diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a94a8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+
+# quick makefile to document how to do the various tasks
+
+# there is no real reason to actually use the makefile except for a
+# very small amount of convenience
+
+.PHONY : init
+init :
+	cabal sandbox init
+	cabal install happy
+	cabal install --only-dependencies --enable-tests
+	cabal configure --enable-tests
+
+.PHONY : build
+build :
+	cabal build
+
+.PHONY : test
+test : build
+	dist/build/Tests/Tests --hide-successes
+
+.PHONY : website
+website :
+	website/make_website.sh
+
+.PHONY : clean
+clean :
+	cabal clean
+	cabal sandbox delete
+	rm -Rf build/