just — Claude Code skill: command runner reference
Reference skill for just, a command runner that executes tasks from a justfile. Use when your project has a justfile or you need syntax help for recipes and commands.
npx skills add casey/just --skill just -a claude-codeWhat just does
just is a command runner that organizes repetitive tasks in a justfile. Instead of memorizing flags and commands, you describe tasks as recipes and run them with a single command. The skill gives agents access to just syntax: how to write variables, recipes with parameters, shell scripts inside recipes, and how to document recipes with comments.
The reference covers discovery commands: just --list shows recipes with descriptions, just --show prints a recipe's source, just --dump outputs the entire justfile. To run tasks: just runs the default recipe, just <RECIPE> runs a specific recipe, just <RECIPE> <ARG> passes arguments. Each line in a recipe runs in a fresh shell; recipes starting with #! are written to a file and executed as a script.
What it helps with
- recall just recipe syntax and variables
- look up a recipe's description in justfile
- run a recipe with arguments
- understand shell scripts inside recipes
- discover all available commands for justfile discovery
Example prompts for the agent
- I need to run the test recipe with the integration argument
- Show me how variables and parameters work in just syntax
- How do I structure a justfile with multiple recipes and dependencies
How to install just
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add casey/just --skill just -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/just/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/just/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add casey/just --skill just -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/just/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add casey/just --skill just -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/just/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install casey/just just2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/just/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add casey/just --skill just -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/casey/just --path skills/justManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/just/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add casey/just --skill just -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Similar
Questions about just
How do I install the just skill in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add casey/just --skill just -a claude-code. The skill will be installed to ~/.claude/skills/just/SKILL.md.
What does the just skill do?
The skill provides a reference for just, a command runner for projects with a justfile. Agents can help with recipe syntax, variables, parameters, and commands to run and inspect your justfile.
How do I run a recipe from justfile?
Use just <RECIPE> to run a specific recipe or just to run the default recipe. Pass arguments with just <RECIPE> <ARG1> <ARG2>.
Source text
SKILL.md · CC0-1.0
---
name: just
description: >
Reference for `just`, the command runner. Use when working in a project with
a `justfile` or when the user mentions `just` or `justfile`.
---
Just
====
Discovery
---------
- `just --dump` Print justfile
- `just --evaluate` Print variable values
- `just --help` Print detailed command-line syntax help
- `just --list` Print recipes with descriptions
- `just --show <RECIPE>` Print recipe source
- `just --summary` Print recipes without descriptiosn
Execution
---------
- `just` Run default recipe
- `just <RECIPE>` Run specific recipe
- `just <RECIPE> <ARG1> <ARG2` Run recipe with arguments
Syntax
------
```just
executable := 'main'
# compile main.c
compile:
cc main.c -o {{ executable }}
# run main
run: compile
./{{ executable }}
# run test
test name: compile
./bin/test {{ name }}
# start webserver
serve port='8080':
python -m http.server {{port}}
# publish current tag
publish:
#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euxo pipefail
tag=`git describe --tags --exact-match`
./bin/check-tag $tag
git push origin $tag
```
Notes
-----
The comment proceeding a recipe is used as its doc-comment, and included in
`just --list`.
By default, each line of a recipe runs in a fresh shell. Recipes whose bodies
start with `#!` are written to a file and executed as a script.
Commonly used commands and scripts should be turned into `just` recipes.
© casey · CC0-1.0 · casey/just