256 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ next
 
 - Lowercase all built-in %{variables} in dune files (#956, @rgrinberg)
 
+- New syntax for naming dependencies: `(deps (:x a b) (:y (glob_files *.c*)))`.
+  This replaces the use for `${<}` in dune files. (#950, @diml, @rgrinberg)
+
 1.0+beta20 (10/04/2018)
 -----------------------
 
diff --git a/doc/dune-files.rst b/doc/dune-files.rst
index 68dc9f79..f50d4cbc 100644
--- a/doc/dune-files.rst
+++ b/doc/dune-files.rst
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Stanzas
     (rule
      (targets foo.ml)
      (deps    generator/gen.exe)
-     (action  (run %{<} -o %{@})))
+     (action  (run %{deps} -o %{targets})))
 
 The following sections describe the available stanzas and their meaning.
 
@@ -457,9 +457,9 @@ For instance:
 .. code:: scheme
 
     (rule
-      (targets b
-      (deps    a
-      (action  (copy %{<} %{@})))))
+     (targets b)
+     (deps    a)
+     (action  (copy %{deps} %{targets})))
 
 In this example it is obvious by inspecting the action what the
 dependencies and targets are. When this is the case you can use the
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ ocamllex
     (rule
       (targets <name>.ml)
       (deps    <name>.mll)
-      (action  (chdir %{root} (run %{bin:ocamllex} -q -o %{<}))))
+      (action  (chdir %{root} (run %{bin:ocamllex} -q -o %{targets} %{deps}))))
 
 To use a different rule mode, use the long form:
 
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ ocamlyacc
     (rule
       (targets <name>.ml <name>.mli)
       (deps    <name>.mly)
-      (action  (chdir %{root} (run %{bin:ocamlyacc} %{<}))))
+      (action  (chdir %{root} (run %{bin:ocamlyacc} %{deps}))))
 
 To use a different rule mode, use the long form:
 
@@ -866,9 +866,8 @@ Dune supports the following variables:
 
 In addition, ``(action ...)`` fields support the following special variables:
 
-- ``@`` expands to the list of target
-- ``<`` expands to the first dependency, or the empty string if there are no
-  dependencies
+- ``targets`` expands to the list of target
+- ``deps`` expands to the list of dependencies
 - ``^`` expands to the list of dependencies, separated by spaces
 - ``dep:<path>`` expands to ``<path>`` (and adds ``<path>`` as a dependency of
   the action)
@@ -909,7 +908,7 @@ In addition, ``(action ...)`` fields support the following special variables:
 The ``%{<kind>:...}`` forms are what allows you to write custom rules that work
 transparently whether things are installed or not.
 
-Note that aliases are ignored by both ``%{<}`` and ``%{^}``.
+Note that aliases are ignored by ``%{deps}``
 
 The intent of this last form is to reliably read a list of strings
 generated by an OCaml program via:
@@ -920,13 +919,13 @@ generated by an OCaml program via:
 
 #. Expansion of lists
 
-Forms that expands to list of items, such as ``%{cc}``, ``%{^}``,
-``%{@}`` or ``%{read-lines:...}``, are suitable to be used in, say,
+Forms that expands to list of items, such as ``%{cc}``, ``%{deps}``,
+``%{targets}`` or ``%{read-lines:...}``, are suitable to be used in, say,
 ``(run <prog> <arguments>)``.  For instance in:
 
 .. code:: scheme
 
-    (run foo %{^})
+    (run foo %{deps})
 
 if there are two dependencies ``a`` and ``b``, the produced command
 will be equivalent to the shell command:
@@ -940,7 +939,7 @@ you have to quote the variable as in:
 
 .. code:: scheme
 
-    (run foo "%{^}")
+    (run foo "%{deps}")
 
 which is equivalent to the following shell command:
 
@@ -949,7 +948,7 @@ which is equivalent to the following shell command:
     $ foo "a b"
 
 (the items of the list are concatenated with space).
-Note that, since ``%{^}`` is a list of items, the first one may be
+Note that, since ``%{deps}`` is a list of items, the first one may be
 used as a program name, for instance:
 
 .. code:: scheme
@@ -957,7 +956,7 @@ used as a program name, for instance:
     (rule
      (targets result.txt)
      (deps    foo.exe (glob_files *.txt))
-     (action  (run %{^})))
+     (action  (run %{deps})))
 
 Here is another example:
 
@@ -966,7 +965,7 @@ Here is another example:
     (rule
      (targets foo.exe)
      (deps    foo.c)
-     (action  (run %{cc} -o %{@} %{<} -lfoolib)))
+     (action  (run %{cc} -o %{targets} %{deps} -lfoolib)))
 
 
 Library dependencies
@@ -1038,11 +1037,11 @@ the ``-pp`` or ``-ppx`` of the various OCaml tools.
 Preprocessing with actions
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-``<action>`` uses the same DSL as described in the `User actions`_ section, and
-for the same reason given in that section, it will be executed from the root of
-the current build context. It is expected to be an action that reads the file
-given as only dependency and outputs the preprocessed file on its standard
-output.
+``<action>`` uses the same DSL as described in the `User actions`_
+section, and for the same reason given in that section, it will be
+executed from the root of the current build context. It is expected to
+be an action that reads the file given as only dependency named
+``input-file`` and outputs the preprocessed file on its standard output.
 
 More precisely, ``(preprocess (action <action>))`` acts as if
 you had setup a rule for every file of the form:
@@ -1052,10 +1051,10 @@ you had setup a rule for every file of the form:
        (rule
         (targets file.pp.ml)
         (deps    file.ml)
-        (action  (with-stdout-to %{@} (chdir %{root} <action>))))
+        (action  (with-stdout-to %{targets} (chdir %{root} <action>))))
 
 The equivalent of a ``-pp <command>`` option passed to the OCaml compiler is
-``(system "<command> %{<}")``.
+``(system "<command> %{input-file}")``.
 
 Preprocessing with ppx rewriters
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@@ -1105,8 +1104,8 @@ For instance:
  .. code:: scheme
 
     (preprocess (per_module
-                   (((action (run ./pp.sh X=1 %{<})) (foo bar)))
-                   (((action (run ./pp.sh X=2 %{<})) (baz)))))
+                   (((action (run ./pp.sh X=1 %{input-file})) (foo bar)))
+                   (((action (run ./pp.sh X=2 %{input-file})) (baz)))))
 
 .. _deps-field:
 
@@ -1116,6 +1115,8 @@ Dependency specification
 Dependencies in ``dune`` files can be specified using one of the following
 syntax:
 
+- ``(:name <dependencies>)`` will bind the the list of dependencies to the
+  ``name`` variable. This variable will be available as ``%{name}`` in actions.
 - ``(file <filename>)`` or simply ``<filename>``: depend on this file
 - ``(alias <alias-name>)``: depend on the construction of this alias, for
   instance: ``(alias src/runtest)``
@@ -1143,6 +1144,33 @@ syntax:
 
 In all these cases, the argument supports `Variables expansion`_.
 
+Named Dependencies
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+dune allows a user to organize dependency lists by naming them. The user is
+allowed to assign a group of dependencies a name that can later be referred to
+in actions (like the ``%{deps}`` and ``%{targets}`` built in variables).
+
+One instance where is useful is for naming globs. Here's an example of an
+imaginary bundle command:
+
+.. code:: scheme
+
+   (rule
+    (targets archive.tar)
+    (deps
+     index.html
+     (:css (glob_files *.css))
+     (:js foo.js bar.js)
+     (:img (glob_files *.png) (glob_files *.jpg)))
+    (action
+     (run %{bin:bundle} index.html -css %{css} -js %{js} -img %{img} -o %{targets})))
+
+Note that such named dependency list can also include unnamed dependencies (like
+``index.html`` in the example above). Also, such user defined names wil shadow
+built in variables. So ``(:root x)`` will shadow the built in ``%{root}``
+variable.
+
 .. _glob:
 
 Glob
@@ -1310,7 +1338,7 @@ To understand why this is important, let's consider this dune file living in
     (rule
      (targets blah.ml)
      (deps    blah.mll)
-     (action  (run ocamllex -o %{@} %{<})))
+     (action  (run ocamllex -o %{targets} %{deps})))
 
 Here the command that will be executed is:
 
@@ -1334,7 +1362,7 @@ of your project. What you should write instead is:
     (rule
      (targets blah.ml)
      (deps    blah.mll)
-     (action  (chdir %{root} (run ocamllex -o %{@} %{<}))))
+     (action  (chdir %{root} (run ocamllex -o %{targets} %{deps}))))
 
 Locks
 -----
@@ -1357,13 +1385,13 @@ same lock:
      (name   runtest)
      (deps   foo)
      (locks  m)
-     (action (run test.exe %{<})))
+     (action (run test.exe %{deps})))
 
     (alias
      (name   runtest)
      (deps   bar)
      (locks  m)
-     (action (run test.exe %{<})))
+     (action (run test.exe %{deps})))
 
 Dune will make sure that the executions of ``test.exe foo`` and
 ``test.exe bar`` are serialized.
@@ -1383,7 +1411,7 @@ simply use an absolute filename:
      (name   runtest)
      (deps   foo)
      (locks  /tcp-port/1042)
-     (action (run test.exe %{<})))
+     (action (run test.exe %{deps})))
 
 .. _ocaml-syntax:
 
diff --git a/doc/migration.rst b/doc/migration.rst
index a50fd0cb..d85670d6 100644
--- a/doc/migration.rst
+++ b/doc/migration.rst
@@ -169,7 +169,6 @@ Jbuild                    Dune
 ======================== ============
 ``${@}``                  ``%{targets}``
 ``${^}``                  ``%{deps}``
-``${<}``                  ``%{first-dep}``
 ``${path:file}``          ``%{dep:file}``
 ``${SCOPE_ROOT}``         ``%{project_root}``
 ``${findlib:..}``         ``%{lib:..}``
@@ -186,8 +185,26 @@ Jbuild                    Dune
 Removed Variables
 -----------------
 
-``${path-no-dep:file}`` has been removed.
+``${path-no-dep:file}`` and ``${<}`` have been removed.
 
+A named dependency should be used instead of ``${<}``. For instance
+the following jbuild file:
+
+.. code:: scheme
+
+          (alias
+           ((name   runtest)
+            (deps   (input))
+            (action (run ./test.exe %{<}))))
+
+should be rewritten to the following dune file:
+
+.. code:: scheme
+
+          (alias
+           (name   runtest)
+           (deps   (:x input))
+           (action (run ./test.exe %{x})))
 
 ``# JBUILDER_GEN`` renamed
 --------------------------
diff --git a/doc/tests.rst b/doc/tests.rst
index c1ecd715..3ca4e15c 100644
--- a/doc/tests.rst
+++ b/doc/tests.rst
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ The backend for such a framework looks like this:
           (library
            ((name simple_tests)
             (inline_tests.backend
-             ((generate_runner (run sed "s/(\\*TEST:\\(.*\\)\\*)/let () = \\1;;/" ${impl-files}))
+             ((generate_runner (run sed "s/(\\*TEST:\\(.*\\)\\*)/let () = \\1;;/" %{impl-files}))
              ))))
 
 Now all you have to do is write ``(inline_tests ((backend
diff --git a/src/action.ml b/src/action.ml
index 6a7f86dc..58802cac 100644
--- a/src/action.ml
+++ b/src/action.ml
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ module Unexpanded = struct
       Redirect (outputs, E.path ~dir ~f fn, partial_expand t ~dir ~map_exe ~f)
     | Ignore (outputs, t) ->
       Ignore (outputs, partial_expand t ~dir ~map_exe ~f)
-    | Progn l -> Progn (List.map l ~f:(fun t -> partial_expand t ~dir ~map_exe ~f))
+    | Progn l -> Progn (List.map l ~f:(partial_expand ~dir ~map_exe ~f))
     | Echo xs -> Echo (List.map xs ~f:(E.cat_strings ~dir ~f))
     | Cat x -> Cat (E.path ~dir ~f x)
     | Copy (x, y) ->
diff --git a/src/gen_rules.ml b/src/gen_rules.ml
index eee6291e..467d4f54 100644
--- a/src/gen_rules.ml
+++ b/src/gen_rules.ml
@@ -187,13 +187,14 @@ module Gen(P : Install_rules.Params) = struct
     in
     SC.add_rule_get_targets sctx ~mode:rule.mode ~loc:rule.loc
       ~locks:(interpret_locks ~dir ~scope rule.locks)
-      (SC.Deps.interpret sctx ~scope ~dir rule.deps
+      (SC.Deps.interpret_named sctx ~scope ~dir rule.deps
        >>>
        SC.Action.run
          sctx
          (snd rule.action)
          ~loc:(fst rule.action)
          ~dir
+         ~bindings:(Pform.Map.of_bindings rule.deps)
          ~dep_kind:Required
          ~targets
          ~scope)
@@ -929,7 +930,7 @@ module Gen(P : Install_rules.Params) = struct
       let module S = Sexp.To_sexp in
       Sexp.List
         [ Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "user-alias"
-        ; S.list   Jbuild.Dep_conf.sexp_of_t   alias_conf.deps
+        ; Jbuild.Bindings.sexp_of_t Jbuild.Dep_conf.sexp_of_t alias_conf.deps
         ; S.option Action.Unexpanded.sexp_of_t
             (Option.map alias_conf.action ~f:snd)
         ]
@@ -939,7 +940,7 @@ module Gen(P : Install_rules.Params) = struct
       ~name:alias_conf.name
       ~stamp
       ~locks:(interpret_locks ~dir ~scope alias_conf.locks)
-      (SC.Deps.interpret sctx ~scope ~dir alias_conf.deps
+      (SC.Deps.interpret_named sctx ~scope ~dir alias_conf.deps
        >>>
        match alias_conf.action with
        | None -> Build.progn []
@@ -950,6 +951,7 @@ module Gen(P : Install_rules.Params) = struct
            ~loc
            ~dir
            ~dep_kind:Required
+           ~bindings:(Pform.Map.of_bindings alias_conf.deps)
            ~targets:Alias
            ~scope)
 
@@ -976,7 +978,7 @@ module Gen(P : Install_rules.Params) = struct
       let rule =
         { Rule.
           targets = Infer
-        ; deps = []
+        ; deps = Bindings.empty
         ; action =
             (loc, Action.Unexpanded.Redirect (Stdout, diff.file2, run_action))
         ; mode = Standard
diff --git a/src/inline_tests.ml b/src/inline_tests.ml
index 76e407a6..1c7ebd84 100644
--- a/src/inline_tests.ml
+++ b/src/inline_tests.ml
@@ -179,8 +179,9 @@ include Sub_system.Register_end_point(
              ~obj_name:name)
       in
 
-      let extra_vars =
-        String.Map.singleton "library-name" ([Value.String lib.name])
+      let bindings =
+        Pform.Map.singleton "library-name"
+          (Values [String lib.name])
       in
 
       let runner_libs =
@@ -202,25 +203,24 @@ include Sub_system.Register_end_point(
         let target = Path.relative inline_test_dir main_module_filename in
         let source_modules = Module.Name.Map.values source_modules in
         let files ml_kind =
-          Value.L.paths (
+          Pform.Values (Value.L.paths (
             List.filter_map source_modules ~f:(fun m ->
-              Module.file m ~dir ml_kind))
+              Module.file m ~dir ml_kind)))
         in
-        let extra_vars =
-          List.fold_left
+        let bindings =
+          Pform.Map.of_list_exn
             [ "impl-files", files Impl
             ; "intf-files", files Intf
             ]
-            ~init:extra_vars
-            ~f:(fun acc (k, v) -> String.Map.add acc k v)
         in
-        Build.return []
+        Build.return Bindings.empty
         >>>
         Build.all
           (List.filter_map backends ~f:(fun (backend : Backend.t) ->
              Option.map backend.info.generate_runner ~f:(fun (loc, action) ->
                SC.Action.run sctx action ~loc
-                 ~extra_vars ~dir ~dep_kind:Required ~targets:Alias ~scope)))
+                 ~bindings
+                 ~dir ~dep_kind:Required ~targets:Alias ~scope)))
         >>^ (fun actions ->
           Action.with_stdout_to target
             (Action.progn actions))
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ include Sub_system.Register_end_point(
             Super_context.expand_and_eval_set sctx flags
               ~scope
               ~dir
-              ~extra_vars
+              ~bindings
               ~standard:(Build.return [])))
         >>^ List.concat
       in
diff --git a/src/jbuild.ml b/src/jbuild.ml
index acfa7daf..6123df34 100644
--- a/src/jbuild.ml
+++ b/src/jbuild.ml
@@ -232,6 +232,63 @@ module Pps_and_flags = struct
       Dune_syntax.t
 end
 
+module Bindings = struct
+  type 'a one =
+    | Unnamed of 'a
+    | Named of string * 'a list
+
+  type 'a t = 'a one list
+
+  let fold t ~f ~init = List.fold_left ~f:(fun acc x -> f x acc) ~init t
+
+  let to_list =
+    List.concat_map ~f:(function
+      | Unnamed x -> [x]
+      | Named (_, xs) -> xs)
+
+  let find t k =
+    List.find_map t ~f:(function
+      | Unnamed _ -> None
+      | Named (k', x) -> Option.some_if (k = k') x)
+
+  let empty = []
+
+  let singleton x = [Unnamed x]
+
+  let t elem =
+    let rec loop vars acc =
+      peek >>= function
+      | None -> return (List.rev acc)
+      | Some (List (_, Atom (loc, A s) :: _)) when
+          String.length s > 1 && s.[0] = ':' ->
+        let name = String.sub s ~pos:1 ~len:(String.length s - 1) in
+        let vars =
+          if not (String.Set.mem vars name) then
+            String.Set.add vars name
+          else
+            of_sexp_errorf loc "Variable %s is defined for the second time."
+              name
+        in
+        enter (junk >>= fun () -> repeat elem)
+        >>= fun values ->
+        loop vars (Named (name, values) :: acc)
+      | _ ->
+        elem >>= fun x ->
+        loop vars (Unnamed x :: acc)
+    in
+    Stanza.file_kind () >>= function
+    | Jbuild -> list (elem >>| fun x -> Unnamed x)
+    | Dune   -> loop String.Set.empty []
+
+  let sexp_of_t sexp_of_a bindings =
+    Sexp.List (
+      List.map bindings ~f:(function
+        | Unnamed a -> sexp_of_a a
+        | Named (name, bindings) ->
+          Sexp.List (Sexp.atom (":" ^ name) :: List.map ~f:sexp_of_a bindings))
+    )
+end
+
 module Dep_conf = struct
   type t =
     | File of String_with_vars.t
@@ -269,21 +326,23 @@ module Dep_conf = struct
   open Sexp
   let sexp_of_t = function
     | File t ->
-       List [Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "file" ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t]
+      List [ Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "file"
+           ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t ]
     | Alias t ->
-       List [Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "alias" ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t]
+      List [ Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "alias"
+           ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t ]
     | Alias_rec t ->
-       List [Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "alias_rec" ;
-             String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t]
+      List [ Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "alias_rec"
+           ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t ]
     | Glob_files t ->
-       List [Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "glob_files" ;
-             String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t]
+      List [ Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "glob_files"
+           ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t ]
     | Source_tree t ->
-       List [Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "files_recursively_in" ;
-             String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t]
+      List [ Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "files_recursively_in"
+           ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t ]
     | Package t ->
-      List [Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "package" ;
-            String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t]
+      List [ Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "package"
+           ; String_with_vars.sexp_of_t t]
     | Universe ->
       Sexp.unsafe_atom_of_string "universe"
 end
@@ -1071,7 +1130,7 @@ module Rule = struct
 
   type t =
     { targets  : Targets.t
-    ; deps     : Dep_conf.t list
+    ; deps     : Dep_conf.t Bindings.t
     ; action   : Loc.t * Action.Unexpanded.t
     ; mode     : Mode.t
     ; locks    : String_with_vars.t list
@@ -1113,7 +1172,7 @@ module Rule = struct
   let short_form =
     located Action.Unexpanded.t >>| fun (loc, action) ->
     { targets  = Infer
-    ; deps     = []
+    ; deps     = Bindings.empty
     ; action   = (loc, action)
     ; mode     = Standard
     ; locks    = []
@@ -1126,7 +1185,8 @@ module Rule = struct
     >>= fun action ->
     field "targets" (list file_in_current_dir)
     >>= fun targets ->
-    field "deps"    (list Dep_conf.t) ~default:[] >>= fun deps ->
+    field "deps" (Bindings.t Dep_conf.t) ~default:Bindings.empty
+    >>= fun deps ->
     field "locks"   (list String_with_vars.t) ~default:[] >>= fun locks ->
     map_validate
       (field_b
@@ -1231,7 +1291,7 @@ module Rule = struct
       let src = name ^ ".mll" in
       let dst = name ^ ".ml"  in
       { targets = Static [dst]
-      ; deps    = [File (S.virt_text __POS__ src)]
+      ; deps    = Bindings.singleton (Dep_conf.File (S.virt_text __POS__ src))
       ; action  =
           (loc,
            Chdir
@@ -1240,7 +1300,7 @@ module Rule = struct
                    [ S.virt_text __POS__ "-q"
                    ; S.virt_text __POS__ "-o"
                    ; S.virt_var __POS__ "targets"
-                   ; S.virt_var __POS__"first-dep"
+                   ; S.virt_var __POS__"deps"
                    ])))
       ; mode
       ; locks = []
@@ -1252,13 +1312,13 @@ module Rule = struct
     List.map modules ~f:(fun name ->
       let src = name ^ ".mly" in
       { targets = Static [name ^ ".ml"; name ^ ".mli"]
-      ; deps    = [File (S.virt_text __POS__ src)]
+      ; deps    = Bindings.singleton (Dep_conf.File (S.virt_text __POS__ src))
       ; action  =
           (loc,
            Chdir
              (S.virt_var __POS__ "root",
               Run (S.virt_text __POS__ "ocamlyacc",
-                   [S.virt_var __POS__ "first-dep"])))
+                   [S.virt_var __POS__ "deps"])))
       ; mode
       ; locks = []
       ; loc
@@ -1320,7 +1380,7 @@ end
 module Alias_conf = struct
   type t =
     { name    : string
-    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t list
+    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t Bindings.t
     ; action  : (Loc.t * Action.Unexpanded.t) option
     ; locks   : String_with_vars.t list
     ; package : Package.t option
@@ -1336,10 +1396,11 @@ module Alias_conf = struct
   let t =
     record
       (field "name" alias_name                          >>= fun name ->
-       field "deps" (list Dep_conf.t) ~default:[]       >>= fun deps ->
        field_o "package" Pkg.t                          >>= fun package ->
        field_o "action" (located Action.Unexpanded.t)   >>= fun action ->
        field "locks" (list String_with_vars.t) ~default:[] >>= fun locks ->
+       field "deps" (Bindings.t Dep_conf.t) ~default:Bindings.empty
+       >>= fun deps ->
        return
          { name
          ; deps
@@ -1354,7 +1415,7 @@ module Tests = struct
     { exes    : Executables.t
     ; locks   : String_with_vars.t list
     ; package : Package.t option
-    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t list
+    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t Bindings.t
     }
 
   let gen_parse names =
@@ -1362,11 +1423,12 @@ module Tests = struct
       (Buildable.t                                         >>= fun buildable ->
        field_oslu "link_flags"                             >>= fun link_flags ->
        names                                               >>= fun names ->
-       field "deps" (list Dep_conf.t) ~default:[]          >>= fun deps ->
        field_o "package" Pkg.t                             >>= fun package ->
        field "locks" (list String_with_vars.t) ~default:[] >>= fun locks ->
        field "modes" Executables.Link_mode.Set.t
          ~default:Executables.Link_mode.Set.default >>= fun modes ->
+       field "deps" (Bindings.t Dep_conf.t) ~default:Bindings.empty
+       >>= fun deps ->
        return
          { exes =
              { Executables.
diff --git a/src/jbuild.mli b/src/jbuild.mli
index f8493f7a..9e290d77 100644
--- a/src/jbuild.mli
+++ b/src/jbuild.mli
@@ -81,6 +81,26 @@ module Lib_deps : sig
   val of_pps : Pp.t list -> t
 end
 
+module Bindings : sig
+  type 'a one =
+    | Unnamed of 'a
+    | Named of string * 'a list
+
+  type 'a t = 'a one list
+
+  val find : 'a t -> string -> 'a list option
+
+  val fold : 'a t -> f:('a one -> 'acc -> 'acc) -> init:'acc -> 'acc
+
+  val empty : 'a t
+
+  val to_list : 'a t -> 'a list
+
+  val singleton : 'a -> 'a t
+
+  val sexp_of_t : ('a -> Usexp.t) -> 'a t -> Usexp.t
+end
+
 module Dep_conf : sig
   type t =
     | File of String_with_vars.t
@@ -284,7 +304,7 @@ module Rule : sig
 
   type t =
     { targets  : Targets.t
-    ; deps     : Dep_conf.t list
+    ; deps     : Dep_conf.t Bindings.t
     ; action   : Loc.t * Action.Unexpanded.t
     ; mode     : Mode.t
     ; locks    : String_with_vars.t list
@@ -307,7 +327,7 @@ end
 module Alias_conf : sig
   type t =
     { name    : string
-    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t list
+    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t Bindings.t
     ; action  : (Loc.t * Action.Unexpanded.t) option
     ; locks   : String_with_vars.t list
     ; package : Package.t option
@@ -350,7 +370,7 @@ module Tests : sig
     { exes    : Executables.t
     ; locks   : String_with_vars.t list
     ; package : Package.t option
-    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t list
+    ; deps    : Dep_conf.t Bindings.t
     }
 end
 
diff --git a/src/pform.ml b/src/pform.ml
index 58e1858b..ac1971fd 100644
--- a/src/pform.ml
+++ b/src/pform.ml
@@ -1,68 +1,55 @@
 open Import
 
-module Var = struct
-  type t =
-    | Values of Value.t list
-    | Project_root
-    | First_dep
-    | Deps
-    | Targets
+type t =
+  | Values of Value.t list
+  | Project_root
+  | First_dep
+  | Deps
+  | Targets
+  | Named_local
+  | Exe
+  | Dep
+  | Bin
+  | Lib
+  | Libexec
+  | Lib_available
+  | Version
+  | Read
+  | Read_strings
+  | Read_lines
+  | Path_no_dep
+  | Ocaml_config
 
-  let to_value_no_deps_or_targets t ~scope =
-    match t with
-    | Values v -> Some v
-    | Project_root -> Some [Value.Dir (Scope.root scope)]
-    | First_dep
-    | Deps
-    | Targets -> None
-end
-
-module Macro = struct
-  type t =
-    | Exe
-    | Dep
-    | Bin
-    | Lib
-    | Libexec
-    | Lib_available
-    | Version
-    | Read
-    | Read_strings
-    | Read_lines
-    | Path_no_dep
-    | Ocaml_config
-end
-
-type 'a t =
-  | No_info    of 'a
-  | Since      of 'a * Syntax.Version.t
-  | Deleted_in of 'a * Syntax.Version.t
+type with_info =
+  | No_info    of t
+  | Since      of t * Syntax.Version.t
+  | Deleted_in of t * Syntax.Version.t * string option
   | Renamed_in of Syntax.Version.t * string
 
 module Map = struct
-  type nonrec 'a t = 'a t String.Map.t
+  type t = with_info String.Map.t
 
-  let values v                      = No_info (Var.Values v)
-  let renamed_in ~new_name ~version = Renamed_in (version, new_name)
-  let deleted_in ~version kind      = Deleted_in (kind, version)
-  let since ~version v              = Since (v, version)
+  let values v                       = No_info (Values v)
+  let renamed_in ~new_name ~version  = Renamed_in (version, new_name)
+  let deleted_in ~version ?repl kind = Deleted_in (kind, version, repl)
+  let since ~version v               = Since (v, version)
 
-  let static_vars =
-    [ "first-dep", since ~version:(1, 0) Var.First_dep
-    ; "targets", since ~version:(1, 0) Var.Targets
-    ; "deps", since ~version:(1, 0) Var.Deps
-    ; "project_root", since ~version:(1, 0) Var.Project_root
+  let static =
+    let macro x = No_info x in
+    [ "targets", since ~version:(1, 0) Targets
+    ; "deps", since ~version:(1, 0) Deps
+    ; "project_root", since ~version:(1, 0) Project_root
 
-    ; "<", renamed_in ~version:(1, 0) ~new_name:"first-dep"
+    ; "<", deleted_in First_dep ~version:(1, 0)
+             ~repl:"Use a named dependency instead:\
+                    \n\
+                    \n\  (deps (:x <dep>) ...)\
+                    \n\   ... %{x} ..."
     ; "@", renamed_in ~version:(1, 0) ~new_name:"targets"
     ; "^", renamed_in ~version:(1, 0) ~new_name:"deps"
     ; "SCOPE_ROOT", renamed_in ~version:(1, 0) ~new_name:"project_root"
-    ]
 
-  let macros =
-    let macro kind = No_info kind in
-    let open Macro in
-    [ "exe", macro Exe
+    ; "exe", macro Exe
     ; "bin", macro Bin
     ; "lib", macro Lib
     ; "libexec", macro Libexec
@@ -82,7 +69,7 @@ module Map = struct
     ]
     |> String.Map.of_list_exn
 
-  let create_vars ~(context : Context.t) ~cxx_flags =
+  let create ~(context : Context.t) ~cxx_flags =
     let ocamlopt =
       match context.ocamlopt with
       | None -> Path.relative context.ocaml_bin "ocamlopt"
@@ -107,11 +94,13 @@ module Map = struct
       ; "arch_sixtyfour" , string (string_of_bool context.arch_sixtyfour)
       ; "make"           , make
       ; "root"           , values [Value.Dir context.build_dir]
-      ] in
+      ]
+    in
     let uppercased =
       List.map lowercased ~f:(fun (k, _) ->
-        (String.uppercase k, renamed_in ~new_name:k ~version:(1, 0))) in
-    let vars =
+        (String.uppercase k, renamed_in ~new_name:k ~version:(1, 0)))
+    in
+    let other =
       [ "-verbose"       , values []
       ; "pa_cpp"         , strings (context.c_compiler :: cflags
                                     @ ["-undef"; "-traditional";
@@ -128,49 +117,67 @@ module Map = struct
       ; "profile"        , string context.profile
       ]
     in
-    [ static_vars
-    ; lowercased
-    ; uppercased
-    ; vars
-    ]
-    |> List.concat
-    |> String.Map.of_list_exn
+    String.Map.superpose
+      static
+      (String.Map.of_list_exn
+         (List.concat
+            [ lowercased
+            ; uppercased
+            ; other
+            ]))
 
-  let static_vars = String.Map.of_list_exn static_vars
+  let superpose = String.Map.superpose
 
-  let rec expand t ~syntax_version ~var =
-    let name = String_with_vars.Var.name var in
+  let rec expand t ~syntax_version ~pform =
+    let name = String_with_vars.Var.name pform in
     Option.bind (String.Map.find t name) ~f:(fun v ->
-      let what var =
-        String_with_vars.Var.to_string (
-          if String_with_vars.Var.is_macro var then
-            String_with_vars.Var.with_payload var ~payload:(Some "..")
-          else
-            var)
-      in
+      let describe = String_with_vars.Var.describe in
       match v with
       | No_info v -> Some v
       | Since (v, min_version) ->
         if syntax_version >= min_version then
           Some v
         else
-          Syntax.Error.since (String_with_vars.Var.loc var)
+          Syntax.Error.since (String_with_vars.Var.loc pform)
             Stanza.syntax min_version
-            ~what:(what var)
+            ~what:(describe pform)
       | Renamed_in (in_version, new_name) -> begin
           if syntax_version >= in_version then
-            Syntax.Error.renamed_in (String_with_vars.Var.loc var)
+            Syntax.Error.renamed_in (String_with_vars.Var.loc pform)
               Stanza.syntax syntax_version
-              ~what:(what var)
-              ~to_:(what (String_with_vars.Var.with_name var ~name:new_name))
+              ~what:(describe pform)
+              ~to_:(describe
+                      (String_with_vars.Var.with_name pform ~name:new_name))
           else
             expand t ~syntax_version:in_version
-              ~var:(String_with_vars.Var.with_name var ~name:new_name)
+              ~pform:(String_with_vars.Var.with_name pform ~name:new_name)
         end
-      | Deleted_in (v, in_version) ->
+      | Deleted_in (v, in_version, repl) ->
         if syntax_version < in_version then
           Some v
         else
-          Syntax.Error.deleted_in (String_with_vars.Var.loc var)
-            Stanza.syntax syntax_version ~what:(what var))
+          Syntax.Error.deleted_in (String_with_vars.Var.loc pform)
+            Stanza.syntax syntax_version ~what:(describe pform) ?repl)
+
+  let empty = String.Map.empty
+
+  let singleton k v = String.Map.singleton k (No_info v)
+
+  let of_list_exn pforms =
+    List.map ~f:(fun (k, x) -> (k, No_info x)) pforms
+    |> String.Map.of_list_exn
+
+  let of_bindings =
+    Jbuild.Bindings.fold ~f:(fun x acc ->
+      match x with
+      | Unnamed _ -> acc
+      | Named (s, _) -> String.Map.add acc s (No_info Named_local)
+    ) ~init:empty
+
+  let input_file path =
+    let value = Values (Value.L.paths [path]) in
+    [ "input-file", since ~version:(1, 0) value
+    ; "<", renamed_in ~new_name:"input-file" ~version:(1, 0)
+    ]
+    |> String.Map.of_list_exn
 end
diff --git a/src/pform.mli b/src/pform.mli
index 357a3a16..1135c594 100644
--- a/src/pform.mli
+++ b/src/pform.mli
@@ -1,49 +1,50 @@
-module Var : sig
-  type t =
-    | Values of Value.t list
-    | Project_root
-    | First_dep
-    | Deps
-    | Targets
+open Stdune
 
-  val to_value_no_deps_or_targets : t -> scope:Scope.t -> Value.t list option
-end
+type t =
+  (* Variables *)
+  | Values of Value.t list
+  | Project_root
+  | First_dep
+  | Deps
+  | Targets
+  | Named_local
 
-module Macro : sig
-  type t =
-    | Exe
-    | Dep
-    | Bin
-    | Lib
-    | Libexec
-    | Lib_available
-    | Version
-    | Read
-    | Read_strings
-    | Read_lines
-    | Path_no_dep
-    | Ocaml_config
-end
-
-type 'a t =
-  | No_info    of 'a
-  | Since      of 'a * Syntax.Version.t
-  | Deleted_in of 'a * Syntax.Version.t
-  | Renamed_in of Syntax.Version.t * string
+  (* Macros *)
+  | Exe
+  | Dep
+  | Bin
+  | Lib
+  | Libexec
+  | Lib_available
+  | Version
+  | Read
+  | Read_strings
+  | Read_lines
+  | Path_no_dep
+  | Ocaml_config
 
 module Map : sig
-  type 'a var
-  type 'a t
+  type pform
+  type t
 
-  val create_vars : context:Context.t -> cxx_flags:string list -> Var.t t
+  val create : context:Context.t -> cxx_flags:string list -> t
 
-  val macros : Macro.t t
+  val superpose : t -> t -> t
 
-  val static_vars : Var.t t
+  (** Map with all named values as [Named_local] *)
+  val of_bindings : _ Jbuild.Bindings.t -> t
+
+  val singleton : string -> pform -> t
+
+  val of_list_exn : (string * pform) list -> t
+
+  val input_file : Path.t -> t
 
   val expand
-    :  'a t
+    :  t
     -> syntax_version:Syntax.Version.t
-    -> var:String_with_vars.Var.t
-    -> 'a option
-end with type 'a var := 'a t
+    -> pform:String_with_vars.Var.t
+    -> pform option
+
+  val empty : t
+end with type pform := t
diff --git a/src/preprocessing.ml b/src/preprocessing.ml
index fad3f8cd..5961de93 100644
--- a/src/preprocessing.ml
+++ b/src/preprocessing.ml
@@ -454,14 +454,16 @@ let lint_module sctx ~dir ~dep_kind ~lint ~lib_name ~scope ~dir_kind =
              let action = Action.Unexpanded.Chdir (root_var, action) in
              Module.iter source ~f:(fun _ (src : Module.File.t) ->
                let src_path = Path.relative dir src.name in
+               let bindings = Pform.Map.input_file src_path in
                add_alias src.name
                  (Build.path src_path
-                  >>^ (fun _ -> [src_path])
+                  >>^ (fun _ -> Jbuild.Bindings.empty)
                   >>> SC.Action.run sctx
                         action
                         ~loc
                         ~dir
                         ~dep_kind
+                        ~bindings
                         ~targets:(Static [])
                         ~scope)))
         | Pps { loc; pps; flags } ->
@@ -476,14 +478,15 @@ let lint_module sctx ~dir ~dep_kind ~lint ~lib_name ~scope ~dir_kind =
             get_ppx_driver sctx ~loc ~scope ~dir_kind pps
             >>| fun (exe, driver) ->
             (exe,
-             let extra_vars =
-               String_map.singleton "corrected-suffix" [Value.String corrected_suffix]
+             let bindings =
+               Pform.Map.singleton "corrected-suffix"
+                 (Values [String corrected_suffix])
              in
              Build.memoize "ppx flags"
                (SC.expand_and_eval_set sctx driver.info.lint_flags
                   ~scope
                   ~dir
-                  ~extra_vars
+                  ~bindings
                   ~standard:(Build.return [])))
           in
           (fun ~source ~ast ->
@@ -527,11 +530,12 @@ let make sctx ~dir ~dep_kind ~lint ~preprocess
       (fun m ~lint ->
          let ast =
            pped_module m ~dir ~f:(fun _kind src dst ->
+             let bindings = Pform.Map.input_file src in
              SC.add_rule sctx
                (preprocessor_deps
                 >>>
                 Build.path src
-                >>^ (fun _ -> [src])
+                >>^ (fun _ -> Jbuild.Bindings.empty)
                 >>>
                 SC.Action.run sctx
                   (Redirect
@@ -542,6 +546,7 @@ let make sctx ~dir ~dep_kind ~lint ~preprocess
                   ~loc
                   ~dir
                   ~dep_kind
+                  ~bindings
                   ~targets:(Static [dst])
                   ~scope))
            |> setup_reason_rules sctx ~dir in
@@ -558,14 +563,15 @@ let make sctx ~dir ~dep_kind ~lint ~preprocess
         let open Result.O in
         get_ppx_driver sctx ~loc ~scope ~dir_kind pps >>| fun (exe, driver) ->
         (exe,
-         let extra_vars =
-           String_map.singleton "corrected-suffix" [Value.String corrected_suffix]
+         let bindings =
+           Pform.Map.singleton "corrected-suffix"
+             (Values [String corrected_suffix])
          in
          Build.memoize "ppx flags"
            (SC.expand_and_eval_set sctx driver.info.flags
               ~scope
               ~dir
-              ~extra_vars
+              ~bindings
               ~standard:(Build.return [])))
       in
       (fun m ~lint ->
diff --git a/src/string_with_vars.ml b/src/string_with_vars.ml
index 04aa239f..4fc95d08 100644
--- a/src/string_with_vars.ml
+++ b/src/string_with_vars.ml
@@ -211,6 +211,8 @@ module Var = struct
     | Var s -> s
     | Macro (k, v) -> k ^ ":" ^ v
 
+  let payload t = t.payload
+
   let to_string = string_of_var
 
   let pp fmt t = Format.pp_print_string fmt (to_string t)
@@ -224,6 +226,12 @@ module Var = struct
     { t with name }
 
   let is_macro t = Option.is_some t.payload
+
+  let describe t =
+    to_string
+      (match t.payload with
+       | None   -> t
+       | Some _ -> { t with payload = Some ".." })
 end
 
 let partial_expand
@@ -277,10 +285,10 @@ let expand t ~mode ~dir ~f =
       | None ->
         begin match var.syntax with
         | Percent ->
-          begin match Var.destruct var with
-          | Var v -> Loc.fail var.loc "unknown variable %S" v
-          | Macro _ -> Loc.fail var.loc "unknown form %s" (string_of_var var)
-          end
+          if Var.is_macro var then
+            Loc.fail var.loc "Unknown macro %s" (Var.describe var)
+          else
+            Loc.fail var.loc "Unknown variable %S" (Var.name var)
         | Dollar_brace
         | Dollar_paren -> Some [Value.String (string_of_var var)]
         end
diff --git a/src/string_with_vars.mli b/src/string_with_vars.mli
index ddb09575..aa2f2046 100644
--- a/src/string_with_vars.mli
+++ b/src/string_with_vars.mli
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ module Var : sig
   val name : t -> string
   val loc : t -> Loc.t
   val full_name : t -> string
+  val payload : t -> string option
 
   type kind =
     | Var of string
@@ -63,13 +64,14 @@ module Var : sig
 
   val destruct : t -> kind
 
-  val to_string : t -> string
-
   val with_name : t -> name:string -> t
 
   val with_payload : t -> payload:string option -> t
 
   val is_macro : t -> bool
+
+  (** Describe what this variable is *)
+  val describe : t -> string
 end
 
 val expand
diff --git a/src/super_context.ml b/src/super_context.ml
index 1c8dd76f..17ddaf81 100644
--- a/src/super_context.ml
+++ b/src/super_context.ml
@@ -45,8 +45,7 @@ type t =
   ; artifacts                        : Artifacts.t
   ; stanzas_to_consider_for_install  : Installable.t list
   ; cxx_flags                        : string list
-  ; vars                             : Pform.Var.t Pform.Map.t
-  ; macros                           : Pform.Macro.t Pform.Map.t
+  ; pforms                           : Pform.Map.t
   ; ocaml_config                     : Value.t list String.Map.t
   ; chdir                            : (Action.t, Action.t) Build.t
   ; host                             : t option
@@ -86,64 +85,43 @@ let installed_libs t = t.installed_libs
 let find_scope_by_dir  t dir  = Scope.DB.find_by_dir  t.scopes dir
 let find_scope_by_name t name = Scope.DB.find_by_name t.scopes name
 
-let expand_vars t ~syntax_version ~var =
-  if String_with_vars.Var.is_macro var then
-    Loc.fail (String_with_vars.Var.loc var)
-      "macros of the form %%{name:..} cannot be expanded here"
-  else
-    Pform.Map.expand t.vars ~syntax_version ~var
-
-let expand_macro t ~syntax_version ~var =
-  if String_with_vars.Var.is_macro var then
-    Pform.Map.expand t.macros ~syntax_version ~var
-  else
-    Exn.code_error "expand_macro can't expand variables"
-      [ "var", String_with_vars.Var.sexp_of_t var ]
-
-let expand t ~syntax_version ~var =
-  match
-    match String_with_vars.Var.destruct var with
-    | Var _ -> Left (expand_vars t ~syntax_version ~var)
-    | Macro (_, _) -> Right (expand_macro t ~syntax_version ~var)
-  with
-  | Right None
-  | Left None -> None
-  | Right (Some x) -> Some (Right x)
-  | Left (Some x) -> Some (Left x)
+let expand_ocaml_config t pform =
+  let name = Option.value_exn (String_with_vars.Var.payload pform) in
+  match String.Map.find t.ocaml_config name with
+  | Some x -> x
+  | None ->
+    Loc.fail (String_with_vars.Var.loc pform)
+      "Unknown ocaml configuration variable %S"
+      name
 
 let (expand_vars_string, expand_vars_path) =
-  let expand t ~scope ~dir ?(extra_vars=String.Map.empty) s =
-    String_with_vars.expand ~mode:Single ~dir s ~f:(fun var syntax_version ->
-      match expand t ~syntax_version ~var with
-      | None ->
-        String.Map.find extra_vars (String_with_vars.Var.full_name var)
-      | Some (Left v) ->
-        begin match Pform.Var.to_value_no_deps_or_targets ~scope v with
-        | Some _ as v -> v
-        | None ->
-          Loc.fail (String_with_vars.Var.loc var)
-            "Variable %a is not allowed in this context"
-            String_with_vars.Var.pp var
-        end
-      | Some (Right Ocaml_config) ->
-        String.Map.find t.ocaml_config (String_with_vars.Var.name var)
-      | Some (Right _) ->
-        Loc.fail (String_with_vars.Var.loc var)
-          "This percent form isn't allowed in this position")
+  let expand t ~scope ~dir ?(bindings=Pform.Map.empty) s =
+    String_with_vars.expand ~mode:Single ~dir s ~f:(fun pform syntax_version ->
+      (match Pform.Map.expand bindings ~syntax_version ~pform with
+       | None -> Pform.Map.expand t.pforms ~syntax_version ~pform
+       | Some _ as x -> x)
+      |> Option.map ~f:(function
+        | Pform.Values l     -> l
+        | Ocaml_config -> expand_ocaml_config t pform
+        | Project_root -> [Value.Dir (Scope.root scope)]
+        | _ ->
+          Loc.fail (String_with_vars.Var.loc pform)
+            "%s isn't allowed in this position"
+            (String_with_vars.Var.describe pform)))
   in
-  let expand_vars t ~scope ~dir ?extra_vars s =
-    expand t ~scope ~dir ?extra_vars s
+  let expand_vars t ~scope ~dir ?bindings s =
+    expand t ~scope ~dir ?bindings s
     |> Value.to_string ~dir
   in
-  let expand_vars_path t ~scope ~dir ?extra_vars s =
-    expand t ~scope ~dir ?extra_vars s
+  let expand_vars_path t ~scope ~dir ?bindings s =
+    expand t ~scope ~dir ?bindings s
     |> Value.to_path ~error_loc:(String_with_vars.loc s) ~dir
   in
   (expand_vars, expand_vars_path)
 
-let expand_and_eval_set t ~scope ~dir ?extra_vars set ~standard =
+let expand_and_eval_set t ~scope ~dir ?bindings set ~standard =
   let open Build.O in
-  let f = expand_vars_string t ~scope ~dir ?extra_vars in
+  let f = expand_vars_string t ~scope ~dir ?bindings in
   let parse ~loc:_ s = s in
   let (syntax, files) = Ordered_set_lang.Unexpanded.files set ~f in
   match String.Set.to_list files with
@@ -208,7 +186,7 @@ module Env = struct
               ~ocamlopt_flags:cfg.ocamlopt_flags
               ~default
               ~eval:(expand_and_eval_set t ~scope:node.scope ~dir:node.dir
-                       ?extra_vars:None)
+                       ?bindings:None)
         in
         node.ocaml_flags <- Some flags;
         flags
@@ -223,7 +201,7 @@ let ocaml_flags t ~dir ~scope (x : Buildable.t) =
     ~ocamlc_flags:x.ocamlc_flags
     ~ocamlopt_flags:x.ocamlopt_flags
     ~default:(Env.ocaml_flags t ~dir)
-    ~eval:(expand_and_eval_set t ~scope ~dir ?extra_vars:None)
+    ~eval:(expand_and_eval_set t ~scope ~dir ?bindings:None)
 
 let dump_env t ~dir =
   Ocaml_flags.dump (Env.ocaml_flags t ~dir)
@@ -306,7 +284,7 @@ let create
     List.filter context.ocamlc_cflags
       ~f:(fun s -> not (String.is_prefix s ~prefix:"-std="))
   in
-  let vars = Pform.Map.create_vars ~context ~cxx_flags in
+  let pforms = Pform.Map.create ~context ~cxx_flags in
   let ocaml_config =
     let string s = [Value.String s] in
     Ocaml_config.to_list context.ocaml_config
@@ -333,8 +311,7 @@ let create
     ; stanzas_to_consider_for_install
     ; artifacts
     ; cxx_flags
-    ; vars
-    ; macros = Pform.Map.macros
+    ; pforms
     ; ocaml_config
     ; chdir = Build.arr (fun (action : Action.t) ->
         match action with
@@ -523,8 +500,23 @@ module Deps = struct
       >>^ fun () -> []
 
   let interpret t ~scope ~dir l =
-    Build.all (List.map l ~f:(dep t ~scope ~dir))
+    List.map l ~f:(dep t ~scope ~dir)
+    |> Build.all
     >>^ List.concat
+
+  let interpret_named t ~scope ~dir bindings =
+    let unnamed x = Jbuild.Bindings.Unnamed x in
+    List.map bindings ~f:(function
+      | Jbuild.Bindings.Unnamed p ->
+        dep t ~scope ~dir p >>^ unnamed
+      | Named (s, ps) ->
+        List.map ~f:(dep t ~scope ~dir) ps
+        |> Build.all
+        >>^ (fun deps -> Jbuild.Bindings.Named (s, deps)))
+    |> Build.all
+    >>^ List.concat_map ~f:(function
+      | Jbuild.Bindings.Unnamed s -> List.map s ~f:unnamed
+      | Named (s, ps) -> [Named (s, List.concat ps)])
 end
 
 module Pkg_version = struct
@@ -615,7 +607,7 @@ module Action = struct
     | Some x -> x
 
   let expand_step1 sctx ~dir ~dep_kind ~scope ~targets_written_by_user
-        ~map_exe ~extra_vars t =
+        ~map_exe ~bindings t =
     let acc =
       { failures  = []
       ; lib_deps  = String.Map.empty
@@ -623,127 +615,117 @@ module Action = struct
       ; ddeps     = String.Map.empty
       }
     in
-    let expand_form s var syntax_version =
-      let loc = String_with_vars.Var.loc var in
-      let key = String_with_vars.Var.full_name var in
-      begin match expand_macro sctx ~syntax_version ~var with
-      | Some Pform.Macro.Exe -> Some (path_exp (map_exe (Path.relative dir s)))
-      | Some Ocaml_config -> String.Map.find sctx.ocaml_config s
-      | Some Dep -> Some (path_exp (Path.relative dir s))
-      | Some Bin -> begin
-          let sctx = host sctx in
-          match Artifacts.binary (artifacts sctx) s with
-          | Ok path -> Some (path_exp path)
-          | Error e ->
-            add_fail acc ({ fail = fun () -> Action.Prog.Not_found.raise e })
-        end
-      | Some Lib -> begin
-          let lib_dep, file = parse_lib_file ~loc s in
-          add_lib_dep acc lib_dep dep_kind;
-          match
-            Artifacts.file_of_lib (artifacts sctx) ~loc ~lib:lib_dep ~file
-          with
-          | Ok path -> Some (path_exp path)
-          | Error fail -> add_fail acc fail
-        end
-      | Some Libexec -> begin
-          let sctx = host sctx in
-          let lib_dep, file = parse_lib_file ~loc s in
-          add_lib_dep acc lib_dep dep_kind;
-          match
-            Artifacts.file_of_lib (artifacts sctx) ~loc ~lib:lib_dep ~file
-          with
-          | Error fail -> add_fail acc fail
-          | Ok path ->
-            if not Sys.win32 || Filename.extension s = ".exe" then begin
-              Some (path_exp path)
-            end else begin
-              let path_exe = Path.extend_basename path ~suffix:".exe" in
-              let dep =
-                Build.if_file_exists path_exe
-                  ~then_:(Build.path path_exe >>^ fun _ -> path_exp path_exe)
-                  ~else_:(Build.path path     >>^ fun _ -> path_exp path)
-              in
-              add_ddep acc ~key dep
-            end
-        end
-      | Some Lib_available -> begin
-          let lib = s in
-          add_lib_dep acc lib Optional;
-          Some (str_exp (string_of_bool (
-            Lib.DB.available (Scope.libs scope) lib)))
-        end
-      | Some Version -> begin
-          match Package.Name.Map.find (Scope.project scope).packages
-                  (Package.Name.of_string s) with
-          | Some p ->
-            let x =
-              Pkg_version.read sctx p >>^ function
-              | None   -> [Value.String ""]
-              | Some s -> [String s]
-            in
-            add_ddep acc ~key x
-          | None ->
-            add_fail acc { fail = fun () ->
-              Loc.fail loc "Package %S doesn't exist in the current project." s
-            }
-        end
-      | Some Read -> begin
-          let path = Path.relative dir s in
-          let data =
-            Build.contents path
-            >>^ fun s -> [Value.String s]
-          in
-          add_ddep acc ~key data
-        end
-      | Some Read_lines -> begin
-          let path = Path.relative dir s in
-          let data =
-            Build.lines_of path
-            >>^ Value.L.strings
-          in
-          add_ddep acc ~key data
-        end
-      | Some Read_strings -> begin
-          let path = Path.relative dir s in
-          let data =
-            Build.strings path
-            >>^ Value.L.strings
-          in
-          add_ddep acc ~key data
-        end
-      | Some Path_no_dep -> Some [Value.Dir (Path.relative dir s)]
-      | None ->
-        Loc.fail (String_with_vars.Var.loc var) "Unknown form: %a"
-          String_with_vars.Var.pp var
-      end
-    in
-    let expand var syntax_version =
-      let loc = String_with_vars.Var.loc var in
-      let key = String_with_vars.Var.full_name var in
+    let expand pform syntax_version =
+      let loc = String_with_vars.Var.loc pform in
+      let key = String_with_vars.Var.full_name pform in
+      let s = Option.value (String_with_vars.Var.payload pform) ~default:"" in
       let res =
-        match String_with_vars.Var.destruct var with
-        | Macro (_, s) -> expand_form s var syntax_version
-        | Var var_name ->
-          begin match expand_vars sctx ~syntax_version ~var with
-          | None -> String.Map.find extra_vars key
-          | Some Targets ->
-            let var () =
-              match var_name with
-              | "@" -> sprintf "${%s}" var_name
-              | "targets" -> sprintf "%%{%s}" var_name
-              | _ -> assert false
-            in
+        Pform.Map.expand bindings ~syntax_version ~pform
+        |> Option.bind ~f:(function
+          | Pform.Values l     -> Some l
+          | Ocaml_config       -> Some (expand_ocaml_config sctx pform)
+          | Project_root       -> Some [Value.Dir (Scope.root scope)]
+          | First_dep | Deps | Named_local -> None
+          | Targets ->
             begin match targets_written_by_user with
             | Infer ->
-              Loc.fail loc "You cannot use %s with inferred rules." (var ())
+              Loc.fail loc "You cannot use %s with inferred rules."
+                (String_with_vars.Var.describe pform)
             | Alias ->
-              Loc.fail loc "You cannot use %s in aliases." (var ())
+              Loc.fail loc "You cannot use %s in aliases."
+                (String_with_vars.Var.describe pform)
             | Static l ->
               Some (Value.L.dirs l) (* XXX hack to signal no dep *)
             end
-          | Some v -> Pform.Var.to_value_no_deps_or_targets v ~scope
-          end
+          | Exe -> Some (path_exp (map_exe (Path.relative dir s)))
+          | Dep -> Some (path_exp (Path.relative dir s))
+          | Bin -> begin
+              let sctx = host sctx in
+              match Artifacts.binary (artifacts sctx) s with
+              | Ok path -> Some (path_exp path)
+              | Error e ->
+                add_fail acc
+                  ({ fail = fun () -> Action.Prog.Not_found.raise e })
+            end
+          | Lib -> begin
+              let lib_dep, file = parse_lib_file ~loc s in
+              add_lib_dep acc lib_dep dep_kind;
+              match
+                Artifacts.file_of_lib (artifacts sctx) ~loc ~lib:lib_dep ~file
+              with
+              | Ok path -> Some (path_exp path)
+              | Error fail -> add_fail acc fail
+            end
+          | Libexec -> begin
+              let sctx = host sctx in
+              let lib_dep, file = parse_lib_file ~loc s in
+              add_lib_dep acc lib_dep dep_kind;
+              match
+                Artifacts.file_of_lib (artifacts sctx) ~loc ~lib:lib_dep ~file
+              with
+              | Error fail -> add_fail acc fail
+              | Ok path ->
+                if not Sys.win32 || Filename.extension s = ".exe" then begin
+                  Some (path_exp path)
+                end else begin
+                  let path_exe = Path.extend_basename path ~suffix:".exe" in
+                  let dep =
+                    Build.if_file_exists path_exe
+                      ~then_:(Build.path path_exe >>^ fun _ ->
+                              path_exp path_exe)
+                      ~else_:(Build.path path >>^ fun _ ->
+                              path_exp path)
+                  in
+                  add_ddep acc ~key dep
+                end
+            end
+          | Lib_available -> begin
+              let lib = s in
+              add_lib_dep acc lib Optional;
+              Some (str_exp (string_of_bool (
+                Lib.DB.available (Scope.libs scope) lib)))
+            end
+          | Version -> begin
+              match Package.Name.Map.find (Scope.project scope).packages
+                      (Package.Name.of_string s) with
+              | Some p ->
+                let x =
+                  Pkg_version.read sctx p >>^ function
+                  | None   -> [Value.String ""]
+                  | Some s -> [String s]
+                in
+                add_ddep acc ~key x
+              | None ->
+                add_fail acc { fail = fun () ->
+                  Loc.fail loc
+                    "Package %S doesn't exist in the current project." s
+                }
+            end
+          | Read -> begin
+              let path = Path.relative dir s in
+              let data =
+                Build.contents path
+                >>^ fun s -> [Value.String s]
+              in
+              add_ddep acc ~key data
+            end
+          | Read_lines -> begin
+              let path = Path.relative dir s in
+              let data =
+                Build.lines_of path
+                >>^ Value.L.strings
+              in
+              add_ddep acc ~key data
+            end
+          | Read_strings -> begin
+              let path = Path.relative dir s in
+              let data =
+                Build.strings path
+                >>^ Value.L.strings
+              in
+              add_ddep acc ~key data
+            end
+          | Path_no_dep -> Some [Value.Dir (Path.relative dir s)])
       in
       Option.iter res ~f:(fun v ->
         acc.sdeps <- Path.Set.union
@@ -754,31 +736,51 @@ module Action = struct
     let t = U.partial_expand t ~dir ~map_exe ~f:expand in
     (t, acc)
 
-  let expand_step2 ~dir ~dynamic_expansions ~deps_written_by_user ~map_exe t =
-    U.Partial.expand t ~dir ~map_exe ~f:(fun var syntax_version ->
-      let key = String_with_vars.Var.full_name var in
-      let loc = String_with_vars.Var.loc var in
+  let expand_step2 ~dir ~dynamic_expansions ~bindings
+        ~(deps_written_by_user : Path.t Jbuild.Bindings.t)
+        ~map_exe t =
+    U.Partial.expand t ~dir ~map_exe ~f:(fun pform syntax_version ->
+      let key = String_with_vars.Var.full_name pform in
+      let loc = String_with_vars.Var.loc pform in
       match String.Map.find dynamic_expansions key with
       | Some _ as opt -> opt
       | None ->
-        Pform.Map.expand Pform.Map.static_vars ~syntax_version ~var
-        |> Option.map ~f:(function
-          | Pform.Var.Deps -> (Value.L.paths deps_written_by_user)
+        Option.map (Pform.Map.expand bindings ~syntax_version ~pform) ~f:(function
+          | Named_local ->
+            begin match Jbuild.Bindings.find deps_written_by_user key with
+            | None ->
+              Exn.code_error "Local named variable not present in named deps"
+                [ "pform", String_with_vars.Var.sexp_of_t pform
+                ; "deps_written_by_user",
+                  Jbuild.Bindings.sexp_of_t Path.sexp_of_t deps_written_by_user
+                ]
+            | Some x -> Value.L.paths x
+            end
+          | Deps ->
+            deps_written_by_user
+            |> Jbuild.Bindings.to_list
+            |> Value.L.paths
           | First_dep ->
             begin match deps_written_by_user with
+            | Named _ :: _ ->
+              (* This case is not possible: ${<} only exist in jbuild
+                 files and named dependencies are not available in
+                 jbuild files *)
+              assert false
+            | Unnamed v :: _ -> [Path v]
             | [] ->
               Loc.warn loc "Variable '%s' used with no explicit \
                             dependencies@." key;
               [Value.String ""]
-            | v :: _  -> [Path v]
             end
           | _ ->
             Exn.code_error "Unexpected variable in step2"
-              ["var", String_with_vars.Var.sexp_of_t var]))
+              ["var", String_with_vars.Var.sexp_of_t pform]))
 
-  let run sctx ~loc ?(extra_vars=String.Map.empty)
-        t ~dir ~dep_kind ~targets:targets_written_by_user ~scope
-    : (Path.t list, Action.t) Build.t =
+  let run sctx ~loc ~bindings t ~dir ~dep_kind
+        ~targets:targets_written_by_user ~scope
+    : (Path.t Bindings.t, Action.t) Build.t =
+    let bindings = Pform.Map.superpose sctx.pforms bindings in
     let map_exe = map_exe sctx in
     if targets_written_by_user = Alias then begin
       match Action.Infer.unexpanded_targets t with
@@ -791,7 +793,7 @@ module Action = struct
     end;
     let t, forms =
       expand_step1 sctx t ~dir ~dep_kind ~scope
-        ~targets_written_by_user ~map_exe ~extra_vars
+        ~targets_written_by_user ~map_exe ~bindings
     in
     let { Action.Infer.Outcome. deps; targets } =
       match targets_written_by_user with
@@ -850,6 +852,7 @@ module Action = struct
         in
         let unresolved =
           expand_step2 t ~dir ~dynamic_expansions ~deps_written_by_user ~map_exe
+            ~bindings
         in
         Action.Unresolved.resolve unresolved ~f:(fun prog ->
           let sctx = host sctx in
diff --git a/src/super_context.mli b/src/super_context.mli
index 54dbe470..2dd5db94 100644
--- a/src/super_context.mli
+++ b/src/super_context.mli
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ val expand_vars_string
   :  t
   -> scope:Scope.t
   -> dir:Path.t
-  -> ?extra_vars:Value.t list String.Map.t
+  -> ?bindings:Pform.Map.t
   -> String_with_vars.t
   -> string
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ val expand_vars_path
   :  t
   -> scope:Scope.t
   -> dir:Path.t
-  -> ?extra_vars:Value.t list String.Map.t
+  -> ?bindings:Pform.Map.t
   -> String_with_vars.t
   -> Path.t
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ val expand_and_eval_set
   :  t
   -> scope:Scope.t
   -> dir:Path.t
-  -> ?extra_vars:Value.t list String.Map.t
+  -> ?bindings:Pform.Map.t
   -> Ordered_set_lang.Unexpanded.t
   -> standard:(unit, string list) Build.t
   -> (unit, string list) Build.t
@@ -219,6 +219,13 @@ module Deps : sig
     -> dir:Path.t
     -> Dep_conf.t list
     -> (unit, Path.t list) Build.t
+
+  val interpret_named
+    :  t
+    -> scope:Scope.t
+    -> dir:Path.t
+    -> Dep_conf.t Bindings.t
+    -> (unit, Path.t Bindings.t) Build.t
 end
 
 (** Interpret action written in jbuild files *)
@@ -232,13 +239,13 @@ module Action : sig
   val run
     :  t
     -> loc:Loc.t
-    -> ?extra_vars:Value.t list String.Map.t
+    -> bindings:Pform.Map.t
     -> Action.Unexpanded.t
     -> dir:Path.t
     -> dep_kind:Build.lib_dep_kind
     -> targets:targets
     -> scope:Scope.t
-    -> (Path.t list, Action.t) Build.t
+    -> (Path.t Bindings.t, Action.t) Build.t
 end
 
 module Pkg_version : sig
diff --git a/src/syntax.ml b/src/syntax.ml
index 3e778dc2..8ea07e32 100644
--- a/src/syntax.ml
+++ b/src/syntax.ml
@@ -65,9 +65,12 @@ module Error = struct
     Loc.fail loc "%s was renamed to '%s' in the %s version of %s"
       what to_ (Version.to_string ver) t.desc
 
-  let deleted_in loc t ver ~what =
-    Loc.fail loc "%s was deleted in version %s of %s"
+  let deleted_in loc t ?repl ver ~what =
+    Loc.fail loc "%s was deleted in version %s of %s%s"
       what (Version.to_string ver) t.desc
+      (match repl with
+       | None -> ""
+       | Some s -> ".\n" ^ s)
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/syntax.mli b/src/syntax.mli
index dd9c8e0b..1baca844 100644
--- a/src/syntax.mli
+++ b/src/syntax.mli
@@ -25,7 +25,13 @@ module Error : sig
 
   val renamed_in : Loc.t -> t -> Version.t -> what:string -> to_:string -> _
 
-  val deleted_in : Loc.t -> t -> Version.t -> what:string -> _
+  val deleted_in
+    :  Loc.t
+    -> t
+    -> ?repl:string
+    -> Version.t
+    -> what:string
+    -> _
 end
 
 (** [create ~name ~desc supported_versions] defines a new
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/dune.inc b/test/blackbox-tests/dune.inc
index 555a7d2f..5d9eb974 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/dune.inc
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/dune.inc
@@ -80,6 +80,14 @@
    test-cases/custom-build-dir
    (progn (run %{exe:cram.exe} -test run.t) (diff? run.t run.t.corrected)))))
 
+(alias
+ (name dep-vars)
+ (deps (package dune) (source_tree test-cases/dep-vars))
+ (action
+  (chdir
+   test-cases/dep-vars
+   (progn (run %{exe:cram.exe} -test run.t) (diff? run.t run.t.corrected)))))
+
 (alias
  (name depend-on-the-universe)
  (deps (package dune) (source_tree test-cases/depend-on-the-universe))
@@ -531,6 +539,14 @@
     (run %{exe:cram.exe} -skip-versions 4.02.3 -test run.t)
     (diff? run.t run.t.corrected)))))
 
+(alias
+ (name preprocess-with-action)
+ (deps (package dune) (source_tree test-cases/preprocess-with-action))
+ (action
+  (chdir
+   test-cases/preprocess-with-action
+   (progn (run %{exe:cram.exe} -test run.t) (diff? run.t run.t.corrected)))))
+
 (alias
  (name private-public-overlap)
  (deps (package dune) (source_tree test-cases/private-public-overlap))
@@ -603,6 +619,14 @@
    test-cases/select
    (progn (run %{exe:cram.exe} -test run.t) (diff? run.t run.t.corrected)))))
 
+(alias
+ (name shadow-bindings)
+ (deps (package dune) (source_tree test-cases/shadow-bindings))
+ (action
+  (chdir
+   test-cases/shadow-bindings
+   (progn (run %{exe:cram.exe} -test run.t) (diff? run.t run.t.corrected)))))
+
 (alias
  (name subst)
  (deps (package dune) (source_tree test-cases/subst))
@@ -680,6 +704,7 @@
   (alias copy_files)
   (alias cross-compilation)
   (alias custom-build-dir)
+  (alias dep-vars)
   (alias depend-on-the-universe)
   (alias dune-jbuild-var-case)
   (alias dune-ppx-driver-system)
@@ -732,6 +757,7 @@
   (alias package-dep)
   (alias path-variables)
   (alias ppx-rewriter)
+  (alias preprocess-with-action)
   (alias private-public-overlap)
   (alias project-root)
   (alias promote)
@@ -740,6 +766,7 @@
   (alias scope-bug)
   (alias scope-ppx-bug)
   (alias select)
+  (alias shadow-bindings)
   (alias subst)
   (alias syntax-versioning)
   (alias tests-stanza)
@@ -762,6 +789,7 @@
   (alias copy_files)
   (alias cross-compilation)
   (alias custom-build-dir)
+  (alias dep-vars)
   (alias depend-on-the-universe)
   (alias dune-jbuild-var-case)
   (alias dune-ppx-driver-system)
@@ -807,6 +835,7 @@
   (alias output-obj)
   (alias package-dep)
   (alias path-variables)
+  (alias preprocess-with-action)
   (alias project-root)
   (alias promote)
   (alias quoting)
@@ -814,6 +843,7 @@
   (alias scope-bug)
   (alias scope-ppx-bug)
   (alias select)
+  (alias shadow-bindings)
   (alias subst)
   (alias syntax-versioning)
   (alias tests-stanza)
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/dune
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..96a8945f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/dune
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+
+(rule
+ (deps (:foo a b) (:baz foo (alias test)) a b c)
+ (targets bar)
+ (action (with-stdout-to bar (echo "foo"))))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/dune-project b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/dune-project
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b2559fa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/dune-project
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+(lang dune 1.0)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/run.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/run.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0d2bd1b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/dep-vars/run.t
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Dependencies are allowed :patterns
+
+  $ dune build
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/force-test/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/force-test/dune
index 51e83746..6266b359 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/force-test/dune
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/force-test/dune
@@ -1,7 +1 @@
-(executable
- (name f))
-
-(alias
- (name runtest)
- (deps f.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))
+(test (name f))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github568/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github568/dune
index 46bee013..62257193 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github568/dune
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github568/dune
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 (alias
  (name runtest)
  (package lib1)
- (deps test1.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))
+ (action (run ./test1.exe)))
 
 (executable
  (name test1)
@@ -24,8 +23,7 @@
 (alias
  (name runtest)
  (package lib2)
- (deps test2.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))
+ (action (run ./test2.exe)))
 
 (executable
  (name test2)
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/explicit-interfaces/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/explicit-interfaces/dune
index 7817f984..beef01da 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/explicit-interfaces/dune
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/explicit-interfaces/dune
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps main.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))
+ (action (run ./main.exe)))
 
 (executable (name main))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/no-interfaces/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/no-interfaces/dune
index 7817f984..beef01da 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/no-interfaces/dune
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/github660/no-interfaces/dune
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps main.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))
+ (action (run ./main.exe)))
 
 (executable (name main))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/macro-expand-error/run.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/macro-expand-error/run.t
index 99d53da5..fa71fdb2 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/macro-expand-error/run.t
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/macro-expand-error/run.t
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ inappropariate place:
   $ dune build
   Info: creating file dune-project with this contents: (lang dune 1.0)
   File "dune", line 1, characters 14-21:
-  Error: This percent form isn't allowed in this position
+  Error: %{read:..} isn't allowed in this position
   [1]
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/output-obj/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/output-obj/dune
index 591b5ab5..598ef9f3 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/output-obj/dune
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/output-obj/dune
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 (rule
  (targets dynamic.exe)
  (deps dynamic.c)
- (action (run %{cc} -o %{targets} %{first-dep} %{ocaml-config:native_c_libraries})))
+ (action (run %{cc} -o %{targets} %{deps} %{ocaml-config:native_c_libraries})))
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@
 (alias
  (name   runtest)
  (deps   test.bc%{ext_dll})
- (action (run ./dynamic.exe ./%{first-dep})))
+ (action (run ./dynamic.exe ./%{deps})))
 
 (alias
  (name   runtest)
  (deps   test%{ext_dll})
- (action (run ./dynamic.exe ./%{first-dep})))
+ (action (run ./dynamic.exe ./%{deps})))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune-project b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune-project
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de4fc209
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune-project
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+(lang dune 1.0)
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/dune
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4616e711
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/dune
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+(test
+ (name test)
+ (preprocess (action (run pp/pp.exe %{input-file}))))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/test.expected b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/test.expected
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..af5626b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/test.expected
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Hello, world!
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/test.ml b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/test.ml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cec6d9fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/dune/test.ml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+print_endline _STRING_
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/jbuild b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/jbuild
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..05cb6c41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/jbuild
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+(executable
+ ((name test)
+  (preprocess (action (run pp/pp.exe ${<})))))
+
+(rule
+ (with-stdout-to test.output (run ./test.exe)))
+
+(alias
+ ((name runtest)
+  (action (diff test.expected test.output))))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/test.expected b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/test.expected
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..af5626b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/test.expected
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Hello, world!
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/test.ml b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/test.ml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cec6d9fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/jbuild/test.ml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+print_endline _STRING_
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/pp/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/pp/dune
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8fda4b24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/pp/dune
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+(executable
+ (name pp))
+
+(ocamllex pp)
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/pp/pp.mll b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/pp/pp.mll
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5cd344e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/pp/pp.mll
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+rule main = parse
+  | eof { () }
+  | "_STRING_" { Printf.printf "%S" "Hello, world!"; main lexbuf }
+  | _ as c { print_char c; main lexbuf }
+
+{
+  let () =
+    set_binary_mode_out stdout true;
+    main (Lexing.from_channel (open_in_bin Sys.argv.(1)))
+}
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/run.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/run.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..10bcbf13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/preprocess-with-action/run.t
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+  $ dune runtest
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/select/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/select/dune
index 4e6a6b1f..a25653ec 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/select/dune
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/select/dune
@@ -10,5 +10,4 @@
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps main.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))
+ (action (run ./main.exe)))
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/dune b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/dune
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..68875f23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/dune
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+
+(alias
+ (name runtest)
+ (deps (:root foo))
+ (action (echo %{root})))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/dune-project b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/dune-project
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b2559fa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/dune-project
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+(lang dune 1.0)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/foo b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/foo
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/run.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/run.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..015e5376
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/shadow-bindings/run.t
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Bindings introduced by user dependencies should shadow existing bindings
+
+  $ dune runtest
+  foo
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/syntax-versioning/run.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/syntax-versioning/run.t
index 100b0add..78725b94 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/syntax-versioning/run.t
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/syntax-versioning/run.t
@@ -16,3 +16,14 @@
   Error: 'link_executables' was deleted in version 1.0 of the dune language
   [1]
   $ rm -f dune
+
+  $ echo '(alias (name x) (deps x) (action (run %{<})))' > dune
+  $ dune build
+  File "dune", line 1, characters 40-42:
+  Error: %{<} was deleted in version 1.0 of the dune language.
+  Use a named dependency instead:
+  
+    (deps (:x <dep>) ...)
+     ... %{x} ...
+  [1]
+  $ rm -f dune
diff --git a/test/unit-tests/configurator/dune b/test/unit-tests/configurator/dune
index 1e259288..034d70a9 100644
--- a/test/unit-tests/configurator/dune
+++ b/test/unit-tests/configurator/dune
@@ -1,8 +1,3 @@
-(executable
+(test
  (name test_configurator)
  (libraries configurator))
-
-(alias
- (name runtest)
- (deps ./test_configurator.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))
diff --git a/test/unit-tests/dune b/test/unit-tests/dune
index 7ee04560..aa2f0eef 100644
--- a/test/unit-tests/dune
+++ b/test/unit-tests/dune
@@ -18,72 +18,72 @@
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps tests.mlt
+ (deps (:t tests.mlt)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/.dune.objs/*.cmi)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/stdune/.stdune.objs/*.cmi)
   (source_tree toolchain.d)
   (source_tree findlib-db))
  (action (chdir %{project_root}
           (progn
-           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{first-dep})
-           (diff? %{first-dep} %{first-dep}.corrected)))))
+           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{t})
+           (diff? %{t} %{t}.corrected)))))
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps filename.mlt
+ (deps (:t filename.mlt)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/.dune.objs/*.cmi)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/stdune/.stdune.objs/*.cmi))
  (action (chdir %{project_root}
           (progn
-           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{first-dep})
-           (diff? %{first-dep} %{first-dep}.corrected)))))
+           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{t})
+           (diff? %{t} %{t}.corrected)))))
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps import_dot_map.mlt
+ (deps (:t import_dot_map.mlt)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/.dune.objs/*.cmi)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/stdune/.stdune.objs/*.cmi))
  (action (chdir %{project_root}
           (progn
-           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{first-dep})
-           (diff? %{first-dep} %{first-dep}.corrected)))))
+           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{t})
+           (diff? %{t} %{t}.corrected)))))
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps action.mlt
+ (deps (:t action.mlt)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/.dune.objs/*.cmi)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/stdune/.stdune.objs/*.cmi))
  (action (chdir %{project_root}
           (progn
-           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{first-dep})
-           (diff? %{first-dep} %{first-dep}.corrected)))))
+           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{t})
+           (diff? %{t} %{t}.corrected)))))
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps path.mlt
+ (deps (:t path.mlt)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/.dune.objs/*.cmi)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/stdune/.stdune.objs/*.cmi))
  (action (chdir %{project_root}
           (progn
-           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{first-dep})
-           (diff? %{first-dep} %{first-dep}.corrected)))))
+           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{t})
+           (diff? %{t} %{t}.corrected)))))
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps sexp.mlt
+ (deps (:t sexp.mlt)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/.dune.objs/*.cmi)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/stdune/.stdune.objs/*.cmi))
  (action (chdir %{project_root}
           (progn
-           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{first-dep})
-           (diff? %{first-dep} %{first-dep}.corrected)))))
+           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{t})
+           (diff? %{t} %{t}.corrected)))))
 
 (alias
  (name runtest)
- (deps jbuild.mlt
+ (deps (:t jbuild.mlt)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/.dune.objs/*.cmi)
   (glob_files %{project_root}/src/stdune/.stdune.objs/*.cmi))
  (action (chdir %{project_root}
           (progn
-           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{first-dep})
-           (diff? %{first-dep} %{first-dep}.corrected)))))
+           (run %{exe:expect_test.exe} %{t})
+           (diff? %{t} %{t}.corrected)))))
diff --git a/test/unit-tests/ocaml-config/dune b/test/unit-tests/ocaml-config/dune
index 659d3aa3..cb4d4096 100644
--- a/test/unit-tests/ocaml-config/dune
+++ b/test/unit-tests/ocaml-config/dune
@@ -1,8 +1,3 @@
-(executable
+(test
  (name gh637)
  (libraries ocaml_config))
-
-(alias
- (name runtest)
- (deps ./gh637.exe)
- (action (run %{first-dep})))