A developer frustrated with Make's arcane syntax and npm scripts' cross-platform fragility built a new task runner called run. The tool uses a simple function-based Runfile to replace cryptic variable substitution, offering built-in MCP (Model Context Protocol) support for AI agents like Claude.

This addresses the daily pain of team members asking for help with Makefiles. The author wanted a unified tool that supports Python for logic, Node for async operations, and seamless cross-platform execution without conditional hell. The single Rust binary promises instant startup and zero dependencies.

The key innovation is the integrated MCP server, allowing AI agents to discover and execute tasks directly with proper metadata. This eliminates guesswork and verbose explanations. run is now available via Homebrew or Cargo, with code on GitHub. It solves the author's workflow problems, but its broader utility remains to be seen.