The best task runners, according to hackers
4 task runners were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 1 earns the Hacker Approved badge.
Top pick
The most recommended task runner with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Keeps project commands in one place
Free command runner with make-like syntax, easier to read than Makefiles. Critics say it adds little over make.
All 4 task runners, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | just command runner | 32 | 4 | 89% | 10 | — | Approved |
| Tied 2 | Task | 7 | 1 | 88% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 2 | comma by nix-community | 7 | 4 | 64% | 4 | — | — |
| 4 | Make.ts | 5 | 3 | 63% | 1 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same task runner in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to task runners that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.