diff --git a/bin/templates/cordova/lib/build.js b/bin/templates/cordova/lib/build.js
index 9c4839d2..300d675a 100644
--- a/bin/templates/cordova/lib/build.js
+++ b/bin/templates/cordova/lib/build.js
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ var builders = {
         }
     },
     gradle: {
-        getArgs: function(cmd, arch) {
+        getArgs: function(cmd, arch, extraArgs) {
             if (arch == 'arm' && cmd == 'debug') {
                 cmd = 'assembleArmv7Debug';
             } else if (arch == 'arm' && cmd == 'release') {
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ var builders = {
             var args = [cmd, '-b', path.join(ROOT, 'build.gradle')];
             // 10 seconds -> 6 seconds
             args.push('-Dorg.gradle.daemon=true');
+            args.push.apply(args, extraArgs);
             // Shaves another 100ms, but produces a "try at own risk" warning. Not worth it (yet):
             // args.push('-Dorg.gradle.parallel=true');
             return args;
@@ -254,20 +255,22 @@ var builders = {
          * Builds the project with gradle.
          * Returns a promise.
          */
-        build: function(build_type, arch) {
+        build: function(build_type, arch, extraArgs) {
             var builder = this;
             var wrapper = path.join(ROOT, 'gradlew');
-            var args = this.getArgs(build_type == 'debug' ? 'debug' : 'release', arch);
+            var args = this.getArgs(build_type == 'debug' ? 'debug' : 'release', arch, extraArgs);
             return Q().then(function() {
+                console.log('Running: ' + wrapper + ' ' + extraArgs.join(' '));
                 return spawn(wrapper, args);
             });
         },
 
-        clean: function() {
+        clean: function(extraArgs) {
             var builder = this;
             var wrapper = path.join(ROOT, 'gradlew');
-            var args = builder.getArgs('clean');
+            var args = builder.getArgs('clean', null, extraArgs);
             return Q().then(function() {
+                console.log('Running: ' + wrapper + ' ' + extraArgs.join(' '));
                 return spawn(wrapper, args);
             });
         },
@@ -302,7 +305,14 @@ function parseOpts(options, resolvedTarget) {
     var ret = {
         buildType: 'debug',
         buildMethod: process.env['ANDROID_BUILD'] || 'gradle',
-        arch: null
+        arch: null,
+        extraArgs: []
+    };
+
+    var multiValueArgs = {
+      'versionCode': true,
+      'minSdkVersion': true,
+      'gradleArg': true
     };
 
     // Iterate through command line options
@@ -311,7 +321,7 @@ function parseOpts(options, resolvedTarget) {
             var keyValue = options[i].substring(2).split('=');
             var flagName = keyValue[0];
             var flagValue = keyValue[1];
-            if ((flagName == 'versionCode' || flagName == 'minSdkVersion') && !flagValue) {
+            if (multiValueArgs[flagName] && !flagValue) {
                 flagValue = options[i + 1];
                 ++i;
             }
@@ -333,10 +343,13 @@ function parseOpts(options, resolvedTarget) {
                     ret.buildMethod = 'none';
                     break;
                 case 'versionCode':
-                    process.env['ANDROID_VERSION_CODE'] = flagValue;
+                    ret.extraArgs.push('-PcdvVersionCode=' + flagValue);
                     break;
                 case 'minSdkVersion':
-                    process.env['ANDROID_MIN_SDK_VERSION'] = flagValue;
+                    ret.extraArgs.push('-PcdvMinSdkVersion=' + flagValue);
+                    break;
+                case 'gradleArg':
+                    ret.extraArgs.push(flagValue);
                     break;
                 default :
                     console.warn('Build option --\'' + flagName + '\' not recognized (ignoring).');
@@ -363,7 +376,7 @@ module.exports.runClean = function(options) {
     var builder = builders[opts.buildMethod];
     return builder.prepEnv()
     .then(function() {
-        return builder.clean();
+        return builder.clean(opts.extraArgs);
     }).then(function() {
         shell.rm('-rf', path.join(ROOT, 'out'));
     });
@@ -378,7 +391,7 @@ module.exports.run = function(options, optResolvedTarget) {
     var builder = builders[opts.buildMethod];
     return builder.prepEnv()
     .then(function() {
-        return builder.build(opts.buildType, opts.arch);
+        return builder.build(opts.buildType, opts.arch, opts.extraArgs);
     }).then(function() {
         var apkPaths = builder.findOutputApks(opts.buildType, opts.arch);
         console.log('Built the following apk(s):');
@@ -468,5 +481,6 @@ module.exports.help = function() {
     console.log('    \'--nobuild\': will skip build process (useful when using run command)');
     console.log('    \'--versionCode=#\': Override versionCode for this build. Useful for uploading multiple APKs. Requires --gradle.');
     console.log('    \'--minSdkVersion=#\': Override minSdkVersion for this build. Useful for uploading multiple APKs. Requires --gradle.');
+    console.log('    \'--gradleArg=<gradle command line arg>\': Extra args to pass to the gradle command. Use one flag per arg. Ex. --gradleArg=-PcdvBuildMultipleApks=true');
     process.exit(0);
 };
diff --git a/bin/templates/cordova/lib/plugin-build.gradle b/bin/templates/cordova/lib/plugin-build.gradle
index f062588c..b345b90a 100644
--- a/bin/templates/cordova/lib/plugin-build.gradle
+++ b/bin/templates/cordova/lib/plugin-build.gradle
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 android {
-    compileSdkVersion cordova.cordovaSdkVersion
-    buildToolsVersion cordova.cordovaBuildToolsVersion
+    compileSdkVersion cdvCompileSdkVersion
+    buildToolsVersion cdvBuildToolsVersion
     publishNonDefault true
 
     compileOptions {
diff --git a/bin/templates/cordova/lib/run.js b/bin/templates/cordova/lib/run.js
index 12f178ce..db783d91 100644
--- a/bin/templates/cordova/lib/run.js
+++ b/bin/templates/cordova/lib/run.js
@@ -39,23 +39,18 @@ var path  = require('path'),
     var list = false;
 
     for (var i=2; i<args.length; i++) {
-        if (args[i] == '--debug') {
-            buildFlags.push('--debug');
-        } else if (args[i] == '--release') {
-            buildFlags.push('--release');
-        } else if (args[i] == '--nobuild') {
-            buildFlags.push('--nobuild');
+        if (/^--(debug|release|nobuild|versionCode=|minSdkVersion=|gradleArg=)/.exec(args[i])) {
+            buildFlags.push(args[i]);
         } else if (args[i] == '--device') {
             install_target = '--device';
         } else if (args[i] == '--emulator') {
             install_target = '--emulator';
-        } else if (args[i].substring(0, 9) == '--target=') {
+        } else if (/^--target=/.exec(args[i])) {
             install_target = args[i].substring(9, args[i].length);
         } else if (args[i] == '--list') {
             list = true;
         } else {
-            console.error('ERROR : Run option \'' + args[i] + '\' not recognized.');
-            process.exit(2);
+            console.warn('Option \'' + options[i] + '\' not recognized (ignoring).');
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/bin/templates/project/build.gradle b/bin/templates/project/build.gradle
index 75000e42..adbee75f 100644
--- a/bin/templates/project/build.gradle
+++ b/bin/templates/project/build.gradle
@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@
 
 // GENERATED FILE! DO NOT EDIT!
 
-import java.util.regex.Pattern
-import groovy.swing.SwingBuilder
-
-ext.cordova = {}
-apply from: 'cordova.gradle', to: ext.cordova
 apply plugin: 'android'
 
 buildscript {
@@ -59,7 +54,44 @@ task wrapper(type: Wrapper) {
     gradleVersion = '2.2.1'
 }
 
-ext.multiarch=false
+// Configuration properties. Set these via environment variables, build-extras.gradle, or gradle.properties.
+// Refer to: http://www.gradle.org/docs/current/userguide/tutorial_this_and_that.html
+ext {
+    apply from: 'cordova.gradle'
+    // The value for android.compileSdkVersion.
+    if (!project.hasProperty('cdvCompileSdkVersion')) {
+        cdvCompileSdkVersion = privateHelpers.getProjectTarget('android-19')
+    }
+    // The value for android.buildToolsVersion.
+    if (!project.hasProperty('cdvBuildToolsVersion')) {
+        cdvBuildToolsVersion = privateHelpers.findLatestInstalledBuildTools('19.1.0')
+    }
+    // Sets the versionCode to the given value.
+    if (!project.hasProperty('cdvVersionCode')) {
+        cdvVersionCode = null
+    }
+    // Sets the minSdkVersion to the given value.
+    if (!project.hasProperty('cdvMinSdkVersion')) {
+        cdvMinSdkVersion = null
+    }
+    // Whether to build architecture-specific APKs.
+    if (!project.hasProperty('cdvBuildMultipleApks')) {
+        cdvBuildMultipleApks = false
+    }
+    // .properties files to use for release signing.
+    if (!project.hasProperty('cdvReleaseSigningPropertiesFile')) {
+        cdvReleaseSigningPropertiesFile = null
+    }
+    // .properties files to use for debug signing.
+    if (!project.hasProperty('cdvDebugSigningPropertiesFile')) {
+        cdvDebugSigningPropertiesFile = null
+    }
+}
+
+def hasBuildExtras = file('build-extras.gradle').exists()
+if (hasBuildExtras) {
+    apply from: 'build-extras.gradle'
+}
 
 // PLUGIN GRADLE EXTENSIONS START
 // PLUGIN GRADLE EXTENSIONS END
@@ -77,26 +109,29 @@ android {
         }
     }
 
+    def versionCodeOverride = cdvVersionCode ? Integer.parseInt(cdvVersionCode) : null
+    def minSdkVersionOverride = cdvMinSdkVersion ? Integer.parseInt(cdvMinSdkVersion) : null
+
     defaultConfig {
-        versionCode Integer.parseInt(System.env.ANDROID_VERSION_CODE ?: ("" + getIntFromManifest("versionCode") + "0"))
-        if (System.env.ANDROID_MIN_SDK_VERSION) {
-            minSdkVersion Integer.parseInt(System.env.ANDROID_MIN_SDK_VERSION)
+        versionCode versionCodeOverride ?: Integer.parseInt("" + privateHelpers.extractIntFromManifest("versionCode") + "0")
+        if (minSdkVersionOverride != null) {
+            minSdkVersion minSdkVersionOverride
         }
     }
 
-    compileSdkVersion cordova.cordovaSdkVersion
-    buildToolsVersion cordova.cordovaBuildToolsVersion
+    compileSdkVersion cdvCompileSdkVersion
+    buildToolsVersion cdvBuildToolsVersion
 
-    if (multiarch || System.env.BUILD_MULTIPLE_APKS) {
+    if (Boolean.valueOf(cdvBuildMultipleApks)) {
         productFlavors {
             armv7 {
-                versionCode System.env.ANDROID_VERSION_CODE ?: defaultConfig.versionCode + 2
+                versionCode versionCodeOverride ?: defaultConfig.versionCode + 2
                 ndk {
                     abiFilters "armeabi-v7a", ""
                 }
             }
             x86 {
-                versionCode System.env.ANDROID_VERSION_CODE ?: defaultConfig.versionCode + 4
+                versionCode versionCodeOverride ?: defaultConfig.versionCode + 4
                 ndk {
                     abiFilters "x86", ""
                 }
@@ -107,8 +142,8 @@ android {
                 }
             }
         }
-    } else if (!System.env.ANDROID_VERSION_CODE) {
-      def minSdkVersion = Integer.parseInt(System.env.ANDROID_MIN_SDK_VERSION ?: "" + getIntFromManifest("minSdkVersion"))
+    } else if (!versionCodeOverride) {
+      def minSdkVersion = minSdkVersionOverride ?: privateHelpers.extractIntFromManifest("minSdkVersion")
       // Vary versionCode by the two most common API levels:
       // 14 is ICS, which is the lowest API level for many apps.
       // 20 is Lollipop, which is the lowest API level for the updatable system webview.
@@ -124,7 +159,7 @@ android {
         targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_6
     }
 
-    if (System.env.RELEASE_SIGNING_PROPERTIES_FILE) {
+    if (cdvReleaseSigningPropertiesFile) {
         signingConfigs {
             release {
                 // These must be set or Gradle will complain (even if they are overridden).
@@ -139,10 +174,10 @@ android {
                 signingConfig signingConfigs.release
             }
         }
-        addSigningProps(System.env.RELEASE_SIGNING_PROPERTIES_FILE, signingConfigs.release)
+        addSigningProps(cdvReleaseSigningPropertiesFile, signingConfigs.release)
     }
-    if (System.env.DEBUG_SIGNING_PROPERTIES_FILE) {
-        addSigningProps(System.env.DEBUG_SIGNING_PROPERTIES_FILE, signingConfigs.debug)
+    if (cdvDebugSigningPropertiesFile) {
+        addSigningProps(cdvDebugSigningPropertiesFile, signingConfigs.debug)
     }
 }
 
@@ -152,40 +187,15 @@ dependencies {
     // SUB-PROJECT DEPENDENCIES END
 }
 
-
-def promptForPassword(msg) {
-    if (System.console() == null) {
-        def ret = null
-        new SwingBuilder().edt {
-            dialog(modal: true, title: 'Enter password', alwaysOnTop: true, resizable: false, locationRelativeTo: null, pack: true, show: true) {
-                vbox {
-                    label(text: msg)
-                    def input = passwordField()
-                    button(defaultButton: true, text: 'OK', actionPerformed: {
-                        ret = input.password;
-                        dispose();
-                    })
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        if (!ret) {
-            throw new GradleException('User canceled build')
-        }
-        return new String(ret)
-    } else {
-        return System.console().readPassword('\n' + msg);
-    }
-}
-
 def promptForReleaseKeyPassword() {
-    if (!System.env.RELEASE_SIGNING_PROPERTIES_FILE) {
+    if (!cdvReleaseSigningPropertiesFile) {
         return;
     }
     if ('__unset'.equals(android.signingConfigs.release.storePassword)) {
-        android.signingConfigs.release.storePassword = promptForPassword('Enter key store password: ')
+        android.signingConfigs.release.storePassword = privateHelpers.promptForPassword('Enter key store password: ')
     }
     if ('__unset'.equals(android.signingConfigs.release.keyPassword)) {
-        android.signingConfigs.release.keyPassword = promptForPassword('Enter key password: ');
+        android.signingConfigs.release.keyPassword = privateHelpers.promptForPassword('Enter key password: ');
     }
 }
 
@@ -197,14 +207,6 @@ gradle.taskGraph.whenReady { taskGraph ->
     }
 }
 
-def getIntFromManifest(name) {
-    def manifestFile = file(android.sourceSets.main.manifest.srcFile)
-    def pattern = Pattern.compile(name + "=\"(\\d+)\"")
-    def matcher = pattern.matcher(manifestFile.getText())
-    matcher.find()
-    return Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(1))
-}
-
 def ensureValueExists(filePath, props, key) {
     if (props.get(key) == null) {
         throw new GradleException(filePath + ': Missing key required "' + key + '"')
@@ -241,6 +243,8 @@ def addSigningProps(propsFilePath, signingConfig) {
     }
 }
 
-if (file('build-extras.gradle').exists()) {
-    apply from: 'build-extras.gradle'
+// This can be defined within build-extras.gradle as:
+//     ext.postBuildExtras = { ... code here ... }
+if (hasProperty('postBuildExtras')) {
+    postBuildExtras()
 }
diff --git a/bin/templates/project/cordova.gradle b/bin/templates/project/cordova.gradle
index cf2dacad..8b371bf9 100644
--- a/bin/templates/project/cordova.gradle
+++ b/bin/templates/project/cordova.gradle
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 */
 
 import java.util.regex.Pattern
+import groovy.swing.SwingBuilder
+
 
 String getProjectTarget(String defaultTarget) {
     def manifestFile = file("project.properties")
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ String[] getAvailableBuildTools() {
         .sort { a, b -> compareVersions(b, a) }
 }
 
-String latestBuildToolsAvailable(String minBuildToolsVersion) {
+String findLatestInstalledBuildTools(String minBuildToolsVersion) {
     def availableBuildToolsVersions
     try {
         availableBuildToolsVersions = getAvailableBuildTools()
@@ -115,6 +117,45 @@ String getAndroidSdkDir() {
     androidSdkDir
 }
 
-ext.cordovaSdkVersion =  System.env.MIN_SDK_VERSION ?: getProjectTarget("android-19")
-ext.cordovaBuildToolsVersion = latestBuildToolsAvailable("19.1.0")
+def extractIntFromManifest(name) {
+    def manifestFile = file(android.sourceSets.main.manifest.srcFile)
+    def pattern = Pattern.compile(name + "=\"(\\d+)\"")
+    def matcher = pattern.matcher(manifestFile.getText())
+    matcher.find()
+    return Integer.parseInt(matcher.group(1))
+}
+
+def promptForPassword(msg) {
+    if (System.console() == null) {
+        def ret = null
+        new SwingBuilder().edt {
+            dialog(modal: true, title: 'Enter password', alwaysOnTop: true, resizable: false, locationRelativeTo: null, pack: true, show: true) {
+                vbox {
+                    label(text: msg)
+                    def input = passwordField()
+                    button(defaultButton: true, text: 'OK', actionPerformed: {
+                        ret = input.password;
+                        dispose();
+                    })
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        if (!ret) {
+            throw new GradleException('User canceled build')
+        }
+        return new String(ret)
+    } else {
+        return System.console().readPassword('\n' + msg);
+    }
+}
+
+// Properties exported here are visible to all plugins.
+ext {
+    // These helpers are shared, but are not guaranteed to be stable / unchanged.
+    privateHelpers = {}
+    privateHelpers.getProjectTarget = { defaultValue -> getProjectTarget(defaultValue) }
+    privateHelpers.findLatestInstalledBuildTools = { defaultValue -> findLatestInstalledBuildTools(defaultValue) }
+    privateHelpers.extractIntFromManifest = { name -> extractIntFromManifest(name) }
+    privateHelpers.promptForPassword = { msg -> promptForPassword(msg) }
+}
 
diff --git a/framework/build.gradle b/framework/build.gradle
index f1585d3a..cace2042 100644
--- a/framework/build.gradle
+++ b/framework/build.gradle
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ buildscript {
 apply plugin: 'android-library'
 
 android {
-    compileSdkVersion cordova.cordovaSdkVersion
-    buildToolsVersion cordova.cordovaBuildToolsVersion
+    compileSdkVersion cdvCompileSdkVersion
+    buildToolsVersion cdvBuildToolsVersion
     publishNonDefault true
 
     compileOptions {