just

just is a command runner that stores project-specific commands in a justfile using syntax inspired by make. Unlike make, just focuses purely on command execution rather than build management, avoiding many of make's complexities and idiosyncrasies. Commands are defined as recipes that can accept command line arguments and be executed with just RECIPE.

The tool supports cross-platform execution on Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Unix systems with minimal dependencies - only requiring a shell like sh. Recipes can be written in arbitrary languages including Python or Node.js using shebang syntax. just automatically loads .env files for environment variable population and provides static error checking for unknown recipes and circular dependencies before execution.

Key capabilities include recipe listing from the command line, shell completion scripts for popular shells, and the ability to invoke just from any subdirectory within a project. The tool supports custom shell configuration, allowing users to specify PowerShell, cmd.exe, or other shells instead of the default sh. This makes just particularly suitable for developers who need a simple, reliable way to manage and execute project-specific workflows across different platforms.

Installation

# via Homebrew
brew install just

# via Cargo
cargo install just

# via apt
apt install just