diff --git a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.py b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.py
index 163ef3f57e3b6..dd19e5a2bf808 100755
--- a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.py
+++ b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 sys.path.insert(1, _BUILD_ANDROID_GYP)
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 # Match single line comments, multiline comments, character literals, and
 # double-quoted strings.
@@ -1543,7 +1544,7 @@ def GenerateJNIHeader(input_file, output_file, options):
     print(e)
     sys.exit(1)
   if output_file:
-    with build_utils.AtomicOutput(output_file, mode='w') as f:
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(output_file, mode='w') as f:
       f.write(content)
   else:
     print(content)
diff --git a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.pydeps b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.pydeps
index ef374f225fde0..8cfd43f00e19e 100644
--- a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.pydeps
+++ b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root base/android/jni_generator --output base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.pydeps base/android/jni_generator/jni_generator.py
+../../../build/action_helpers.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
 ../../../build/gn_helpers.py
diff --git a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.py b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.py
index 69a85f0abf8a9..100d6e0b22bc6 100755
--- a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.py
+++ b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 import jni_generator
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 # All but FULL_CLASS_NAME, which is used only for sorting.
 MERGEABLE_KEYS = [
@@ -103,10 +104,10 @@ def _Generate(options, java_file_paths):
     combined_dict['HEADER_GUARD'] = header_guard
     combined_dict['NAMESPACE'] = options.namespace
     header_content = CreateFromDict(options, module_name, combined_dict)
-    with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.header_path, mode='w') as f:
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.header_path, mode='w') as f:
       f.write(header_content)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.srcjar_path) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.srcjar_path) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w') as srcjar:
       for module_name, combined_dict in combined_dicts.items():
 
@@ -851,7 +852,7 @@ def _MakeProxySignature(options, proxy_native):
 
 def main(argv):
   arg_parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(arg_parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(arg_parser)
 
   arg_parser.add_argument(
       '--sources-files',
@@ -919,7 +920,7 @@ def main(argv):
         'Invalid arguments: --manual-jni-registration without --header-path. '
         'Cannot manually register JNI if there is no output header file.')
 
-  sources_files = sorted(set(build_utils.ParseGnList(args.sources_files)))
+  sources_files = sorted(set(action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.sources_files)))
 
   java_file_paths = []
   for f in sources_files:
@@ -931,8 +932,8 @@ def main(argv):
   _Generate(args, java_file_paths)
 
   if args.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.srcjar_path,
-                             sources_files + java_file_paths)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.srcjar_path,
+                                 sources_files + java_file_paths)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.pydeps b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.pydeps
index cb8d37eb75d97..55724d420776a 100644
--- a/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.pydeps
+++ b/base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root base/android/jni_generator --output base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.pydeps base/android/jni_generator/jni_registration_generator.py
+../../../build/action_helpers.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
 ../../../build/gn_helpers.py
diff --git a/build/android/apk_operations.pydeps b/build/android/apk_operations.pydeps
index dad21811c5987..60f5cb3f9bc12 100644
--- a/build/android/apk_operations.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/apk_operations.pydeps
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
 ../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../action_helpers.py
 ../gn_helpers.py
 ../print_python_deps.py
 adb_command_line.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/aar.py b/build/android/gyp/aar.py
index 0217c152d65cd..512d5dbe4c7a8 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/aar.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/aar.py
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@
 import zipfile
 
 from util import build_utils
-
-sys.path.append(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
-                                             os.pardir, os.pardir)))
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 import gn_helpers
 
 
@@ -165,7 +163,7 @@ def main():
 
   args = parser.parse_args()
 
-  args.resource_exclusion_globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  args.resource_exclusion_globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       args.resource_exclusion_globs)
   if args.ignore_resources:
     args.resource_exclusion_globs.append('res/*')
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/aar.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/aar.pydeps
index 7e2924b34c02f..56f860e257617 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/aar.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/aar.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/aar.pydeps build/android/gyp/aar.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 aar.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/aidl.py b/build/android/gyp/aidl.py
index cb1aa8ca2634e..07b83c4fc87ff 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/aidl.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/aidl.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import zipfile
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def main(argv):
@@ -23,10 +24,10 @@ def main(argv):
   option_parser.add_option('--includes',
                            help='Directories to add as import search paths.')
   option_parser.add_option('--srcjar', help='Path for srcjar output.')
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(option_parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(option_parser)
   options, args = option_parser.parse_args(argv[1:])
 
-  options.includes = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.includes)
+  options.includes = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.includes)
 
   with build_utils.TempDir() as temp_dir:
     for f in args:
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ def main(argv):
       output = os.path.join(temp_dir, classname + '.java')
       aidl_cmd = [options.aidl_path]
       aidl_cmd += [
-        '-p' + s for s in build_utils.ParseGnList(options.imports)
+          '-p' + s for s in action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.imports)
       ]
       aidl_cmd += ['-I' + s for s in options.includes]
       aidl_cmd += [
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ def main(argv):
       ]
       build_utils.CheckOutput(aidl_cmd)
 
-    with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.srcjar) as f:
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.srcjar) as f:
       with zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w') as srcjar:
         for path in build_utils.FindInDirectory(temp_dir, '*.java'):
           with open(path) as fileobj:
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ def main(argv):
     include_files = []
     for include_dir in options.includes:
       include_files += build_utils.FindInDirectory(include_dir, '*.java')
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.srcjar, include_files)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.srcjar, include_files)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/aidl.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/aidl.pydeps
index 11c55ed4b6b96..a62f6ad50dfaf 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/aidl.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/aidl.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/aidl.pydeps build/android/gyp/aidl.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 aidl.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.py b/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.py
index 0ac2f3b1710f8..61daac2244071 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _ModuleLibrariesPair(arg):
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ def main(args):
       help='A pair of parent module name and child module name '
       '(format: "<parent>:<child>"). Can be specified multiple times.')
   options = parser.parse_args(build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args))
-  options.libraries = [(m, build_utils.ParseGnList(l))
+  options.libraries = [(m, action_helpers.parse_gn_list(l))
                        for m, l in options.libraries]
 
   # Parse input creating libraries and dependency tree.
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.pydeps
index d8b10cd3dacd6..aacaafffeb6db 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.pydeps build/android/gyp/allot_native_libraries.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 allot_native_libraries.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.py b/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.py
index 4e1b37359c39c..532ff35cebdd5 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 from util import build_utils
 from util import diff_utils
 from util import zipalign
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 # Taken from aapt's Package.cpp:
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@
 
 def _ParseArgs(args):
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--assets',
                       help='GYP-list of files to add as assets in the form '
                       '"srcPath:zipPath", where ":zipPath" is optional.')
@@ -114,18 +115,18 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
                       help='Treat all warnings as errors.')
   diff_utils.AddCommandLineFlags(parser)
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
-  options.assets = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.assets)
-  options.uncompressed_assets = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.assets = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.assets)
+  options.uncompressed_assets = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.uncompressed_assets)
-  options.native_lib_placeholders = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.native_lib_placeholders = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.native_lib_placeholders)
-  options.secondary_native_lib_placeholders = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.secondary_native_lib_placeholders = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.secondary_native_lib_placeholders)
-  options.java_resources = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.java_resources)
-  options.native_libs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.native_libs)
-  options.secondary_native_libs = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.java_resources = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.java_resources)
+  options.native_libs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.native_libs)
+  options.secondary_native_libs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.secondary_native_libs)
-  options.library_always_compress = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.library_always_compress = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.library_always_compress)
 
   if not options.android_abi and (options.native_libs or
@@ -386,9 +387,9 @@ def _GetAssetDetails(assets, uncompressed_assets, fast_align, allow_reads):
 
     if options.only_verify_expectations:
       if options.depfile:
-        build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                                 options.actual_file,
-                                 inputs=depfile_deps)
+        action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                                     options.actual_file,
+                                     inputs=depfile_deps)
       return
 
   # If we are past this point, we are going to actually create the final apk so
@@ -398,7 +399,8 @@ def _GetAssetDetails(assets, uncompressed_assets, fast_align, allow_reads):
       assets, uncompressed_assets, fast_align, allow_reads=True)
 
   # Targets generally do not depend on apks, so no need for only_if_changed.
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output_apk, only_if_changed=False) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output_apk,
+                                    only_if_changed=False) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(options.resource_apk) as resource_apk, \
          zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w') as out_apk:
 
@@ -522,9 +524,9 @@ def copy_resource(zipinfo, out_dir=''):
     logging.debug('Moving file into place')
 
     if options.depfile:
-      build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                               options.output_apk,
-                               inputs=depfile_deps)
+      action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                                   options.output_apk,
+                                   inputs=depfile_deps)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.pydeps
index e6122edd2f1ea..97277566fca70 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.pydeps build/android/gyp/apkbuilder.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 apkbuilder.py
 finalize_apk.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.py b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.py
index 54f82c4f8e51d..f6065dbe71544 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.py
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@
 import sys
 
 import javac_output_processor
-
 from util import build_utils
 from util import server_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _AddSwitch(parser, val):
@@ -49,13 +49,15 @@ def main(argv):
                                   force=args.use_build_server):
     return
 
-  args.sdk_classpath_jars = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.sdk_classpath_jars)
-  args.direct_classpath_jars = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  args.sdk_classpath_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      args.sdk_classpath_jars)
+  args.direct_classpath_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       args.direct_classpath_jars)
-  args.full_classpath_jars = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.full_classpath_jars)
-  args.full_classpath_gn_targets = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  args.full_classpath_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      args.full_classpath_jars)
+  args.full_classpath_gn_targets = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       args.full_classpath_gn_targets)
-  args.missing_classes_allowlist = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  args.missing_classes_allowlist = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       args.missing_classes_allowlist)
 
   verbose = '--verbose' if args.verbose else '--not-verbose'
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.pydeps
index 5fdf703417328..e7f1d98bdfdbf 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_processor.pydeps
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/win32.py
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/winterm.py
 ../../../tools/android/modularization/convenience/lookup_dep.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../list_java_targets.py
 ../pylib/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.py b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.py
index add5558a6d15c..d16fee5237e42 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.py
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def main(argv):
   argv = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(argv[1:])
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--script',
                       required=True,
                       help='Path to the java binary wrapper script.')
@@ -22,8 +23,8 @@ def main(argv):
   parser.add_argument('--output-jar', required=True)
   args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
-  classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.classpath)
-  build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.output_jar, inputs=classpath)
+  classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.classpath)
+  action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.output_jar, inputs=classpath)
 
   classpath.append(args.input_jar)
   cmd = [
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.pydeps
index b8f304a783623..b0a6560367384 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.pydeps build/android/gyp/bytecode_rewriter.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 bytecode_rewriter.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/check_flag_expectations.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/check_flag_expectations.pydeps
index d8c394a04c136..6bade9490b5cc 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/check_flag_expectations.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/check_flag_expectations.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/check_flag_expectations.pydeps build/android/gyp/check_flag_expectations.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 check_flag_expectations.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/compile_java.py b/build/android/gyp/compile_java.py
index 06af82f4a73f5..d22fb49d1a93a 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/compile_java.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/compile_java.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 from util import md5_check
 from util import jar_info_utils
 from util import server_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _JAVAC_EXTRACTOR = os.path.join(build_utils.DIR_SOURCE_ROOT, 'third_party',
                                 'android_prebuilts', 'build_tools', 'common',
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ def CreateJarFile(jar_path,
                   extra_classes_jar=None):
   """Zips files from compilation into a single jar."""
   logging.info('Start creating jar file: %s', jar_path)
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(jar_path) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(jar_path) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f.name, 'w') as z:
       build_utils.ZipDir(z, classes_dir)
       if service_provider_configuration_dir:
@@ -398,7 +399,7 @@ def Commit(self, output_path):
     entries = self._Collect()
 
     logging.info('Writing info file: %s', output_path)
-    with build_utils.AtomicOutput(output_path, mode='wb') as f:
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(output_path, mode='wb') as f:
       jar_info_utils.WriteJarInfoFile(f, entries, self._srcjar_files)
     logging.info('Completed info file: %s', output_path)
 
@@ -608,7 +609,7 @@ def _RunCompiler(changes,
 
 def _ParseOptions(argv):
   parser = optparse.OptionParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
 
   parser.add_option('--target-name', help='Fully qualified GN target name.')
   parser.add_option('--skip-build-server',
@@ -687,10 +688,10 @@ def _ParseOptions(argv):
   options, args = parser.parse_args(argv)
   build_utils.CheckOptions(options, parser, required=('jar_path', ))
 
-  options.classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.classpath)
-  options.processorpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.processorpath)
-  options.java_srcjars = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.java_srcjars)
-  options.jar_info_exclude_globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.classpath)
+  options.processorpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.processorpath)
+  options.java_srcjars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.java_srcjars)
+  options.jar_info_exclude_globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.jar_info_exclude_globs)
 
   additional_jar_files = []
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/compile_java.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/compile_java.pydeps
index c1c7d5fd56f5c..2b3d2237aff06 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/compile_java.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/compile_java.pydeps
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/win32.py
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/winterm.py
 ../../../tools/android/modularization/convenience/lookup_dep.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../../print_python_deps.py
 ../list_java_targets.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.py b/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.py
index 360278988346f..4c7eb6ff84328 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import compile_java
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _RunCompiler(args,
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ def _RunCompiler(args,
 
 def _ParseOptions(argv):
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
 
   parser.add_argument('--java-srcjars',
                       action='append',
@@ -125,8 +126,8 @@ def _ParseOptions(argv):
 
   args, extra_args = parser.parse_known_args(argv)
 
-  args.classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.classpath)
-  args.java_srcjars = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.java_srcjars)
+  args.classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.classpath)
+  args.java_srcjars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.java_srcjars)
 
   source_files = []
   for arg in extra_args:
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ def main(argv):
   if args.depfile:
     # GN already knows of the source files, so avoid listing individual files
     # in the depfile.
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.jar_path, args.classpath)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.jar_path, args.classpath)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.pydeps
index ecb76e4849dd2..837a2e4965cd6 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/compile_kt.pydeps
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/win32.py
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/winterm.py
 ../../../tools/android/modularization/convenience/lookup_dep.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../../print_python_deps.py
 ../list_java_targets.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.py b/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.py
index 1fa8815222f48..9eed24520b7d0 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 from util import parallel
 from util import protoresources
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 # Pngs that we shouldn't convert to webp. Please add rationale when updating.
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
       '--verification-library-version-offset',
       help='Subtract this from static-library version for expectation files')
 
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(output_opts)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(output_opts)
   output_opts.add_argument('--arsc-path', help='Apk output for arsc format.')
   output_opts.add_argument('--proto-path', help='Apk output for proto format.')
   output_opts.add_argument(
@@ -206,19 +207,21 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
   diff_utils.AddCommandLineFlags(parser)
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-  options.include_resources = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.include_resources)
-  options.dependencies_res_zips = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.include_resources = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.include_resources)
+  options.dependencies_res_zips = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.dependencies_res_zips)
-  options.extra_res_packages = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.extra_res_packages = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.extra_res_packages)
-  options.locale_allowlist = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.locale_allowlist)
-  options.shared_resources_allowlist_locales = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.locale_allowlist = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.locale_allowlist)
+  options.shared_resources_allowlist_locales = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.shared_resources_allowlist_locales)
-  options.resource_exclusion_exceptions = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.resource_exclusion_exceptions = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.resource_exclusion_exceptions)
-  options.dependencies_res_zip_overlays = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.dependencies_res_zip_overlays = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.dependencies_res_zip_overlays)
-  options.values_filter_rules = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.values_filter_rules = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.values_filter_rules)
 
   if not options.arsc_path and not options.proto_path:
@@ -1005,7 +1008,8 @@ def main(args):
     depfile_deps = (options.dependencies_res_zips +
                     options.dependencies_res_zip_overlays +
                     options.include_resources)
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.srcjar_out, depfile_deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.srcjar_out,
+                                 depfile_deps)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.pydeps
index 6701a8a542aa8..361b7c2780fcd 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/compile_resources.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 compile_resources.py
 proto/Configuration_pb2.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.py b/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.py
index bc05ba05ac2ed..542a08ca1ba5f 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _get_all_files(base):
@@ -49,8 +50,9 @@ def CopyFile(f, dest, deps):
 
 def DoCopy(options, deps):
   """Copy files or directories given in options.files and update deps."""
-  files = list(itertools.chain.from_iterable(build_utils.ParseGnList(f)
-                                             for f in options.files))
+  files = list(
+      itertools.chain.from_iterable(
+          action_helpers.parse_gn_list(f) for f in options.files))
 
   for f in files:
     if os.path.isdir(f) and not options.clear:
@@ -61,13 +63,14 @@ def DoCopy(options, deps):
 
 def DoRenaming(options, deps):
   """Copy and rename files given in options.renaming_sources and update deps."""
-  src_files = list(itertools.chain.from_iterable(
-                   build_utils.ParseGnList(f)
-                   for f in options.renaming_sources))
+  src_files = list(
+      itertools.chain.from_iterable(
+          action_helpers.parse_gn_list(f) for f in options.renaming_sources))
 
-  dest_files = list(itertools.chain.from_iterable(
-                    build_utils.ParseGnList(f)
-                    for f in options.renaming_destinations))
+  dest_files = list(
+      itertools.chain.from_iterable(
+          action_helpers.parse_gn_list(f)
+          for f in options.renaming_destinations))
 
   if (len(src_files) != len(dest_files)):
     print('Renaming source and destination files not match.')
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ def main(args):
   args = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args)
 
   parser = optparse.OptionParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
 
   parser.add_option('--dest', help='Directory to copy files to.')
   parser.add_option('--files', action='append',
@@ -118,7 +121,7 @@ def main(args):
     DoRenaming(options, deps)
 
   if options.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.stamp, deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.stamp, deps)
 
   if options.stamp:
     build_utils.Touch(options.stamp)
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.pydeps
index 37352512be1c2..5d75f9a3965b2 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/copy_ex.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/copy_ex.pydeps build/android/gyp/copy_ex.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 copy_ex.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.py b/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.py
index 3fba536723e4e..009b48aebefbb 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.py
@@ -14,18 +14,18 @@
 import posixpath
 import shutil
 import sys
+from xml.etree import ElementTree
 import zipfile
 
 sys.path.append(
     os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir)))
 from pylib.utils import dexdump
 
+import bundletool
 from util import build_utils
 from util import manifest_utils
 from util import resource_utils
-from xml.etree import ElementTree
-
-import bundletool
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 # Location of language-based assets in bundle modules.
 _LOCALES_SUBDIR = 'assets/locales/'
@@ -123,16 +123,17 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
       help='Check if services are in base module if isolatedSplits is enabled.')
 
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
-  options.module_zips = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.module_zips)
-  options.rtxt_in_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.rtxt_in_paths)
-  options.pathmap_in_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.pathmap_in_paths)
+  options.module_zips = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.module_zips)
+  options.rtxt_in_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.rtxt_in_paths)
+  options.pathmap_in_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.pathmap_in_paths)
 
   if len(options.module_zips) == 0:
     raise Exception('The module zip list cannot be empty.')
 
   # Merge all uncompressed assets into a set.
   uncompressed_list = []
-  for entry in build_utils.ParseGnList(options.uncompressed_assets):
+  for entry in action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.uncompressed_assets):
     # Each entry has the following format: 'zipPath' or 'srcPath:zipPath'
     pos = entry.find(':')
     if pos >= 0:
@@ -144,7 +145,8 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
 
   # Check that all split dimensions are valid
   if options.split_dimensions:
-    options.split_dimensions = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.split_dimensions)
+    options.split_dimensions = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+        options.split_dimensions)
     for dim in options.split_dimensions:
       if dim.upper() not in _ALL_SPLIT_DIMENSIONS:
         parser.error('Invalid split dimension "%s" (expected one of: %s)' % (
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.pydeps
index 83ffedb7403ff..3fd991e202156 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle.pydeps
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../pylib/__init__.py
 ../pylib/constants/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle_apks.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle_apks.pydeps
index 79750840b3abf..65810c3eb0c1a 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle_apks.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_app_bundle_apks.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../../print_python_deps.py
 ../pylib/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.py b/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.py
index fcd9b7ea60e2e..a3870bf895122 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 SCRIPT_TEMPLATE = string.Template("""\
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ def relativize(path):
         'TARGET_CPU':
         repr(args.target_cpu),
         'SYSTEM_IMAGE_LOCALES':
-        repr(build_utils.ParseGnList(args.system_image_locales)),
+        repr(action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.system_image_locales)),
         'DEFAULT_MODULES':
         repr(args.default_modules),
     }
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.pydeps
index 7758ed6272e8a..51d912c837c33 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.pydeps build/android/gyp/create_bundle_wrapper_script.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 create_bundle_wrapper_script.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.py b/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.py
index bce0a57277097..f9e665f4e3d0d 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 # The java command must be executed in the current directory because there may
 # be user-supplied paths in the args. The script receives the classpath relative
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ def main(argv):
 
   classpath = []
   for cp_arg in args.classpath:
-    classpath += build_utils.ParseGnList(cp_arg)
+    classpath += action_helpers.parse_gn_list(cp_arg)
 
   run_dir = os.path.dirname(args.output)
   classpath = [os.path.relpath(p, run_dir) for p in classpath]
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ def main(argv):
     java_home = build_utils.JAVA_HOME
   java_path = os.path.relpath(os.path.join(java_home, 'bin', 'java'), run_dir)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(args.output, mode='w') as script:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(args.output, mode='w') as script:
     script.write(
         script_template.format(classpath=('"%s"' % '", "'.join(classpath)),
                                java_path=repr(java_path),
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.pydeps
index 6bc21fa7e206c..a0a740dec9f1a 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.pydeps build/android/gyp/create_java_binary_script.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 create_java_binary_script.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.py b/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.py
index 45d99b06319bd..2eae4b77e57c4 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _ConcatRTxts(rtxt_in_paths, combined_out_path):
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ def _CreateRJava(rtxts, package_name, srcjar_out):
 
 def main(args):
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Create an R.java srcjar.')
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--srcjar-out',
                       required=True,
                       help='Path to output srcjar.')
@@ -50,12 +51,12 @@ def main(args):
                       required=True,
                       help='R.java package to use.')
   options = parser.parse_args(build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args))
-  options.deps_rtxts = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.deps_rtxts)
+  options.deps_rtxts = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.deps_rtxts)
 
   _CreateRJava(options.deps_rtxts, options.r_package, options.srcjar_out)
-  build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                           options.srcjar_out,
-                           inputs=options.deps_rtxts)
+  action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                               options.srcjar_out,
+                               inputs=options.deps_rtxts)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.pydeps
index df708b8dc8ddc..b6b35229e57b7 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_r_java.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 create_r_java.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_r_txt.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_r_txt.pydeps
index 396f9db4d06eb..65378f038aa27 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_r_txt.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_r_txt.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 create_r_txt.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.py b/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.py
index aa8a48a79824e..24fcf8dc8bc07 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import jar_info_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 _AAR_VERSION_PATTERN = re.compile(r'/[^/]*?(\.aar/|\.jar/)')
@@ -40,9 +41,7 @@ def _TransformAarPaths(path):
 
 def _MergeResInfoFiles(res_info_path, info_paths):
   # Concatenate them all.
-  # only_if_changed=False since no build rules depend on this as an input.
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(res_info_path, only_if_changed=False,
-                                mode='w+') as dst:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(res_info_path, 'w+') as dst:
     for p in info_paths:
       with open(p) as src:
         dst.writelines(_TransformAarPaths(l) for l in src)
@@ -58,8 +57,9 @@ def _MergePakInfoFiles(merged_path, pak_infos):
     with open(pak_info_path, 'r') as src_info_file:
       info_lines.update(_TransformAarPaths(x) for x in src_info_file)
   # only_if_changed=False since no build rules depend on this as an input.
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(merged_path, only_if_changed=False,
-                                mode='w+') as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(merged_path,
+                                    only_if_changed=False,
+                                    mode='w+') as f:
     f.writelines(sorted(info_lines))
 
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def _MergeJarInfoFiles(output, inputs):
                 attributed_path, name))
 
   # only_if_changed=False since no build rules depend on this as an input.
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(output, only_if_changed=False) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(output, only_if_changed=False) as f:
     jar_info_utils.WriteJarInfoFile(f, info_data)
 
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def _FindJarInputs(jar_paths):
 def main(args):
   args = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args)
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument(
       '--jar-info-path', required=True, help='Output .jar.info file')
   parser.add_argument(
@@ -170,9 +170,9 @@ def main(args):
 
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-  options.jar_files = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.jar_files)
-  options.assets = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.assets)
-  options.uncompressed_assets = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.jar_files = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.jar_files)
+  options.assets = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.assets)
+  options.uncompressed_assets = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.uncompressed_assets)
 
   jar_inputs = _FindJarInputs(_RemoveDuplicatesFromList(options.jar_files))
@@ -186,9 +186,9 @@ def main(args):
   _MergeResInfoFiles(options.res_info_path, res_inputs)
 
   all_inputs = jar_inputs + pak_inputs + res_inputs
-  build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                           options.jar_info_path,
-                           inputs=all_inputs)
+  action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                               options.jar_info_path,
+                               inputs=all_inputs)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.pydeps
index 1a69c553d761e..0dd61cbb35d7a 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.pydeps build/android/gyp/create_size_info_files.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 create_size_info_files.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.py b/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.py
index f63f49de4f539..3e06027f0fa5a 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 # A small string template for the content of each strings.xml file.
 # NOTE: The name is chosen to avoid any conflicts with other string defined
@@ -69,11 +70,11 @@ def main():
 
   args = parser.parse_args()
 
-  locale_list = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.locale_list)
+  locale_list = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.locale_list)
   if not locale_list:
     raise Exception('Locale list cannot be empty!')
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(args.output_zip) as tmp_file:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(args.output_zip) as tmp_file:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(tmp_file, 'w') as out_zip:
       # First, write the default value, since aapt requires one.
       _AddLocaleResourceFileToZip(out_zip, '', _DEFAULT_CHROME_LOCALE)
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.pydeps
index e7f7647ee13ab..897d516151541 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/create_ui_locale_resources.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 create_ui_locale_resources.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/dex.py b/build/android/gyp/dex.py
index 8bce6bd80bdba..d4c54438b8028 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/dex.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/dex.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from util import build_utils
 from util import md5_check
 from util import zipalign
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 _DEX_XMX = '2G'  # Increase this when __final_dex OOMs.
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
   args = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args)
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
 
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--output', required=True, help='Dex output path.')
   parser.add_argument(
       '--class-inputs',
@@ -149,13 +150,13 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
     parser.error('Cannot use both --force-enable-assertions and '
                  '--assertion-handler')
 
-  options.class_inputs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.class_inputs)
-  options.class_inputs_filearg = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.class_inputs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.class_inputs)
+  options.class_inputs_filearg = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.class_inputs_filearg)
-  options.bootclasspath = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.bootclasspath)
-  options.classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.classpath)
-  options.dex_inputs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.dex_inputs)
-  options.dex_inputs_filearg = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.bootclasspath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.bootclasspath)
+  options.classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.classpath)
+  options.dex_inputs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.dex_inputs)
+  options.dex_inputs_filearg = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.dex_inputs_filearg)
 
   return options
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/dex.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/dex.pydeps
index f41626430bc47..2eca49d739751 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/dex.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/dex.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/dex.pydeps build/android/gyp/dex.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../../print_python_deps.py
 dex.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.py b/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.py
index 72758f50a01fb..279490e6309f2 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import filter_zip
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 _ANDROID_BUILD_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__))
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ def _AddResources(aar_zip, resource_zips, include_globs):
 def main(args):
   args = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args)
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--output', required=True, help='Path to output aar.')
   parser.add_argument('--jars', required=True, help='GN list of jar inputs.')
   parser.add_argument('--dependencies-res-zips', required=True,
@@ -98,17 +99,19 @@ def main(args):
   if options.native_libraries and not options.abi:
     parser.error('You must provide --abi if you have native libs')
 
-  options.jars = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.jars)
-  options.dependencies_res_zips = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.jars)
+  options.dependencies_res_zips = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.dependencies_res_zips)
-  options.r_text_files = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.r_text_files)
-  options.proguard_configs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.proguard_configs)
-  options.native_libraries = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.native_libraries)
-  options.jar_excluded_globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.r_text_files = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.r_text_files)
+  options.proguard_configs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.proguard_configs)
+  options.native_libraries = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.native_libraries)
+  options.jar_excluded_globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.jar_excluded_globs)
-  options.jar_included_globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.jar_included_globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.jar_included_globs)
-  options.resource_included_globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.resource_included_globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.resource_included_globs)
 
   with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False) as staging_file:
@@ -152,7 +155,7 @@ def main(args):
   if options.depfile:
     all_inputs = (options.jars + options.dependencies_res_zips +
                   options.r_text_files + options.proguard_configs)
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.output, all_inputs)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.output, all_inputs)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.pydeps
index 3182580af76a6..e615d7a86deaf 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/dist_aar.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/dist_aar.pydeps build/android/gyp/dist_aar.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 dist_aar.py
 filter_zip.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.py b/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.py
index 5f11818156395..cc6393c08d5f6 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def CreatePathTransform(exclude_globs, include_globs):
@@ -50,11 +51,11 @@ def main():
   argv = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(sys.argv[1:])
   args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
-  args.exclude_globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.exclude_globs)
-  args.include_globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.include_globs)
+  args.exclude_globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.exclude_globs)
+  args.include_globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.include_globs)
 
   path_transform = CreatePathTransform(args.exclude_globs, args.include_globs)
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(args.output) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(args.output) as f:
     if path_transform:
       build_utils.MergeZips(f.name, [args.input], path_transform=path_transform)
     else:
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.pydeps
index f561e05c45ca7..ad452bce91869 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/filter_zip.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/filter_zip.pydeps build/android/gyp/filter_zip.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 filter_zip.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.py b/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.py
index 384f944ca675d..270b2ad720f7b 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import zipfile
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _ParsePackageName(data):
@@ -32,8 +33,8 @@ def main(args):
   parser.add_argument('templates', nargs='+', help='Template files.')
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-  options.defines = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.defines)
-  options.include_dirs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.include_dirs)
+  options.defines = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.defines)
+  options.include_dirs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.include_dirs)
 
   gcc_cmd = [
       'gcc',
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ def main(args):
   gcc_cmd.extend('-D' + x for x in options.defines)
   gcc_cmd.extend('-I' + x for x in options.include_dirs)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w') as z:
       for template in options.templates:
         data = build_utils.CheckOutput(gcc_cmd + [template])
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.pydeps
index 39e56f70082cf..93d90e10208ad 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.pydeps build/android/gyp/gcc_preprocess.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 gcc_preprocess.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/generate_android_wrapper.py b/build/android/gyp/generate_android_wrapper.py
index 187ac525ec725..46c7afeabed8b 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/generate_android_wrapper.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/generate_android_wrapper.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 sys.path.append(
     os.path.abspath(
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ def ExpandWrappedPathLists(args):
   for arg in args:
     m = _WRAPPED_PATH_LIST_RE.match(arg)
     if m:
-      for p in build_utils.ParseGnList(m.group(2)):
+      for p in action_helpers.parse_gn_list(m.group(2)):
         expanded_args.extend([m.group(1), '@WrappedPath(%s)' % p])
     else:
       expanded_args.append(arg)
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.py b/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.py
index 28e58095cf1ae..456ddd1f68c81 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import os
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _SCRIPT_HEADER = """\
 # AUTO-GENERATED FILE.  DO NOT MODIFY.
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ def main():
 
   script = ''.join(script_content)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output, mode='w') as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output, mode='w') as f:
     f.write(script)
 
 
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.pydeps
index de9fa56a95a69..03ac25d5c0587 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.pydeps build/android/gyp/generate_linker_version_script.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 generate_linker_version_script.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/ijar.py b/build/android/gyp/ijar.py
index c2da8b60b068f..ec12cecaa1717 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/ijar.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/ijar.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 # python -c "import zipfile; zipfile.ZipFile('test.jar', 'w')"
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ def main():
   if len(sys.argv) != 4:
     raise ValueError('unexpected arguments were given. %s' % sys.argv)
   ijar_bin, in_jar, out_jar = sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2], sys.argv[3]
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(out_jar) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(out_jar) as f:
     # ijar fails on empty jars: https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/issues/10162
     if os.path.getsize(in_jar) <= _EMPTY_JAR_SIZE:
       with open(in_jar, 'rb') as in_f:
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/ijar.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/ijar.pydeps
index e9ecb6636daf9..530aabe8e5d67 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/ijar.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/ijar.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/ijar.pydeps build/android/gyp/ijar.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ijar.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.py b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.py
index b664021f136dd..18fb4927040c4 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import java_cpp_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 # List of C++ types that are compatible with the Java code generated by this
 # script.
@@ -427,7 +428,7 @@ def DoMain(argv):
     parser.error('Need to specify at least one input file')
   input_paths = args
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.srcjar) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.srcjar) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w', zipfile.ZIP_STORED) as srcjar:
       for output_path, data in DoGenerate(input_paths):
         build_utils.AddToZipHermetic(srcjar, output_path, data=data)
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.pydeps
index e6aaeb7b1f6f9..8a77e307fba8f 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.pydeps build/android/gyp/java_cpp_enum.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 java_cpp_enum.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.py b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.py
index 451acb642b7b5..9d14434fa447c 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import java_cpp_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 class FeatureParserDelegate(java_cpp_utils.CppConstantParser.Delegate):
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ def _Main(argv):
                       metavar='INPUTFILE')
   args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(args.srcjar) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(args.srcjar) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w', zipfile.ZIP_STORED) as srcjar:
       data, path = _Generate(args.inputs, args.template)
       build_utils.AddToZipHermetic(srcjar, path, data=data)
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.pydeps
index acffae2bb935a..4c555755a97c9 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.pydeps build/android/gyp/java_cpp_features.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 java_cpp_features.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.py b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.py
index d6ce81e180719..3bccd56502ada 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import java_cpp_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 class StringParserDelegate(java_cpp_utils.CppConstantParser.Delegate):
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ def _Main(argv):
       'inputs', nargs='+', help='Input file(s)', metavar='INPUTFILE')
   args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(args.srcjar) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(args.srcjar) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w', zipfile.ZIP_STORED) as srcjar:
       data, path = _Generate(args.inputs, args.template)
       build_utils.AddToZipHermetic(srcjar, path, data=data)
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.pydeps
index 0a821f44694dd..0177a2bc9c680 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.pydeps build/android/gyp/java_cpp_strings.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 java_cpp_strings.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.py b/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.py
index 265f0081a6ff9..4169f19429857 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir))
 from pylib.constants import host_paths
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ def _ProcessFiles(processor, input_filenames, inputs_base_dir, outputs_zip):
 
 def _ParseVariables(variables_arg, error_func):
   variables = {}
-  for v in build_utils.ParseGnList(variables_arg):
+  for v in action_helpers.parse_gn_list(variables_arg):
     if '=' not in v:
       error_func('--variables argument must contain "=": ' + v)
     name, _, value = v.partition('=')
@@ -128,8 +129,8 @@ def main():
                       help='Enable inputs and includes checks.')
   options = parser.parse_args()
 
-  inputs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.inputs)
-  includes = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.includes)
+  inputs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.inputs)
+  includes = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.includes)
 
   if (options.output is None) == (options.outputs_zip is None):
     parser.error('Exactly one of --output and --output-zip must be given')
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.pydeps
index cf6c62359d9c5..6e99a5583902e 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/jinja_template.pydeps
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../pylib/__init__.py
 ../pylib/constants/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/lint.py b/build/android/gyp/lint.py
index 07741a376ae6e..ae26a18085dfc 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/lint.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/lint.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from util import build_utils
 from util import manifest_utils
 from util import server_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _LINT_MD_URL = 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/build/android/docs/lint.md'  # pylint: disable=line-too-long
 
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ def _GenerateAndroidManifest(original_manifest_path, extra_manifest_paths,
 def _WriteXmlFile(root, path):
   logging.info('Writing xml file %s', path)
   build_utils.MakeDirectory(os.path.dirname(path))
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(path) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(path) as f:
     # Although we can write it just with ElementTree.tostring, using minidom
     # makes it a lot easier to read as a human (also on code search).
     f.write(
@@ -377,7 +378,7 @@ def _RunLint(create_cache,
 
 def _ParseArgs(argv):
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--target-name', help='Fully qualified GN target name.')
   parser.add_argument('--skip-build-server',
                       action='store_true',
@@ -450,13 +451,14 @@ def _ParseArgs(argv):
                       'on new errors.')
 
   args = parser.parse_args(build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(argv))
-  args.sources = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.sources)
-  args.aars = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.aars)
-  args.srcjars = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.srcjars)
-  args.resource_sources = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.resource_sources)
-  args.extra_manifest_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.extra_manifest_paths)
-  args.resource_zips = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.resource_zips)
-  args.classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.classpath)
+  args.sources = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.sources)
+  args.aars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.aars)
+  args.srcjars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.srcjars)
+  args.resource_sources = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.resource_sources)
+  args.extra_manifest_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      args.extra_manifest_paths)
+  args.resource_zips = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.resource_zips)
+  args.classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.classpath)
 
   if args.baseline:
     assert os.path.basename(args.baseline) == 'lint-baseline.xml', (
@@ -521,7 +523,7 @@ def main():
   build_utils.Touch(args.stamp)
 
   if args.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.stamp, depfile_deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.stamp, depfile_deps)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/lint.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/lint.pydeps
index 0994e19a4ae86..84bafde4795df 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/lint.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/lint.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/lint.pydeps build/android/gyp/lint.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 lint.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.py b/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.py
index 32c90859265ba..a9c2535ae8515 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import manifest_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _MANIFEST_MERGER_MAIN_CLASS = 'com.android.manifmerger.Merger'
 
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ def _ProcessOtherManifest(manifest_path, target_sdk_version,
 def main(argv):
   argv = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(argv)
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--manifest-merger-jar',
                       help='Path to SDK\'s manifest merger jar.',
                       required=True)
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ def main(argv):
                       help='Treat all warnings as errors.')
   args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(args.output) as output:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(args.output) as output:
     cmd = build_utils.JavaCmd() + [
         '-cp',
         args.manifest_merger_jar,
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ def main(argv):
           'MAX_SDK_VERSION=' + args.max_sdk_version,
       ]
 
-    extras = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.extras)
+    extras = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.extras)
 
     with contextlib.ExitStack() as stack:
       root_manifest, package = stack.enter_context(
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ def main(argv):
           fail_on_output=args.warnings_as_errors)
 
   if args.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.output, inputs=extras)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.output, inputs=extras)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.pydeps
index ef9bb340479c8..003690ff30294 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.pydeps build/android/gyp/merge_manifest.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 merge_manifest.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.py b/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.py
index 867e80b10ade3..f1be4ccf1a9c3 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _ParseArgs(args):
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
                       help='Output for `aapt2 optimize`.')
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-  options.resources_config_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.resources_config_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.resources_config_paths)
 
   if options.resources_path_map_out_path and not options.short_resource_paths:
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.pydeps
index 57a99b8c7f764..be3e8e7135d46 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.pydeps build/android/gyp/optimize_resources.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 optimize_resources.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.py b/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.py
index 609064bd0a6fc..d7274bc7ed632 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from util import md5_check
 from util import resources_parser
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _ParseArgs(args):
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
     An options object as from argparse.ArgumentParser.parse_args()
   """
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
 
   parser.add_argument('--res-sources-path',
                       required=True,
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.pydeps
index b6aa0a5e6bdd8..6df5858ba7d09 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/prepare_resources.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../../print_python_deps.py
 prepare_resources.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.py b/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.py
index 5749eb60e281f..060adae814002 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def main(args):
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ def main(args):
   # eu-strip's output keeps mode from source file which might not be writable
   # thus it fails to override its output on the next run. AtomicOutput fixes
   # the issue.
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.stripped_output_path) as out:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.stripped_output_path) as out:
     cmd = [
         options.strip_path,
         options.input_path,
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.pydeps
index 8e2012acebbf5..baf9eff7a28d6 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.pydeps build/android/gyp/process_native_prebuilt.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 process_native_prebuilt.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/proguard.py b/build/android/gyp/proguard.py
index a8ddacf4b80b5..97a5c2b26f18d 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/proguard.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/proguard.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import dex
 from util import build_utils
 from util import diff_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _BLOCKLISTED_EXPECTATION_PATHS = [
     # A separate expectation file is created for these files.
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@
 def _ParseOptions():
   args = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(sys.argv[1:])
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--r8-path',
                       required=True,
                       help='Path to the R8.jar to use.')
@@ -148,10 +149,11 @@ def _ParseOptions():
     parser.error('Cannot use both --force-enable-assertions and '
                  '--assertion-handler')
 
-  options.classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.classpath)
-  options.proguard_configs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.proguard_configs)
-  options.input_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.input_paths)
-  options.extra_mapping_output_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.classpath)
+  options.proguard_configs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.proguard_configs)
+  options.input_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.input_paths)
+  options.extra_mapping_output_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.extra_mapping_output_paths)
 
   if options.feature_names:
@@ -162,7 +164,7 @@ def _ParseOptions():
       parser.error('Invalid feature argument lengths.')
 
     options.feature_jars = [
-        build_utils.ParseGnList(x) for x in options.feature_jars
+        action_helpers.parse_gn_list(x) for x in options.feature_jars
     ]
 
   split_map = {}
@@ -556,7 +558,7 @@ def _MaybeWriteStampAndDepFile(options, inputs):
     build_utils.Touch(options.stamp)
     output = options.stamp
   if options.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, output, inputs=inputs)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, output, inputs=inputs)
 
 
 def _IterParentContexts(context_name, split_contexts_by_name):
@@ -630,9 +632,9 @@ def _Run(options):
   if options.expected_file:
     diff_utils.CheckExpectations(merged_configs, options)
     if options.only_verify_expectations:
-      build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                               options.actual_file,
-                               inputs=depfile_inputs)
+      action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                                   options.actual_file,
+                                   inputs=depfile_inputs)
       return
 
   if options.keep_rules_output_path:
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/proguard.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/proguard.pydeps
index 3e62f809f33fc..bb9f7cf8d9cc5 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/proguard.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/proguard.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/proguard.pydeps build/android/gyp/proguard.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../../print_python_deps.py
 dex.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.py b/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.py
index ec39e5f8313cb..3e0e696f511b1 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.py
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@
 import os
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def main(argv):
   argv = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(argv[1:])
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--script',
                       required=True,
                       help='Path to the java binary wrapper script.')
@@ -24,9 +25,9 @@ def main(argv):
   parser.add_argument('--output-jars', action='append', nargs='+')
   args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
-  args.classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.classpath)
-  args.input_jars = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.input_jars)
-  args.output_jars = build_utils.ParseGnList(args.output_jars)
+  args.classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.classpath)
+  args.input_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.input_jars)
+  args.output_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.output_jars)
 
   for output_jar in args.output_jars:
     jar_dir = os.path.dirname(output_jar)
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ def main(argv):
 
   build_utils.Touch(args.stamp)
 
-  build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.stamp, inputs=all_input_jars)
+  action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.stamp, inputs=all_input_jars)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.pydeps
index 9f3337d7d8bd2..e03fc0c233a81 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.pydeps build/android/gyp/trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 trace_event_bytecode_rewriter.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/turbine.py b/build/android/gyp/turbine.py
index ffef9b442243b..41f8505474b2e 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/turbine.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/turbine.py
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@
 import time
 import zipfile
 
+import compile_java
 import javac_output_processor
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def ProcessJavacOutput(output, target_name):
@@ -25,7 +27,7 @@ def main(argv):
   build_utils.InitLogging('TURBINE_DEBUG')
   argv = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(argv[1:])
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--target-name', help='Fully qualified GN target name.')
   parser.add_argument(
       '--turbine-jar-path', required=True, help='Path to the turbine jar file.')
@@ -60,10 +62,10 @@ def main(argv):
                       help='Kotlin jar to be merged into the output jar.')
   options, unknown_args = parser.parse_known_args(argv)
 
-  options.classpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.classpath)
-  options.processorpath = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.processorpath)
-  options.processors = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.processors)
-  options.java_srcjars = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.java_srcjars)
+  options.classpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.classpath)
+  options.processorpath = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.processorpath)
+  options.processors = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.processors)
+  options.java_srcjars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.java_srcjars)
 
   files = []
   for arg in unknown_args:
@@ -124,10 +126,9 @@ def main(argv):
 
   # Use AtomicOutput so that output timestamps are not updated when outputs
   # are not changed.
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.jar_path) as output_jar, \
-      build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.generated_jar_path) as generated_jar:
-    cmd += ['--output', output_jar.name, '--gensrc_output', generated_jar.name]
-
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.jar_path) as output_jar, \
+      action_helpers.atomic_output(options.generated_jar_path) as gensrc_jar:
+    cmd += ['--output', output_jar.name, '--gensrc_output', gensrc_jar.name]
     process_javac_output_partial = functools.partial(
         ProcessJavacOutput, target_name=options.target_name)
 
@@ -151,7 +152,8 @@ def main(argv):
     # in the depfile.
     depfile_deps = (options.classpath + options.processorpath +
                     options.java_srcjars)
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.jar_path, depfile_deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.jar_path,
+                                 depfile_deps)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/turbine.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/turbine.pydeps
index 8f20e8b78c345..2c0865af93da5 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/turbine.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/turbine.pydeps
@@ -16,11 +16,17 @@
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/win32.py
 ../../../third_party/colorama/src/colorama/winterm.py
 ../../../tools/android/modularization/convenience/lookup_dep.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
+../../print_python_deps.py
 ../list_java_targets.py
 ../pylib/__init__.py
 ../pylib/constants/__init__.py
+compile_java.py
 javac_output_processor.py
 turbine.py
 util/__init__.py
 util/build_utils.py
+util/jar_info_utils.py
+util/md5_check.py
+util/server_utils.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.py b/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.py
index 6e49560e019fe..d7578ce709f27 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.py
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@
 import os
 import sys
 
-sys.path.insert(
-    0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir)))
 from util import build_utils
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _FilterUnusedResources(r_text_in, r_text_out, unused_resources_config):
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ def _FilterUnusedResources(r_text_in, r_text_out, unused_resources_config):
 def main(args):
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
 
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--script',
                       required=True,
                       help='Path to the unused resources detector script.')
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ def main(args):
                       help='Path to output the aapt2 config to.')
   args = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args)
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
-  options.dependencies_res_zips = (build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  options.dependencies_res_zips = (action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.dependencies_res_zips))
 
   # in case of no resources, short circuit early.
@@ -108,8 +107,8 @@ def main(args):
                     options.dexes) + [options.r_text_in]
     if options.proguard_mapping:
       depfile_deps.append(options.proguard_mapping)
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.output_config,
-                             depfile_deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.output_config,
+                                 depfile_deps)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.pydeps
index 0154648a5cda7..b4da89a95eb0c 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/unused_resources.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 unused_resources.py
 util/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/util/diff_utils.py b/build/android/gyp/util/diff_utils.py
index 0bc811c031184..445bbe3d21be6 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/util/diff_utils.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/util/diff_utils.py
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 # Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 # found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import difflib
 import os
 import sys
 
-import difflib
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _SkipOmitted(line):
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ def AddCommandLineFlags(parser):
 
 def CheckExpectations(actual_data, options, custom_msg=''):
   if options.actual_file:
-    with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.actual_file) as f:
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.actual_file) as f:
       f.write(actual_data.encode('utf8'))
   if options.expected_file_base:
     actual_data = _GenerateDiffWithOnlyAdditons(options.expected_file_base,
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/util/manifest_utils.py b/build/android/gyp/util/manifest_utils.py
index c0b1c2997e220..3202058b616bb 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/util/manifest_utils.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/util/manifest_utils.py
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@
 import shlex
 import sys
 import xml.dom.minidom as minidom
+from xml.etree import ElementTree
 
 from util import build_utils
-from xml.etree import ElementTree
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 ANDROID_NAMESPACE = 'http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android'
 TOOLS_NAMESPACE = 'http://schemas.android.com/tools'
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ def ParseManifest(path):
 
 
 def SaveManifest(doc, path):
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(path) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(path) as f:
     f.write(ElementTree.tostring(doc.getroot(), encoding='UTF-8'))
 
 
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/util/md5_check.py b/build/android/gyp/util/md5_check.py
index 8423ac30d2841..269ae284076c7 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/util/md5_check.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/util/md5_check.py
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@
 import zipfile
 
 from util import build_utils
-
-sys.path.insert(1, os.path.join(build_utils.DIR_SOURCE_ROOT, 'build'))
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 import print_python_deps
 
 # When set and a difference is detected, a diff of what changed is printed.
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ def CallAndWriteDepfileIfStale(on_stale_md5,
   # on bots that build with & without patch, and the patch changes the depfile
   # location.
   if hasattr(options, 'depfile') and options.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, output_paths[0], depfile_deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, output_paths[0], depfile_deps)
 
 
 def CallAndRecordIfStale(function,
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/util/resources_parser.py b/build/android/gyp/util/resources_parser.py
index 3ce2f2c54b015..525e13624370d 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/util/resources_parser.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/util/resources_parser.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _TextSymbolEntry = collections.namedtuple(
     'RTextEntry', ('java_type', 'resource_type', 'name', 'value'))
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ def _CollectResourcesListFromDirectories(self):
 
   def WriteRTxtFile(self, rtxt_path):
     resources = self._CollectResourcesListFromDirectories()
-    with build_utils.AtomicOutput(rtxt_path, mode='w') as f:
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(rtxt_path, mode='w') as f:
       for resource in resources:
         line = '{0.java_type} {0.resource_type} {0.name} {0.value}\n'.format(
             resource)
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.py b/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.py
index 20b8c6dab4945..419776e163be2 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir))
 from pylib.dex import dex_parser
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _FLAGS_PATH = (
     '//chrome/android/java/static_library_dex_reference_workarounds.flags')
@@ -49,8 +50,7 @@ def _DexFilesFromPath(path):
 def main(args):
   args = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(args)
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  parser.add_argument(
-      '--depfile', required=True, help='Path to output depfile.')
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument(
       '--stamp', required=True, help='Path to file to touch upon success.')
   parser.add_argument(
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def main(args):
 
   input_paths = [args.static_library_dex] + args.static_library_dependent_dexes
   build_utils.Touch(args.stamp)
-  build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.stamp, inputs=input_paths)
+  action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.stamp, inputs=input_paths)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.pydeps
index e57172dbd612f..7fd91c201e4c4 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.pydeps build/android/gyp/validate_static_library_dex_references.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../pylib/__init__.py
 ../pylib/dex/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.py b/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.py
index ae557442ad211..e64c62233a0e0 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.py
@@ -566,6 +566,7 @@
 
 from util import build_utils
 from util import resource_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 # Types that should never be used as a dependency of another build config.
@@ -1029,7 +1030,7 @@ def _CopyBuildConfigsForDebugging(debug_dir):
 
 def main(argv):
   parser = optparse.OptionParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_option('--build-config', help='Path to build_config output.')
   parser.add_option('--store-deps-for-debugging-to',
                     help='Path to copy all transitive build config files to.')
@@ -1266,7 +1267,7 @@ def main(argv):
     return 0
 
   if options.fail:
-    parser.error('\n'.join(build_utils.ParseGnList(options.fail)))
+    parser.error('\n'.join(action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.fail)))
 
   lib_options = ['unprocessed_jar_path', 'interface_jar_path']
   device_lib_options = ['device_jar_path', 'dex_path']
@@ -1332,17 +1333,18 @@ def main(argv):
                                     'system_java_library',
                                     'android_app_bundle_module')
 
-  deps_configs_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.deps_configs)
-  public_deps_configs_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  deps_configs_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.deps_configs)
+  public_deps_configs_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.public_deps_configs)
   deps_configs_paths += public_deps_configs_paths
   deps = _DepsFromPaths(deps_configs_paths,
                         options.type,
                         recursive_resource_deps=options.recursive_resource_deps)
   public_deps = _DepsFromPaths(public_deps_configs_paths, options.type)
-  processor_deps = _DepsFromPaths(
-      build_utils.ParseGnList(options.annotation_processor_configs or ''),
-      options.type, filter_root_targets=False)
+  processor_deps = _DepsFromPaths(action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.annotation_processor_configs or ''),
+                                  options.type,
+                                  filter_root_targets=False)
 
   all_inputs = (deps.AllConfigPaths() + processor_deps.AllConfigPaths())
 
@@ -1442,7 +1444,7 @@ def main(argv):
     deps_info['merged_android_manifest'] = options.merged_android_manifest
 
   if options.bundled_srcjars:
-    deps_info['bundled_srcjars'] = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+    deps_info['bundled_srcjars'] = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
         options.bundled_srcjars)
 
   if options.target_sources_file:
@@ -1558,16 +1560,17 @@ def main(argv):
     all_asset_sources = []
     if options.asset_renaming_sources:
       all_asset_sources.extend(
-          build_utils.ParseGnList(options.asset_renaming_sources))
+          action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.asset_renaming_sources))
     if options.asset_sources:
-      all_asset_sources.extend(build_utils.ParseGnList(options.asset_sources))
+      all_asset_sources.extend(
+          action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.asset_sources))
 
     deps_info['assets'] = {
         'sources': all_asset_sources
     }
     if options.asset_renaming_destinations:
-      deps_info['assets']['outputs'] = (
-          build_utils.ParseGnList(options.asset_renaming_destinations))
+      deps_info['assets']['outputs'] = (action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+          options.asset_renaming_destinations))
     if options.disable_asset_compression:
       deps_info['assets']['disable_compression'] = True
     if options.treat_as_locale_paks:
@@ -1662,19 +1665,20 @@ def main(argv):
     config['deps_info']['extra_package_names'] = extra_package_names
 
   # These are .jars to add to javac classpath but not to runtime classpath.
-  extra_classpath_jars = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.extra_classpath_jars)
+  extra_classpath_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.extra_classpath_jars)
   if extra_classpath_jars:
     extra_classpath_jars.sort()
     deps_info['extra_classpath_jars'] = extra_classpath_jars
 
-  mergeable_android_manifests = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+  mergeable_android_manifests = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
       options.mergeable_android_manifests)
   mergeable_android_manifests.sort()
   if mergeable_android_manifests:
     deps_info['mergeable_android_manifests'] = mergeable_android_manifests
 
   extra_proguard_classpath_jars = []
-  proguard_configs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.proguard_configs)
+  proguard_configs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.proguard_configs)
   if proguard_configs:
     # Make a copy of |proguard_configs| since it's mutated below.
     deps_info['proguard_configs'] = list(proguard_configs)
@@ -1810,7 +1814,8 @@ def main(argv):
       deps_info['lint_android_manifest'] = options.android_manifest
 
   if options.type == 'android_app_bundle':
-    module_config_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.module_build_configs)
+    module_config_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+        options.module_build_configs)
     module_configs = [GetDepConfig(c) for c in module_config_paths]
     module_configs_by_name = {d['module_name']: d for d in module_configs}
     per_module_fields = [
@@ -2071,17 +2076,17 @@ def main(argv):
 
       all_inputs.append(options.secondary_abi_shared_libraries_runtime_deps)
 
-    native_library_placeholder_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+    native_library_placeholder_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
         options.native_lib_placeholders)
     native_library_placeholder_paths.sort()
 
-    secondary_native_library_placeholder_paths = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+    secondary_native_library_placeholder_paths = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
         options.secondary_native_lib_placeholders)
     secondary_native_library_placeholder_paths.sort()
 
-    loadable_modules = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.loadable_modules)
+    loadable_modules = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.loadable_modules)
     loadable_modules.sort()
-    secondary_abi_loadable_modules = build_utils.ParseGnList(
+    secondary_abi_loadable_modules = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
         options.secondary_abi_loadable_modules)
     secondary_abi_loadable_modules.sort()
 
@@ -2191,8 +2196,8 @@ def ExcludeRecursiveResourcesDeps(config):
   build_utils.WriteJson(config, options.build_config, only_if_changed=True)
 
   if options.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.build_config,
-                             sorted(set(all_inputs)))
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.build_config,
+                                 sorted(set(all_inputs)))
 
   if options.store_deps_for_debugging_to:
     GetDepConfig(options.build_config)  # Add it to cache.
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.pydeps
index 46b749cef6829..fa7209c2798d4 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/write_build_config.pydeps
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 util/__init__.py
 util/build_utils.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.py b/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.py
index 07f709e93e79c..5d18f37542a4a 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import zipfile
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 _NATIVE_LIBRARIES_TEMPLATE = """\
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ def _FormatLibraryName(library_name):
 def main():
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
 
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--final', action='store_true', help='Use final fields.')
   parser.add_argument(
       '--enable-chromium-linker',
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ def bool_str(value):
       'LIBRARIES': ','.join(_FormatLibraryName(n) for n in native_libraries),
       'CPU_FAMILY': options.cpu_family,
   }
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f.name, 'w') as srcjar_file:
       build_utils.AddToZipHermetic(
           zip_file=srcjar_file,
@@ -113,9 +114,9 @@ def bool_str(value):
 
   if options.depfile:
     assert options.native_libraries_list
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                             options.output,
-                             inputs=[options.native_libraries_list])
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                                 options.output,
+                                 inputs=[options.native_libraries_list])
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.pydeps
index f5176ef78e3f5..c9d0359d44622 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.pydeps build/android/gyp/write_native_libraries_java.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 util/__init__.py
 util/build_utils.py
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/zip.py b/build/android/gyp/zip.py
index fe4743ebd3256..2ff480b18a84c 100755
--- a/build/android/gyp/zip.py
+++ b/build/android/gyp/zip.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import zipfile
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def main(args):
@@ -39,14 +40,14 @@ def main(args):
                       metavar='KEY=VALUE',
                       type=lambda x: x.split('=', 1),
                       help='Entry to store in JSON-encoded archive comment.')
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f.name, 'w') as out_zip:
       depfile_deps = None
       if options.input_files:
-        files = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.input_files)
+        files = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.input_files)
         build_utils.DoZip(
             files,
             out_zip,
@@ -54,11 +55,12 @@ def main(args):
             compress_fn=lambda _: options.compress)
 
       if options.input_zips:
-        files = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.input_zips)
+        files = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.input_zips)
         depfile_deps = files
         path_transform = None
         if options.input_zips_excluded_globs:
-          globs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.input_zips_excluded_globs)
+          globs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+              options.input_zips_excluded_globs)
           path_transform = (
               lambda p: None if build_utils.MatchesGlob(p, globs) else p)
         build_utils.MergeZips(
@@ -73,9 +75,9 @@ def main(args):
 
   # Depfile used only by dist_jar().
   if options.depfile:
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                             options.output,
-                             inputs=depfile_deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                                 options.output,
+                                 inputs=depfile_deps)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/build/android/gyp/zip.pydeps b/build/android/gyp/zip.pydeps
index 36affd1707fbc..0cf1792a41b47 100644
--- a/build/android/gyp/zip.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/gyp/zip.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/gyp --output build/android/gyp/zip.pydeps build/android/gyp/zip.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 util/__init__.py
 util/build_utils.py
diff --git a/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.py b/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.py
index 38da3dc0bb332..ffa26c20b9247 100755
--- a/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.py
+++ b/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.path.pardir, 'gyp'))
 from util import build_utils
 from util import manifest_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _INCREMENTAL_APP_NAME = 'org.chromium.incrementalinstall.BootstrapApplication'
 _META_DATA_APP_NAME = 'incremental-install-real-app'
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ def main(raw_args):
 
   new_manifest_data = _ProcessManifest(options.src_manifest,
                                        options.disable_isolated_processes)
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.dst_manifest) as out_manifest:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.dst_manifest) as out_manifest:
     out_manifest.write(new_manifest_data)
 
 
diff --git a/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.pydeps b/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.pydeps
index e542e23454f2b..68c832bccb723 100644
--- a/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/incremental_install --output build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.pydeps build/android/incremental_install/generate_android_manifest.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../gyp/util/build_utils.py
diff --git a/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.py b/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.py
index 0723801951c5d..4825a80e1afca 100755
--- a/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.py
+++ b/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir, 'gyp'))
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 
 def _ParseArgs(args):
@@ -44,8 +45,8 @@ def _ParseArgs(args):
                       help='Print a warning about proguard being disabled')
 
   options = parser.parse_args(args)
-  options.dex_files = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.dex_files)
-  options.native_libs = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.native_libs)
+  options.dex_files = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.dex_files)
+  options.native_libs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.native_libs)
   return options
 
 
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ def main(args):
       'split_globs': options.split_globs,
   }
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output_path, mode='w+') as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output_path, mode='w+') as f:
     json.dump(data, f, indent=2, sort_keys=True)
 
 
diff --git a/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.pydeps b/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.pydeps
index 11a263f4a82d4..519281fe6fc2d 100644
--- a/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build/android/incremental_install --output build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.pydeps build/android/incremental_install/write_installer_json.py
+../../action_helpers.py
 ../../gn_helpers.py
 ../gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../gyp/util/build_utils.py
diff --git a/build/android/test_runner.pydeps b/build/android/test_runner.pydeps
index c2c535fdf13ca..05971d7a37d41 100644
--- a/build/android/test_runner.pydeps
+++ b/build/android/test_runner.pydeps
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@
 ../../third_party/markupsafe/__init__.py
 ../../third_party/markupsafe/_compat.py
 ../../third_party/markupsafe/_native.py
+../action_helpers.py
 ../gn_helpers.py
 ../print_python_deps.py
 ../skia_gold_common/__init__.py
diff --git a/build/protoc_java.py b/build/protoc_java.py
index 28c42006038a8..dcb1dbe916d3b 100755
--- a/build/protoc_java.py
+++ b/build/protoc_java.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
+import action_helpers
+
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'android', 'gyp'))
 from util import build_utils
 
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ def _EnforceJavaPackage(proto_srcs):
 
 def main(argv):
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--protoc', required=True, help='Path to protoc binary.')
   parser.add_argument('--plugin', help='Path to plugin executable')
   parser.add_argument('--proto-path',
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ def main(argv):
   if options.depfile:
     assert options.srcjar
     deps = options.protos + [options.protoc]
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.srcjar, deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.srcjar, deps)
 
   if options.stamp:
     build_utils.Touch(options.stamp)
diff --git a/build/protoc_java.pydeps b/build/protoc_java.pydeps
index c3ed2be81addd..059abea46b29f 100644
--- a/build/protoc_java.pydeps
+++ b/build/protoc_java.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root build --output build/protoc_java.pydeps build/protoc_java.py
+action_helpers.py
 android/gyp/util/__init__.py
 android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
 gn_helpers.py
diff --git a/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.py b/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.py
index ba971522e477d..8b38c2e1d5826 100755
--- a/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.py
+++ b/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.py
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@
 import sys
 import os
 
-sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
-                             os.pardir, os.pardir, os.pardir,
-                             'build', 'android', 'gyp'))
-from util import build_utils
+sys.path.append(
+    os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', '..', '..', 'build'))
+import action_helpers
+
 
 # six is a dependency of javalang
 sys.path.insert(
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def main(args):
       'CLASS_NAME': clazz.name,
       'METHODS': '\n'.join(['    ' + m for m in formatted_public_methods])
   }
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output, mode='w') as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output, mode='w') as f:
     f.write(_FILE_TEMPLATE.format(**file_dict))
 
 
diff --git a/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.pydeps b/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.pydeps
index 1087bc1401070..58cc401ecd7f9 100644
--- a/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.pydeps
+++ b/chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.pydeps
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root chrome/android/features --output chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.pydeps chrome/android/features/create_stripped_java_factory.py
-../../../build/android/gyp/util/__init__.py
-../../../build/android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
+../../../build/action_helpers.py
 ../../../build/gn_helpers.py
 ../../../third_party/javalang/src/javalang/__init__.py
 ../../../third_party/javalang/src/javalang/ast.py
diff --git a/chrome/android/webapk/shell_apk/mustache_pass.py b/chrome/android/webapk/shell_apk/mustache_pass.py
index 91f64d49e0918..ec7ae0f311886 100755
--- a/chrome/android/webapk/shell_apk/mustache_pass.py
+++ b/chrome/android/webapk/shell_apk/mustache_pass.py
@@ -17,56 +17,55 @@
                        os.pardir, os.pardir)
 sys.path.insert(1, os.path.join(src_dir, 'third_party'))
 import chevron
-sys.path.insert(1, os.path.join(src_dir, 'build/android/gyp'))
-from util import build_utils  # pylint: disable=import-error
+sys.path.insert(1, os.path.join(src_dir, 'build'))
+import action_helpers # pylint: disable=import-error
 
 
-def _AppendParsedVariables(initial_variable_list, variables_arg, error_func):
-  variables = initial_variable_list
-  for v in build_utils.ParseGnList(variables_arg):
-    if '=' not in v:
-      error_func('--variables argument must contain "=": ' + v)
-    name, _, value = v.partition('=')
-    if value == "false":
-      value = False
-    variables[name] = value
-  return variables
+def _AppendParsedVariables(initial_variable_list, extra_variables, error_func):
+    variables = initial_variable_list
+    for v in extra_variables:
+        if '=' not in v:
+            error_func('--variables argument must contain "=": ' + v)
+        name, _, value = v.partition('=')
+        if value == "false":
+            value = False
+        variables[name] = value
+    return variables
 
 
 def main():
-  parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  parser.add_argument('--template', required=True,
-                      help='The template file to process.')
-  parser.add_argument('--output', required=True,
-                      help='The output file to generate.')
-  parser.add_argument('--config_file',
-                      help='JSON file with values to put into template.')
-  parser.add_argument('--delta_config_file', help='JSON file with '
-                      'substitutions to |config_file|.')
-  parser.add_argument('--extra_variables', help='Variables to be made '
-                      'available in the template processing environment (in '
-                      'addition to those specified in config file), as a GN '
-                      'list (e.g. --extra_variables "channel=beta mstone=39")',
-                      default='')
-  options = parser.parse_args()
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument('--template', required=True,
+                        help='The template file to process.')
+    parser.add_argument('--output', required=True,
+                        help='The output file to generate.')
+    parser.add_argument('--config_file',
+                        help='JSON file with values to put into template.')
+    parser.add_argument('--delta_config_file', help='JSON file with '
+                        'substitutions to |config_file|.')
+    parser.add_argument('--extra_variables', help='Variables to be made '
+                        'available in the template processing environment (in '
+                        'addition to those in config file), as a GN list.')
+    options = parser.parse_args()
+    options.extra_variables = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+        options.extra_variables)
 
-  config = {}
-  if options.config_file:
-    with open(options.config_file, 'r') as f:
-      config = json.loads(f.read())
-  if options.delta_config_file:
-    with open(options.delta_config_file, 'r') as f:
-      config.update(json.loads(f.read()))
+    config = {}
+    if options.config_file:
+        with open(options.config_file, 'r') as f:
+            config = json.loads(f.read())
+    if options.delta_config_file:
+        with open(options.delta_config_file, 'r') as f:
+            config.update(json.loads(f.read()))
 
-  variables = config
-  variables = _AppendParsedVariables(variables, options.extra_variables,
-                                     parser.error)
+    variables = _AppendParsedVariables(config, options.extra_variables,
+                                       parser.error)
 
-  with open(options.template, 'r') as f:
-    rendered = chevron.render(f, variables)
-  with open(options.output, 'w') as output_file:
-    output_file.write(rendered)
+    with open(options.template) as f:
+        rendered = chevron.render(f, variables)
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output, 'w') as output_file:
+        output_file.write(rendered)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  main()
+    main()
diff --git a/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.py b/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.py
index 556067c838bf4..3cf426355cc06 100755
--- a/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.py
+++ b/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(REPOSITORY_ROOT, 'net/tools/net_docs'))
 # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 import net_docs
 from markdown.postprocessors import Postprocessor
 from markdown.extensions import Extension
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ def stderr_filter(stderr):
 
 def main(argv):
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument('--output-dir', help='Directory to put javadoc')
   parser.add_argument('--input-dir', help='Root of cronet source')
   parser.add_argument('--input-src-jar', help='Cronet api source jar')
@@ -133,11 +134,8 @@ def main(argv):
   expanded_argv = build_utils.ExpandFileArgs(argv)
   args, _ = parser.parse_known_args(expanded_argv)
 
-  classpath_jars = []
-  for single_list in args.classpath_jars:
-    classpath_jars.extend(build_utils.ParseGnList(single_list))
+  args.classpath_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(args.classpath_jars)
 
-  args.classpath_jars = classpath_jars
   args.support_annotations_jars = list(
       itertools.chain(*args.support_annotations_jars))
   # A temporary directory to put the output of cronet api source jar files.
@@ -173,7 +171,7 @@ def main(argv):
       deps.extend(args.support_annotations_jars)
     if args.classpath_jars:
       deps.extend(args.classpath_jars)
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(args.depfile, args.zip_file, deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(args.depfile, args.zip_file, deps)
   # Clean up temporary output directory.
   build_utils.DeleteDirectory(unzipped_jar_path)
 
diff --git a/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.pydeps b/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.pydeps
index 0de5776e54445..6c33f58351320 100644
--- a/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.pydeps
+++ b/components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root components/cronet/tools --output components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.pydeps components/cronet/tools/generate_javadoc.py
+../../../build/action_helpers.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
 ../../../build/gn_helpers.py
diff --git a/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.py b/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.py
index 04ae52e0606d6..698e43ff3f732 100755
--- a/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.py
+++ b/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.py
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@
 
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(REPOSITORY_ROOT, 'build/android/gyp'))
 from util import build_utils  # pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 JAVA_PACKAGE_PREFIX = 'org/chromium/'
 
 
 def main():
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-  build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+  action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
   parser.add_argument(
       '--excluded-classes',
       help='A list of .class file patterns to exclude from the jar.')
@@ -44,25 +45,18 @@ def main():
 
   options = parser.parse_args()
 
-  src_jars = []
-  for gn_list in options.src_jars:
-    src_jars.extend(build_utils.ParseGnList(gn_list))
+  options.src_jars = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.src_jars)
+  options.src_search_dirs = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.src_search_dirs)
+  options.src_list_files = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.src_list_files)
+  options.src_files = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.src_files)
+  options.excluded_classes = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(
+      options.excluded_classes)
 
-  src_search_dirs = []
-  for gn_src_search_dirs in options.src_search_dirs:
-    src_search_dirs.extend(build_utils.ParseGnList(gn_src_search_dirs))
-
-  src_list_files = []
-  if options.src_list_files:
-    for gn_src_list_file in options.src_list_files:
-      src_list_files.extend(build_utils.ParseGnList(gn_src_list_file))
-
-  src_files = []
-  for gn_src_files in options.src_files:
-    src_files.extend(build_utils.ParseGnList(gn_src_files))
+  src_files = options.src_files
 
   # Add files from --source_list_files
-  for src_list_file in src_list_files:
+  for src_list_file in options.src_list_files:
     with open(src_list_file, 'r') as f:
       src_files.extend(f.read().splitlines())
 
@@ -73,10 +67,9 @@ def main():
     if prefix_position != -1:
       src_files[i] = s[prefix_position:]
 
-  excluded_classes = []
-  if options.excluded_classes:
-    classes = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.excluded_classes)
-    excluded_classes.extend(f.replace('.class', '.java') for f in classes)
+  excluded_classes = [
+      f.replace('.class', '.java') for f in options.excluded_classes
+  ]
 
   predicate = None
   if excluded_classes:
@@ -86,29 +79,28 @@ def main():
   # to source files that it contains.
   dir_to_files_map = {}
   # Initialize the map.
-  for src_search_dir in src_search_dirs:
+  for src_search_dir in options.src_search_dirs:
     dir_to_files_map[src_search_dir] = []
   # Fill the map.
   for src_file in src_files:
     number_of_file_instances = 0
-    for src_search_dir in src_search_dirs:
+    for src_search_dir in options.src_search_dirs:
       target_path = os.path.join(src_search_dir, src_file)
       if os.path.isfile(target_path):
         number_of_file_instances += 1
         if not predicate or predicate(src_file):
           dir_to_files_map[src_search_dir].append(target_path)
     if (number_of_file_instances > 1):
-      raise Exception(
-          'There is more than one instance of file %s in %s'
-          % (src_file, src_search_dirs))
+      raise Exception('There is more than one instance of file %s in %s' %
+                      (src_file, options.src_search_dirs))
     if (number_of_file_instances < 1):
-      raise Exception(
-          'Unable to find file %s in %s' % (src_file, src_search_dirs))
+      raise Exception('Unable to find file %s in %s' %
+                      (src_file, options.src_search_dirs))
 
   # Jar the sources from every source search directory.
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.jar_path) as o, \
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.jar_path) as o, \
       zipfile.ZipFile(o, 'w', zipfile.ZIP_DEFLATED) as z:
-    for src_search_dir in src_search_dirs:
+    for src_search_dir in options.src_search_dirs:
       subpaths = dir_to_files_map[src_search_dir]
       if subpaths:
         build_utils.DoZip(subpaths, z, base_dir=src_search_dir)
@@ -118,15 +110,16 @@ def main():
             ' removed from the list of directories to search' % src_search_dir)
 
     # Jar additional src jars
-    if src_jars:
-      build_utils.MergeZips(z, src_jars, compress=True)
+    if options.src_jars:
+      build_utils.MergeZips(z, options.src_jars, compress=True)
 
   if options.depfile:
     deps = []
     for sources in dir_to_files_map.values():
       deps.extend(sources)
     # Srcjar deps already captured in GN rules (no need to list them here).
-    build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile, options.jar_path, deps)
+    action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile, options.jar_path, deps)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.pydeps b/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.pydeps
index cab77c0304fc9..8fea0eabf5844 100644
--- a/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.pydeps
+++ b/components/cronet/tools/jar_src.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root components/cronet/tools --output components/cronet/tools/jar_src.pydeps components/cronet/tools/jar_src.py
+../../../build/action_helpers.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
 ../../../build/gn_helpers.py
diff --git a/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.py b/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.py
index bd49d82184a1a..b531b84c04221 100755
--- a/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.py
+++ b/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     os.path.join(
         os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "..", "..", "build", "android", "gyp"))
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers  # build_utils adds //build to sys.path.
 
 _TEMPLATE = """\
 // This file is autogenerated by
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@
 
 def main():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-    build_utils.AddDepfileOption(parser)
+    action_helpers.add_depfile_arg(parser)
     parser.add_argument('--module', required=True, help='The module name.')
     parser.add_argument('--libraries-file',
                         required=True,
@@ -61,10 +62,10 @@ def main():
         default=False,
         help='Load module automatically on calling Module.getImpl().')
     options = parser.parse_args()
-    options.paks = build_utils.ParseGnList(options.paks)
+    options.paks = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(options.paks)
 
     with open(options.libraries_file) as f:
-        libraries_list = build_utils.ParseGnList(f.read())
+        libraries_list = action_helpers.parse_gn_list(f.read())
 
     libraries = []
     for path in libraries_list:
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ def main():
         'LOAD_NATIVE_ON_GET_IMPL': (
             'true' if options.load_native_on_get_impl else 'false'),
     }
-    with build_utils.AtomicOutput(options.output) as f:
+    with action_helpers.atomic_output(options.output) as f:
         with zipfile.ZipFile(f.name, 'w') as srcjar_file:
             build_utils.AddToZipHermetic(
                 srcjar_file,
@@ -92,9 +93,9 @@ def main():
                 data=_TEMPLATE.format(**format_dict))
 
     if options.depfile:
-        build_utils.WriteDepfile(options.depfile,
-                                 options.output,
-                                 inputs=[options.libraries_file])
+        action_helpers.write_depfile(options.depfile,
+                                     options.output,
+                                     inputs=[options.libraries_file])
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.pydeps b/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.pydeps
index 3afda05d630ec..a918d25fb613d 100644
--- a/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.pydeps
+++ b/components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root components/module_installer/android --output components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.pydeps components/module_installer/android/module_desc_java.py
+../../../build/action_helpers.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
 ../../../build/gn_helpers.py
diff --git a/components/policy/tools/make_policy_zip.py b/components/policy/tools/make_policy_zip.py
index c4f59f202310f..7446c162e2a5d 100755
--- a/components/policy/tools/make_policy_zip.py
+++ b/components/policy/tools/make_policy_zip.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
                              os.pardir, os.pardir, os.pardir,
                              'build', 'android', 'gyp'))
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers
 
 
 def main():
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ def main():
     else:
       file_list.append(file_to_add)
 
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(args.output) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(args.output) as f:
     build_utils.DoZip(file_list, f, args.base_dir, timestamp=args.timestamp)
 
 
diff --git a/content/public/android/generate_child_service.py b/content/public/android/generate_child_service.py
index be46f2be8bc1d..cf42c8132a291 100755
--- a/content/public/android/generate_child_service.py
+++ b/content/public/android/generate_child_service.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(SRC_DIR, 'build', 'android', 'gyp'))
 
 from util import build_utils
+import action_helpers
+
 
 def GenerateService(i):
   template = """// THIS FILE IS GENERATED BY generate_child_service.py
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ def DoMain(argv):
   number = int(number)
 
   path_template = "org/chromium/content/app/SandboxedProcessService{0}.java"
-  with build_utils.AtomicOutput(output) as f:
+  with action_helpers.atomic_output(output) as f:
     with zipfile.ZipFile(f, 'w', zipfile.ZIP_STORED) as srcjar:
       for i in range(number):
         build_utils.AddToZipHermetic(srcjar,
diff --git a/content/public/android/generate_child_service.pydeps b/content/public/android/generate_child_service.pydeps
index 0d6c910a65081..417f26c64f675 100644
--- a/content/public/android/generate_child_service.pydeps
+++ b/content/public/android/generate_child_service.pydeps
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Generated by running:
 #   build/print_python_deps.py --root content/public/android --output content/public/android/generate_child_service.pydeps content/public/android/generate_child_service.py
+../../../build/action_helpers.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/__init__.py
 ../../../build/android/gyp/util/build_utils.py
 ../../../build/gn_helpers.py