diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/axom/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/axom/package.py
index b15544ce68..a8609f2568 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/axom/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/axom/package.py
@@ -9,20 +9,6 @@
 import socket
 from os.path import join as pjoin
 
-import llnl.util.tty as tty
-
-
-def cmake_cache_entry(name, value, comment=""):
-    """Generate a string for a cmake cache variable"""
-    return 'set({0} "{1}" CACHE PATH "{2}")\n\n'.format(name, value, comment)
-
-
-def cmake_cache_option(name, boolean_value, comment=""):
-    """Generate a string for a cmake configuration option"""
-
-    value = "ON" if boolean_value else "OFF"
-    return 'set({0} {1} CACHE BOOL "{2}")\n\n'.format(name, value, comment)
-
 
 def get_spec_path(spec, package_name, path_replacements={}, use_bin=False):
     """Extracts the prefix path for the given spack package
@@ -42,7 +28,7 @@ def get_spec_path(spec, package_name, path_replacements={}, use_bin=False):
     return path
 
 
-class Axom(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
+class Axom(CachedCMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     """Axom provides a robust, flexible software infrastructure for the development
        of multi-physics applications and computational tools."""
 
@@ -60,7 +46,6 @@ class Axom(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     version('0.3.0', tag='v0.3.0', submodules=True)
     version('0.2.9', tag='v0.2.9', submodules=True)
 
-    phases = ["hostconfig", "cmake", "build", "install"]
     root_cmakelists_dir = 'src'
 
     # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -71,7 +56,7 @@ class Axom(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     variant('debug',    default=False,
             description='Build debug instead of optimized version')
 
-    variant('cpp14',  default=True, description="Build with C++14 support")
+    variant('cpp14',    default=True, description="Build with C++14 support")
 
     variant('fortran',  default=True, description="Build with Fortran support")
 
@@ -117,7 +102,7 @@ class Axom(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
 
     depends_on("umpire~openmp", when="+umpire~openmp")
     depends_on("umpire+openmp", when="+umpire+openmp")
-    depends_on("umpire+cuda+deviceconst", when="+umpire+cuda")
+    depends_on("umpire+cuda", when="+umpire+cuda")
 
     for sm_ in CudaPackage.cuda_arch_values:
         depends_on('raja cuda_arch={0}'.format(sm_),
@@ -139,12 +124,6 @@ class Axom(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     depends_on("py-shroud", when="+devtools")
     depends_on("llvm+clang@10.0.0", when="+devtools", type='build')
 
-    def flag_handler(self, name, flags):
-        if name in ('cflags', 'cxxflags', 'fflags'):
-            # the package manages these flags in another way
-            return (None, None, None)
-        return (flags, None, None)
-
     def _get_sys_type(self, spec):
         sys_type = spec.architecture
         # if on llnl systems, we can use the SYS_TYPE
@@ -152,108 +131,159 @@ def _get_sys_type(self, spec):
             sys_type = env["SYS_TYPE"]
         return sys_type
 
-    def _get_host_config_path(self, spec):
+    @property
+    def cache_name(self):
         hostname = socket.gethostname()
         if "SYS_TYPE" in env:
             # Are we on a LLNL system then strip node number
             hostname = hostname.rstrip('1234567890')
-        filename = "{0}-{1}-{2}.cmake".format(hostname,
-                                              self._get_sys_type(spec),
-                                              spec.compiler)
-        dest_dir = self.stage.source_path
-        fullpath = os.path.abspath(pjoin(dest_dir, filename))
-        return fullpath
+        return "{0}-{1}-{2}@{3}.cmake".format(
+            hostname,
+            self._get_sys_type(self.spec),
+            self.spec.compiler.name,
+            self.spec.compiler.version
+        )
 
-    def hostconfig(self, spec, prefix):
-        """
-        This method creates a 'host-config' file that specifies
-        all of the options used to configure and build Axom.
-        """
+    def initconfig_compiler_entries(self):
+        spec = self.spec
+        entries = super(Axom, self).initconfig_compiler_entries()
 
-        c_compiler   = env["SPACK_CC"]
-        cpp_compiler = env["SPACK_CXX"]
-        f_compiler   = None
-
-        # see if we should enable fortran support
-        if "SPACK_FC" in env.keys():
-            # even if this is set, it may not exist
-            # do one more sanity check
-            if os.path.isfile(env["SPACK_FC"]):
-                f_compiler  = env["SPACK_FC"]
-
-        # cmake
-        if "+cmake" in spec:
-            cmake_exe = pjoin(spec['cmake'].prefix.bin, "cmake")
+        if "+fortran" in spec or self.compiler.fc is not None:
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_FORTRAN", True))
         else:
-            cmake_exe = which("cmake")
-            if cmake_exe is None:
-                # error could not find cmake!
-                crash()
-            cmake_exe = cmake_exe.command
-        cmake_exe = os.path.realpath(cmake_exe)
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_FORTRAN", False))
 
-        host_config_path = self._get_host_config_path(spec)
-        cfg = open(host_config_path, "w")
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        cfg.write("# !!!! This is a generated file, edit at own risk !!!!\n")
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        cfg.write("# SYS_TYPE: {0}\n".format(self._get_sys_type(spec)))
-        cfg.write("# Compiler Spec: {0}\n".format(spec.compiler))
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        # show path to cmake for reference and to be used by config-build.py
-        cfg.write("# CMake executable path: {0}\n".format(cmake_exe))
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n\n".format("-" * 60))
-
-        # compiler settings
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        cfg.write("# Compilers\n")
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n\n".format("-" * 60))
-
-        cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_C_COMPILER", c_compiler))
-        cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", cpp_compiler))
-
-        if "+fortran" in spec or f_compiler is not None:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_FORTRAN", True))
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER", f_compiler))
-        else:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_FORTRAN", False))
-
-        # use global spack compiler flags
-        cppflags = ' '.join(spec.compiler_flags['cppflags'])
-        if cppflags:
-            # avoid always ending up with ' ' with no flags defined
-            cppflags += ' '
-        cflags = cppflags + ' '.join(spec.compiler_flags['cflags'])
-        if cflags:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_C_FLAGS", cflags))
-        cxxflags = cppflags + ' '.join(spec.compiler_flags['cxxflags'])
-        if cxxflags:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS", cxxflags))
-        fflags = ' '.join(spec.compiler_flags['fflags'])
-        if fflags:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS", fflags))
-
-        if ((f_compiler is not None)
-           and ("gfortran" in f_compiler)
-           and ("clang" in cpp_compiler)):
+        if ((self.compiler.fc is not None)
+           and ("gfortran" in self.compiler.fc)
+           and ("clang" in self.compiler.cxx)):
             libdir = pjoin(os.path.dirname(
-                           os.path.dirname(cpp_compiler)), "lib")
+                           os.path.dirname(self.compiler.cxx)), "lib")
             flags = ""
             for _libpath in [libdir, libdir + "64"]:
                 if os.path.exists(_libpath):
                     flags += " -Wl,-rpath,{0}".format(_libpath)
             description = ("Adds a missing libstdc++ rpath")
             if flags:
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("BLT_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS", flags,
-                                            description))
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_string("BLT_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS", flags,
+                                                  description))
 
         if "+cpp14" in spec:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("BLT_CXX_STD", "c++14", ""))
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_string("BLT_CXX_STD", "c++14", ""))
+
+        return entries
+
+    def initconfig_hardware_entries(self):
+        spec = self.spec
+        entries = super(Axom, self).initconfig_hardware_entries()
+
+        if spec.satisfies('target=ppc64le:'):
+            if "+cuda" in spec:
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_CUDA", True))
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_option("CUDA_SEPARABLE_COMPILATION",
+                                                  True))
+
+                entries.append(
+                    cmake_cache_option("AXOM_ENABLE_ANNOTATIONS", True))
+
+                # CUDA_FLAGS
+                cudaflags  = "-restrict --expt-extended-lambda "
+
+                if not spec.satisfies('cuda_arch=none'):
+                    cuda_arch = spec.variants['cuda_arch'].value[0]
+                    entries.append(cmake_cache_string(
+                        "CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES",
+                        cuda_arch))
+                    cudaflags += '-arch sm_${CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES} '
+                else:
+                    entries.append(
+                        "# cuda_arch could not be determined\n\n")
+
+                if "+cpp14" in spec:
+                    cudaflags += " -std=c++14"
+                else:
+                    cudaflags += " -std=c++11"
+                entries.append(
+                    cmake_cache_string("CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS", cudaflags))
+
+                entries.append(
+                    "# nvcc does not like gtest's 'pthreads' flag\n")
+                entries.append(
+                    cmake_cache_option("gtest_disable_pthreads", True))
+
+        entries.append("#------------------{0}".format("-" * 30))
+        entries.append("# Hardware Specifics")
+        entries.append("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 30))
+
+        # OpenMP
+        entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_OPENMP",
+                                          spec.satisfies('+openmp')))
+
+        # Enable death tests
+        entries.append(cmake_cache_option(
+            "ENABLE_GTEST_DEATH_TESTS",
+            not spec.satisfies('+cuda target=ppc64le:')
+        ))
+
+        if spec.satisfies('target=ppc64le:'):
+            if (self.compiler.fc is not None) and ("xlf" in self.compiler.fc):
+                description = ("Converts C-style comments to Fortran style "
+                               "in preprocessed files")
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_string(
+                    "BLT_FORTRAN_FLAGS",
+                    "-WF,-C!  -qxlf2003=polymorphic",
+                    description))
+                # Grab lib directory for the current fortran compiler
+                libdir = pjoin(os.path.dirname(
+                               os.path.dirname(self.compiler.fc)),
+                               "lib")
+                description = ("Adds a missing rpath for libraries "
+                               "associated with the fortran compiler")
+                linker_flags = "${BLT_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -Wl,-rpath," + libdir
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_string("BLT_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS",
+                                                  linker_flags, description))
+                if "+shared" in spec:
+                    linker_flags = "${CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS} -Wl,-rpath," \
+                                   + libdir
+                    entries.append(cmake_cache_string(
+                        "CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS",
+                        linker_flags, description))
+
+            # Fix for working around CMake adding implicit link directories
+            # returned by the BlueOS compilers to link executables with
+            # non-system default stdlib
+            _gcc_prefix = "/usr/tce/packages/gcc/gcc-4.9.3/lib64"
+            if os.path.exists(_gcc_prefix):
+                _gcc_prefix2 = pjoin(
+                    _gcc_prefix,
+                    "gcc/powerpc64le-unknown-linux-gnu/4.9.3")
+                _link_dirs = "{0};{1}".format(_gcc_prefix, _gcc_prefix2)
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_string(
+                    "BLT_CMAKE_IMPLICIT_LINK_DIRECTORIES_EXCLUDE", _link_dirs))
+
+        return entries
+
+    def initconfig_mpi_entries(self):
+        spec = self.spec
+        entries = super(Axom, self).initconfig_mpi_entries()
+
+        if "+mpi" in spec:
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_MPI", True))
+            if spec['mpi'].name == 'spectrum-mpi':
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_string("BLT_MPI_COMMAND_APPEND",
+                                                  "mpibind"))
+        else:
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_MPI", False))
+
+        return entries
+
+    def initconfig_package_entries(self):
+        spec = self.spec
+        entries = []
 
         # TPL locations
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        cfg.write("# TPLs\n")
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n\n".format("-" * 60))
+        entries.append("#------------------{0}".format("-" * 60))
+        entries.append("# TPLs")
+        entries.append("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
 
         # Try to find the common prefix of the TPL directory, including the
         # compiler. If found, we will use this in the TPL paths
@@ -264,113 +294,28 @@ def hostconfig(self, spec, prefix):
         if len(prefix_paths) == 2:
             tpl_root = os.path.realpath(pjoin(prefix_paths[0], compiler_str))
             path_replacements[tpl_root] = "${TPL_ROOT}"
-            cfg.write("# Root directory for generated TPLs\n")
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("TPL_ROOT", tpl_root))
+            entries.append("# Root directory for generated TPLs\n")
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_path("TPL_ROOT", tpl_root))
 
         conduit_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "conduit", path_replacements)
-        cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CONDUIT_DIR", conduit_dir))
+        entries.append(cmake_cache_path("CONDUIT_DIR", conduit_dir))
 
         # optional tpls
-
-        if "+mfem" in spec:
-            mfem_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "mfem", path_replacements)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MFEM_DIR", mfem_dir))
-        else:
-            cfg.write("# MFEM not built\n\n")
-
-        if "+hdf5" in spec:
-            hdf5_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "hdf5", path_replacements)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("HDF5_DIR", hdf5_dir))
-        else:
-            cfg.write("# HDF5 not built\n\n")
-
-        if "+lua" in spec:
-            lua_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "lua", path_replacements)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("LUA_DIR", lua_dir))
-        else:
-            cfg.write("# Lua not built\n\n")
-
-        if "+scr" in spec:
-            scr_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "scr", path_replacements)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("SCR_DIR", scr_dir))
-        else:
-            cfg.write("# SCR not built\n\n")
-
-        if "+raja" in spec:
-            raja_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "raja", path_replacements)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("RAJA_DIR", raja_dir))
-        else:
-            cfg.write("# RAJA not built\n\n")
-
-        if "+umpire" in spec:
-            umpire_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "umpire", path_replacements)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("UMPIRE_DIR", umpire_dir))
-        else:
-            cfg.write("# Umpire not built\n\n")
-
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        cfg.write("# MPI\n")
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n\n".format("-" * 60))
-
-        if "+mpi" in spec:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_MPI", True))
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MPI_C_COMPILER", spec['mpi'].mpicc))
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MPI_CXX_COMPILER",
-                                        spec['mpi'].mpicxx))
-            if "+fortran" in spec or f_compiler is not None:
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MPI_Fortran_COMPILER",
-                                            spec['mpi'].mpifc))
-
-            # Check for slurm
-            using_slurm = False
-            slurm_checks = ['+slurm',
-                            'schedulers=slurm',
-                            'process_managers=slurm']
-            if any(spec['mpi'].satisfies(variant) for variant in slurm_checks):
-                using_slurm = True
-
-            # Determine MPIEXEC
-            if using_slurm:
-                if spec['mpi'].external:
-                    mpiexec = '/usr/bin/srun'
-                else:
-                    mpiexec = os.path.join(spec['slurm'].prefix.bin, 'srun')
+        for dep in ('mfem', 'hdf5', 'lua', 'scr', 'raja', 'umpire'):
+            if '+%s' % dep in spec:
+                dep_dir = get_spec_path(spec, dep, path_replacements)
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_path('%s_DIR' % dep.upper(),
+                                                dep_dir))
             else:
-                mpiexec = os.path.join(spec['mpi'].prefix.bin, 'mpirun')
-                if not os.path.exists(mpiexec):
-                    mpiexec = os.path.join(spec['mpi'].prefix.bin, 'mpiexec')
-
-            if not os.path.exists(mpiexec):
-                msg = "Unable to determine MPIEXEC, Axom tests may fail"
-                cfg.write("# {0}\n\n".format(msg))
-                tty.msg(msg)
-            else:
-                # starting with cmake 3.10, FindMPI expects MPIEXEC_EXECUTABLE
-                # vs the older versions which expect MPIEXEC
-                if self.spec["cmake"].satisfies('@3.10:'):
-                    cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MPIEXEC_EXECUTABLE", mpiexec))
-                else:
-                    cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MPIEXEC", mpiexec))
-
-            # Determine MPIEXEC_NUMPROC_FLAG
-            if using_slurm:
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MPIEXEC_NUMPROC_FLAG", "-n"))
-            else:
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("MPIEXEC_NUMPROC_FLAG", "-np"))
-
-            if spec['mpi'].name == 'spectrum-mpi':
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("BLT_MPI_COMMAND_APPEND",
-                                            "mpibind"))
-        else:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_MPI", False))
+                entries.append('# %s not build\n' % dep.upper())
 
         ##################################
         # Devtools
         ##################################
 
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        cfg.write("# Devtools\n")
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n\n".format("-" * 60))
+        entries.append("#------------------{0}".format("-" * 60))
+        entries.append("# Devtools")
+        entries.append("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
 
         # Add common prefix to path replacement list
         if "+devtools" in spec:
@@ -379,176 +324,59 @@ def hostconfig(self, spec, prefix):
             path2 = os.path.realpath(spec["doxygen"].prefix)
             devtools_root = os.path.commonprefix([path1, path2])[:-1]
             path_replacements[devtools_root] = "${DEVTOOLS_ROOT}"
-            cfg.write("# Root directory for generated developer tools\n")
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("DEVTOOLS_ROOT", devtools_root))
+            entries.append(
+                "# Root directory for generated developer tools\n")
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_path("DEVTOOLS_ROOT", devtools_root))
+
+            # Only turn on clangformat support if devtools is on
+            clang_fmt_path = spec['llvm'].prefix.bin.join('clang-format')
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_path(
+                "CLANGFORMAT_EXECUTABLE", clang_fmt_path))
+        else:
+            entries.append("# ClangFormat disabled due to disabled devtools\n")
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_CLANGFORMAT", False))
 
         if "+python" in spec or "+devtools" in spec:
             python_path = os.path.realpath(spec['python'].command.path)
             for key in path_replacements:
                 python_path = python_path.replace(key, path_replacements[key])
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", python_path))
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_path("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", python_path))
 
-        if "doxygen" in spec or "py-sphinx" in spec:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_DOCS", True))
+        enable_docs = "doxygen" in spec or "py-sphinx" in spec
+        entries.append(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_DOCS", enable_docs))
 
-            if "doxygen" in spec:
-                doxygen_bin_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "doxygen",
-                                                path_replacements,
-                                                use_bin=True)
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("DOXYGEN_EXECUTABLE",
-                                            pjoin(doxygen_bin_dir,
-                                                  "doxygen")))
-
-            if "py-sphinx" in spec:
-                python_bin_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "python",
-                                               path_replacements,
-                                               use_bin=True)
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("SPHINX_EXECUTABLE",
+        if "py-sphinx" in spec:
+            python_bin_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "python",
+                                           path_replacements,
+                                           use_bin=True)
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_path("SPHINX_EXECUTABLE",
                                             pjoin(python_bin_dir,
                                                   "sphinx-build")))
-        else:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_DOCS", False))
 
         if "py-shroud" in spec:
             shroud_bin_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "py-shroud",
                                            path_replacements, use_bin=True)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("SHROUD_EXECUTABLE",
-                                        pjoin(shroud_bin_dir, "shroud")))
+            entries.append(cmake_cache_path("SHROUD_EXECUTABLE",
+                                            pjoin(shroud_bin_dir, "shroud")))
 
-        if "cppcheck" in spec:
-            cppcheck_bin_dir = get_spec_path(spec, "cppcheck",
-                                             path_replacements, use_bin=True)
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CPPCHECK_EXECUTABLE",
-                                        pjoin(cppcheck_bin_dir, "cppcheck")))
+        for dep in ('uncrustify', 'cppcheck', 'doxygen'):
+            if dep in spec:
+                dep_bin_dir = get_spec_path(spec, dep, path_replacements,
+                                            use_bin=True)
+                entries.append(cmake_cache_path('%s_EXECUTABLE' % dep.upper(),
+                                                pjoin(dep_bin_dir, dep)))
 
-        # Only turn on clangformat support if devtools is on
-        if "+devtools" in spec:
-            clang_fmt_path = spec['llvm'].prefix.bin.join('clang-format')
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CLANGFORMAT_EXECUTABLE",
-                                        clang_fmt_path))
-        else:
-            cfg.write("# ClangFormat disabled due to disabled devtools\n")
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_CLANGFORMAT", False))
-
-        ##################################
-        # Other machine specifics
-        ##################################
-
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-        cfg.write("# Other machine specifics\n")
-        cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n\n".format("-" * 60))
-
-        # OpenMP
-        if "+openmp" in spec:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_OPENMP", True))
-        else:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_OPENMP", False))
-
-        # Enable death tests
-        if spec.satisfies('target=ppc64le:') and "+cuda" in spec:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_GTEST_DEATH_TESTS", False))
-        else:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_GTEST_DEATH_TESTS", True))
-
-        # Override XL compiler family
-        familymsg = ("Override to proper compiler family for XL")
-        if (f_compiler is not None) and ("xlf" in f_compiler):
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER_ID", "XL",
-                                        familymsg))
-        if "xlc" in c_compiler:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID", "XL",
-                                        familymsg))
-        if "xlC" in cpp_compiler:
-            cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID", "XL",
-                                        familymsg))
-
-        if spec.satisfies('target=ppc64le:'):
-            if (f_compiler is not None) and ("xlf" in f_compiler):
-                description = ("Converts C-style comments to Fortran style "
-                               "in preprocessed files")
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("BLT_FORTRAN_FLAGS",
-                                            "-WF,-C!  -qxlf2003=polymorphic",
-                                            description))
-                # Grab lib directory for the current fortran compiler
-                libdir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(
-                                      os.path.dirname(f_compiler)), "lib")
-                description = ("Adds a missing rpath for libraries "
-                               "associated with the fortran compiler")
-                linker_flags = "${BLT_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -Wl,-rpath," + libdir
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("BLT_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS",
-                                            linker_flags, description))
-                if "+shared" in spec:
-                    linker_flags = "${CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS} -Wl,-rpath," \
-                                   + libdir
-                    cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS",
-                                                linker_flags, description))
-
-            if "+cuda" in spec:
-                cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n".format("-" * 60))
-                cfg.write("# Cuda\n")
-                cfg.write("#------------------{0}\n\n".format("-" * 60))
-
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("ENABLE_CUDA", True))
-
-                cudatoolkitdir = spec['cuda'].prefix
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CUDA_TOOLKIT_ROOT_DIR",
-                                            cudatoolkitdir))
-                cudacompiler = "${CUDA_TOOLKIT_ROOT_DIR}/bin/nvcc"
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_CUDA_COMPILER",
-                                            cudacompiler))
-
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("CUDA_SEPARABLE_COMPILATION",
-                                             True))
-
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("AXOM_ENABLE_ANNOTATIONS", True))
-
-                # CUDA_FLAGS
-                cudaflags  = "-restrict "
-
-                if not spec.satisfies('cuda_arch=none'):
-                    cuda_arch = spec.variants['cuda_arch'].value
-                    axom_arch = 'sm_{0}'.format(cuda_arch[0])
-                    cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("AXOM_CUDA_ARCH", axom_arch))
-                    cudaflags += "-arch ${AXOM_CUDA_ARCH} "
-                else:
-                    cfg.write("# cuda_arch could not be determined\n\n")
-
-                cudaflags += "-std=c++11 --expt-extended-lambda -G "
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS", cudaflags))
-
-                if "+mpi" in spec:
-                    cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_CUDA_HOST_COMPILER",
-                                                "${MPI_CXX_COMPILER}"))
-                else:
-                    cfg.write(cmake_cache_entry("CMAKE_CUDA_HOST_COMPILER",
-                                                "${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}"))
-
-                cfg.write("# nvcc does not like gtest's 'pthreads' flag\n")
-                cfg.write(cmake_cache_option("gtest_disable_pthreads", True))
-
-        cfg.write("\n")
-        cfg.close()
-        tty.info("Spack generated Axom host-config file: " + host_config_path)
+        return entries
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        spec = self.spec
-        host_config_path = self._get_host_config_path(spec)
-
         options = []
-        options.extend(['-C', host_config_path])
 
         if self.run_tests is False:
             options.append('-DENABLE_TESTS=OFF')
         else:
             options.append('-DENABLE_TESTS=ON')
 
-        if "+shared" in spec:
-            options.append('-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON')
-        else:
-            options.append('-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF')
+        options.append(self.define_from_variant(
+            'BUILD_SHARED_LIBS', 'shared'))
 
         return options
-
-    @run_after('install')
-    def install_cmake_cache(self):
-        install(self._get_host_config_path(self.spec), prefix)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py
index 8425242b53..01c1428766 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def configure_args(self):
         # sanity check in configure, so this doesn't merit a variant.
         extra_args = ['--enable-unsupported',
                       '--enable-symbols=yes',
-                      '--with-zlib']
+                      '--with-zlib=%s' % self.spec['zlib'].prefix]
         extra_args += self.enable_or_disable('threadsafe')
         extra_args += self.enable_or_disable('cxx')
         extra_args += self.enable_or_disable('hl')