diff --git a/README b/README
index 7beba58..e8be45d 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ OR Install only certain tools
 	 ∟ libesv - backend for esv
 	gpc - Glacier Package Checker
 	ecrypt - Everest Encryption Tools
-	
+	emk - Simple shell script based build system	
diff --git a/install/emkfile b/install/emkfile
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a1e5a05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install/emkfile
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# emk - everest make - clear and concise build system
+# for Everest Linux - build script template
+
+# Output should follow this general format:
+# emk INFO | output here
+# emk WARN | output here
+# emk ERR  | output here
+
+# Colored output should be impletemted where possible.
+# In /etc/emk.conf, colors are defined by variable, ex:
+# ${red} 	for errors
+# ${yellow}	for warnings
+# ${blue}	for general info
+# ${reset}	for removing colors
+
+# Define working directory and source directory
+# WORKING_DIR should not be changed.
+# SRC_DIR should be changed to a directory which contains all
+# source files and subdirectories
+WORKING_DIR=$(pwd)
+SRC_DIR=$(pwd)/../src # from working dir, go back and go into src
+
+# Parse a local file containing settings for the installation
+printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | parsing install.conf\n"
+	. ${WORKING_DIR}/install.conf
+		if [ "$?" != 0 ]; then
+			printf "emk ${red}ERR${reset}  | install.conf not found\n"
+			exit 1
+		fi
+
+# Define functions for different tasks
+
+### NECESSARY FUNCTIONS ################################################################
+
+### default function ###
+# $ emk make
+# If package needs to be compiled from source code,
+# put needed commands here, else leave output as is
+compile_pkg() {
+	printf "emk ${yellow}WARN${reset} | no jobs to be done for task ''\n"
+	exit 0
+}
+
+### install function ###
+# $ emk install
+# This should be used to install binaries just compiled by emk,
+# or prebuilt binaries
+install_pkg() {
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | starting task 'install esv'\n"
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | installing binary 'esv'\n"
+	mv -v $SRC_DIR/esv/esv $PREFIX/bin
+		if [ "$?" != 0 ]; then
+			printf "emk ${yellow}WARN${reset} | using fallback prefix\n"
+			mv -v $SRC_DIR/esv/esv $PREFIX
+		fi
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | installing configuration file 'esv.conf'\n"
+	mv -v $SRC_DIR/esv/esv.conf $CONFDIR
+		if [ "$?" != 0 ]; then
+			printf "emk ${red}ERR${reset}  | $CONFDIR does not exist\n"
+			exit 1
+		fi
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | finished task 'install esv'\n"
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | starting task 'install gpc'\n"
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | installing binary 'gpc'\n"
+	mv -v $SRC_DIR/gpc/gpc $PREFIX/bin
+		if [ "$?" != 0 ]; then
+			printf "emk ${yellow}WARN${reset} | using fallback prefix\n"
+			mv -v $SRC_DIR/gpc/gpc $PREFIX
+		fi
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | installing configuration file 'gpc.conf'\n"
+	mv -v $SRC_DIR/gpc/gpc.conf $CONFDIR
+		if [ "$?" != 0 ]; then
+			printf "emk ${red}ERR${reset}  | $CONFDIR does not exist\n"
+			exit 1
+		fi
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | finished task 'install gpc'\n"
+	printf "emk ${yellow}WARN${reset} | skipping task 'install emk'\n"
+	printf "emk ${yellow}WARN${reset} | skipping task 'install ecrypt\n"
+	printf "emk ${blue}INFO${reset} | all tasks finished\n"
+	exit 0
+}
+
+### OPTIONAL FUNCTIONS #################################################################
+
+### clean function ###
+# $ emk clean
+# Clean all files generated by other commands
+clean_pkg() {
+	printf "emk ${yellow}WARN${reset} | no jobs to be done for task 'clean'\n"
+	exit 0
+}
+
+### distclean function ###
+# $ emk distclean
+# Clean all files not included in the source
+# There are multiple ways of doing this -- experiment
+# and see which works the best for you
+distclean_pkg() {
+	printf "emk ${yellow}WARN${reset} | no jobs to be done for task 'distclean'\n"
+	exit 0
+}
+
+### custom functions ###
+# Add any desired custom functions
+# customfunc_pkg() {}
+
+########################################################################################
+
+# Command line flags
+# These should not be modified unless adding support for custom funtions
+
+case $1 in
+	help) # Put a list of all available tasks here
+		#printf "make - compile program\n"
+		#printf "install - install program\n"
+		#printf "clean - clean all files generated by make\n"
+		#printf "distclean - clean all files not in the source tree\n"
+		#exit 0
+	;;
+	make)
+		compile_pkg "$@"
+		exit 0
+	;;
+	install)
+		install_pkg "$@"
+		exit 0
+	;;
+	clean)
+		clean_pkg "$@"
+		exit 0
+	;;
+	distclean)
+		distclean_pkg "$@"
+		exit 0
+	;;
+	*)
+		printf "emk ${red}ERR${reset}  | no such task exists\n"
+		exit 1
+	;;
+esac