Jake combines Make's file dependency tracking with Just's clean syntax, plus unique capabilities you won't find anywhere else.
| Feature | Make | Just | Jake |
|---|---|---|---|
| File-based dependencies | Yes | No | Yes |
| Clean, readable syntax | No | Yes | Yes |
| Parallel execution | Yes | No | Yes |
| Glob patterns | No | No | Yes |
| Import system | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Pre/post hooks | No | No | Yes |
| Watch mode | No | No | Yes |
| .env loading | No | Yes | Yes |
| Web UI | No | No | Yes |
Deep dive into what makes Jake different
Skip unnecessary rebuilds
Track file modifications and only rebuild when sources change. Chain builds together for multi-stage pipelines that skip work automatically.
Build faster with -j
Run independent tasks simultaneously. Jake analyzes your dependency graph and parallelizes safely—no race conditions.
Setup and cleanup, automated
Pre/post hooks run before and after tasks. Post-hooks always run—even on failure—perfect for cleanup.
Organize at scale
Split your Jakefile across multiple files with namespaced imports. Essential for monorepos and team collaboration.
Iterate faster
Automatically re-run tasks when files change. Built-in file watching with conditional behavior during development.
Browser-based control
Run tasks from a dark-themed browser interface with real-time streaming output, recipe discovery, and keyboard navigation.
Get started in seconds with a single command.
$ curl -fsSL jakefile.dev/install.sh | sh