In the last decades affine algebraic varieties and Stein manifolds with big
(infinite-dimensional) automorphism groups have been intensively studied.
Several notions expressing that the automorphisms group is big have been
proposed. All of them imply that the manifold in question is an
Oka-Forstneri\v{c} manifold. This important notion has also recently merged
from the intensive studies around the homotopy principle in Complex Analysis.
This homotopy principle, which goes back to the 1930's, has had an enormous
impact on the development of the area of Several Complex Variables and the
number of its applications is constantly growing. In this overview article we
present 3 classes of properties: 1. density property, 2. flexibility 3.
Oka-Forstneri\v{c}. For each class we give the relevant definitions, its most
significant features and explain the known implications between all these
properties. Many difficult mathematical problems could be solved by applying
the developed theory, we indicate some of the most spectacular ones.Comment: thanks added, minor correction
