As noted in the documentation, Gradle uses a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to build a dependency graph. From my understanding, having separate cycles for evaluation and execution is a major feature for a build tool. e.g. The Gradle doc states that this enables some features that would otherwise be impossible.

I'm interested in real-world examples that illustrate the power of this feature. What are some use-cases for which a dependency graph is important? I'm especially interested in personal stories from the field, whether with Gradle or a similarly equipped tool.

I am making this 'community wiki' from the outset, as it will be difficult to assess a 'correct' answer.