diff --git a/common/src/main/java/org/implab/gradle/common/exec/Executor.java b/common/src/main/java/org/implab/gradle/common/exec/Executor.java
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/main/java/org/implab/gradle/common/exec/Executor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package org.implab.gradle.common.exec;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+/** Interface for a command line execution. */
+public interface Executor {
+    void argument(String arg);
+
+    void directory(File directory);
+
+    void stdin(RedirectFrom from);
+
+    void stdout(RedirectTo out);
+
+    void stderr(RedirectTo err);
+    
+    CompletableFuture<Integer> start() throws IOException;
+
+    public static Executor system() {
+        return new SystemExec();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/src/main/java/org/implab/gradle/common/exec/SystemExec.java b/common/src/main/java/org/implab/gradle/common/exec/SystemExec.java
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/main/java/org/implab/gradle/common/exec/SystemExec.java
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package org.implab.gradle.common.exec;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.lang.ProcessBuilder.Redirect;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+
+class SystemExec implements Executor {
+
+    private final ProcessBuilder builder = new ProcessBuilder();
+
+    private RedirectFrom inputRedirect;
+
+    private RedirectTo outputRedirect;
+
+    private RedirectTo errorRedirect;
+
+    @Override
+    public CompletableFuture<Integer> start() throws IOException {
+        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
+        var tasks = new ArrayList<CompletableFuture<?>>();
+
+        // discard stdout if not redirected
+        if (outputRedirect == null)
+            builder.redirectOutput(Redirect.DISCARD);
+
+        // discard stderr if not redirected
+        if (errorRedirect == null)
+            builder.redirectError(Redirect.DISCARD);
+
+        // run process
+        var proc = builder.start();
+
+        tasks.add(proc.onExit());
+
+        if (inputRedirect != null)
+            tasks.add(inputRedirect.redirect(proc.getOutputStream()));
+
+        if (outputRedirect != null)
+            tasks.add(outputRedirect.redirect(proc.getInputStream()));
+
+        if (errorRedirect != null)
+            tasks.add(errorRedirect.redirect(proc.getErrorStream()));
+
+        return CompletableFuture
+                .allOf(tasks.toArray(new CompletableFuture<?>[0]))
+                .thenApply(t -> proc.exitValue());
+    }
+
+    public void command(String... args) {
+        builder.command(args);
+    }
+
+    public void directory(File workingDir) {
+        builder.directory(workingDir);
+    }
+
+    public void stderr(RedirectTo to) {
+        errorRedirect = to;
+    }
+
+    public void stdin(RedirectFrom from) {
+        inputRedirect = from;
+    }
+
+    public void stdout(RedirectTo to) {
+        outputRedirect = to;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void argument(String arg) {
+        builder.command().add(arg);
+    }
+
+}