If software project consists of hundreds of modules and takes hours just to compile then, of course, project would would benefit of using automated build server but is it really needed when project is small and complies in a few seconds? Surprisingly, the answer is YES. Initially I was almost sure in opposite, but once we tried it I’ve changed my mind. I thought main benefit of build server is that it tells you when you broke something, but it turns out that main benefit is that it tells you when others broke something. Suppose you want to commit some code and have to update project from SVC. Logic is very simple: If there is no build server then update is a risk, you can get spoilt version from repository which would paralyze your work for at least 10 minutes. And if there is build server you can just wait with commit until build errors are fixed.
PS: If truth be told build server has not saved me a minute yet because my colleagues are very accurate committers but it saved their time because I am not :)
Take a look a Hg as well. It is simply ideal in such cases.
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