just
Command runner that saves and executes project-specific commands from justfiles with make-like syntax
just is a command runner that stores project-specific commands, called recipes, in a file named justfile. Unlike traditional build systems, just focuses solely on command execution without build dependency management or .PHONY declarations. Recipes use make-inspired syntax but avoid many of make's complexities and edge cases.
The tool supports cross-platform execution on Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Unix systems with configurable shell backends. Users can set custom shells like PowerShell or cmd.exe on Windows, while Unix systems default to sh. Recipes can accept command-line parameters, be written in arbitrary languages using shebang syntax, and automatically load .env files to populate environment variables.
just provides static error checking that catches unknown recipes and circular dependencies before execution. It can be invoked from any subdirectory within a project and includes features like recipe listing, shell completion scripts for popular shells, and detailed error reporting with source context. The tool serves developers who need to standardize and share project workflows, replacing ad-hoc shell scripts with a structured, discoverable command interface.
Installation
# via Homebrew
brew install just
# via Cargo
cargo install just
# via apt
apt install just
