just
A command runner, like make but simpler. Define and run project-specific commands.
just is a handy command runner that serves as a modern alternative to make for saving and running project-specific commands. Unlike traditional build systems, just focuses purely on command execution, avoiding much of make's complexity and idiosyncrasies. Commands, called recipes, are stored in a justfile with syntax inspired by make, making it familiar yet more intuitive to use.
The tool offers numerous improvements over make, including cross-platform support for Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Unix systems with no additional dependencies. It provides specific and informative error messages, supports command line arguments for recipes, loads .env files automatically, and can be invoked from any subdirectory. Recipes can be written in arbitrary languages like Python or NodeJS using shebang syntax, and the tool includes features like recipe listing, shell completion scripts, and static error resolution that catches issues before execution.
just is ideal for developers and teams who want a simple, reliable way to document and execute project commands without the complexity of traditional build systems. Whether you're automating testing workflows, deployment scripts, or development tasks, just provides a clean and efficient solution that works consistently across different platforms and environments.
Installation
# via Homebrew
brew install just
# via APT (Debian/Ubuntu)
apt install just
# via Cargo
cargo install just
