diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5f070af..2328c3f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,4 +4,8 @@
 
 # elm buildfiles
 frontend/elm-stuff/
-frontend/www/elm.js
\ No newline at end of file
+frontend/www/elm.js
+
+# backend logs and data
+backend/*.log
+backend/repo/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29310cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+
+ELM := $(shell command -v elm 2>/dev/null)
+GUILE := $(shell command -v guile 2>/dev/null)
+ART := $(shell command -v art)
+ifndef ELM
+ELM = $(error "elm installation not found in PATH")
+endif
+ifndef GUILE
+GUILE = $(error "guile installation not found in PATH")
+endif
+ifndef ART
+ART = $(error "artanis installation not found in PATH")
+endif
+
+ELM_TARGET = frontend/www/elm.js