Getting Started

Install

# macOS / Linux
curl -sSfL https://bab.sh/install.sh | sh

# Windows (PowerShell)
iwr -useb https://bab.sh/install.ps1 | iex

See installation guide for other methods.

Create Babfile

Create a Babfile.yml in your project root:

env:
  NODE_ENV: production

tasks:
  setup:
    desc: Install dependencies
    run:
      - cmd: npm install

  dev:
    desc: Start development server
    deps: [setup]
    env:
      PORT: "3000"
    run:
      - cmd: npm run dev

  test:
    desc: Run tests
    deps: [setup]
    run:
      - cmd: npm test

  build:
    desc: Build for production
    deps: [setup, test]
    run:
      - cmd: npm run build

Environment variables can be set at global, task, or command level. See Babfile Syntax for details.

Usage

# Browse tasks interactively
bab

# List tasks
bab --list

# Run a task
bab dev

# Preview without executing
bab build --dry-run

# Verbose output
bab build --verbose

Interactive Mode

Running bab with no arguments launches an interactive fuzzy finder that lets you browse and select tasks. This is especially useful when you have many tasks or can't remember the exact task name. Type to search, use arrow keys to navigate, and press Enter to execute the selected task.

Task Dependencies

Dependencies run automatically before the main task:

bab build
# Runs: setup → test → build

Namespaced Tasks

Use colon notation for logical groupings:

tasks:
  dev:start:
    desc: Start server
    run:
      - cmd: npm run dev

  dev:watch:
    desc: Watch files
    run:
      - cmd: npm run watch

Run with bab dev:start.

Next Steps

• Babfile Syntax - Learn the YAML format
• CLI Reference - See all commands