A justfile is a recipe file read by the just CLI that defines tasks like test, build, and lint.

What if there is no justfile?

You cannot run project recipes until a justfile exists; create one or point to another file with --justfile.

How do I run a recipe from a subdirectory?

Specify the path to the other justfile, e.g. just --justfile backend/justfile test, to run a recipe in a subfolder.

task-runner

Scanned

npx machina-cli add skill aiskillstore/marketplace/task-runner --openclaw

Files (1)

SKILL.md

1.8 KB

Task Runner

Purpose

Execute project-specific commands using just, a modern command runner that's simpler than make and works cross-platform.

Tools

Tool	Command	Use For
just	`just`	List available recipes
just	`just test`	Run specific recipe

Usage Examples

Basic Usage

# List all available recipes
just

# Run a recipe
just test
just build
just lint

# Run recipe with arguments
just deploy production

# Run specific recipe from subdirectory
just --justfile backend/justfile test

Common justfile Recipes

# Example justfile

# Run tests
test:
    pytest tests/

# Build project
build:
    npm run build

# Lint code
lint:
    ruff check .
    eslint src/

# Start development server
dev:
    npm run dev

# Clean build artifacts
clean:
    rm -rf dist/ build/ *.egg-info/

# Deploy to environment
deploy env:
    ./scripts/deploy.sh {{env}}

Discovery

# Check if justfile exists
just --summary

# Show recipe details
just --show test

# List recipes with descriptions
just --list

When to Use

First check: just to see available project commands
Running tests: just test
Building: just build
Any project-specific task
Cross-platform command running

Best Practice

Always check for a justfile when entering a new project:

just --list

This shows what commands are available without reading documentation.

Source

git clone https://github.com/aiskillstore/marketplace/blob/main/skills/0xdarkmatter/task-runner/SKILL.mdView on GitHub

Overview

Task Runner uses the just CLI to execute project-specific commands. It can list available recipes, run common tasks like test, build, and lint, and execute project scripts. It relies on a justfile at the project root to drive actions.

How This Skill Works

The tool detects a justfile at the repository root and uses just to run defined recipes. You can list recipes with just --list, inspect details with just --show, or execute a recipe like just test or just build. You can also target a specific justfile in a subdirectory, for example just --justfile backend/justfile test.

When to Use It

To see available recipes in the repo using just --list.
To run tests quickly with just test.
To build the project with just build.
To lint the codebase with just lint.
To run a deployment or environment-specific task, e.g. just deploy production or just --justfile backend/justfile test.

Quick Start

Step 1: Install just: brew install just (macOS) or cargo install just (cross-platform).
Step 2: From the project root, list available recipes with just or just --list.
Step 3: Run a recipe, for example just test or just build.

Best Practices

Always verify a justfile exists by listing recipes (just --list).
Prefer using standard tasks (test, build, lint) before custom scripts.
Use explicit justfile paths when working with multiple configurations (e.g., just --justfile backend/justfile test).
Document new recipes within the justfile to improve discoverability.
Run commands from the project root to ensure correct path resolution.

Example Use Cases

List available recipes in the repo: just --list.
Run the test suite: just test.
Build the project for distribution: just build.
Lint the codebase: just lint.
Deploy to production: just deploy production.

Frequently Asked Questions

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