Werk, a simple build tool and command runner
I made this for my personal workflow, but I'd love to get feedback from the community.
Werk, a simple build tool and command runner launched on January 12, 2025 with 93 votes, #395 of 6,142 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.
In plain words
Werk is a build tool and command runner designed for streamlining development workflows. It was created to address the maker's personal needs but is now open to community feedback. The tool provides a simple approach to automating build processes and running commands, making it suitable for developers looking for a straightforward alternative to more complex build systems.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Table of contents Introducing Werk 💅 Just immediately, Why?! Why not Make? Why not just? Why not $toolname? Overview Example building C program Example building a Rust project with Cargo Remarks In defense of getting sidetracked Rust werk is a simplistic build system, similar to make , and a command runner, similar to just . It tries to be very easy to use, and religiously portable. This is a general overview. For a more detailed explanation of syntax and behavior, please consult the project's README . The motivation for werk is that make is annoying. Make is a very sophisticated tool that solves a bunch of problems I don't have, and doesn't solve many problems that I do have. werk parses…from simonask.github.io
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