diff --git a/make/projects-dir-minimal.mk b/make/projects-dir-minimal.mk
index 85b34c7e..7130e9ea 100644
--- a/make/projects-dir-minimal.mk
+++ b/make/projects-dir-minimal.mk
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Q                           ?= @
 
 ifeq ($(origin PROJECTS_DIR_REMOTE_BASE),undefined)
   ifneq ($(wildcard $(JWBDIR)),)
-    PROJECTS_DIR_REMOTE_BASE  := $(shell /usr/bin/python3 $(JWBDIR)/scripts/jw-projects.py -p . get-auth-info --remote-base --only-values)
+    PROJECTS_DIR_REMOTE_BASE  := $(shell /usr/bin/python3 $(JWBDIR)/scripts/jw-projects.py -p . projects get-auth-info --remote-base --only-values)
   endif
   ifeq ($(PROJECTS_DIR_REMOTE_BASE),)
     PROJECTS_DIR_REMOTE_BASE := https://janware.com/code
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ endif
 
 ifeq ($(JANWARE_USER),)
   ifneq ($(wildcard $(JWBDIR)),)
-    JANWARE_USER            := $(shell /usr/bin/python3 $(JWBDIR)/scripts/jw-projects.py -p . get-auth-info --username --only-values)
+    JANWARE_USER            := $(shell /usr/bin/python3 $(JWBDIR)/scripts/jw-projects.py -p . projects get-auth-info --username --only-values)
   endif
 endif
 
diff --git a/make/projects-dir.mk b/make/projects-dir.mk
index eb632bfc..4c9ee746 100644
--- a/make/projects-dir.mk
+++ b/make/projects-dir.mk
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ ifeq ($(TIME),)
     TIME                    += -p
   endif
 endif
-PROJECTS_PY                  = $(TIME) python3 $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/jw-projects.py --prefix $(shell pwd) $(PROJECTS_PY_EXTRA_OPTS)
+PROJECTS_PY                  = $(TIME) python3 $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/jw-projects.py --prefix $(shell pwd) $(PROJECTS_PY_EXTRA_OPTS) projects
 PROJECTS_PY_BUILD            = $(PROJECTS_PY) build $(PROJECTS_PY_EXTRA_BUILD_OPTS)
 
 PGIT_SH                     := /bin/bash $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/pgit.sh
diff --git a/make/projects.mk b/make/projects.mk
index ca4f6c81..c43cd272 100644
--- a/make/projects.mk
+++ b/make/projects.mk
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ endif
 include $(JWBDIR)/make/py-version.mk
 
 ifneq ($(TOPDIR),)
-  proj_query_cmd             = PYTHONPATH=$(JWBDIR)/src/python $(PYTHON) $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/jw-projects.py -p $(PROJECTS_DIR) -t $(TOPDIR) $(PROJECTS_PY_EXTRA_OPTS)
+  proj_query_cmd             = PYTHONPATH=$(JWBDIR)/src/python $(PYTHON) $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/jw-projects.py -p $(PROJECTS_DIR) -t $(TOPDIR) $(PROJECTS_PY_EXTRA_OPTS) projects
   proj_query                 = $(shell $(proj_query_cmd) $(1))
   proj_dir                   = $(call proj_query,proj-dir $(1))
   htdocs_dir                 = $(call proj_query,htdocs-dir $(1))
diff --git a/make/topdir.mk b/make/topdir.mk
index 21f0966d..29d7e713 100644
--- a/make/topdir.mk
+++ b/make/topdir.mk
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ git-update-project-description:
 	ssh $(JANWARE_USER)@git.janware.com "/opt/jw-pkg/bin/git-srv-admin.sh $(OPT_JANWARE_PROJECT) update-descriptions $(PROJECT)"
 
 projects-%:
-	$(PYTHON) $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/jw-projects.py build $* $(PROJECT)
+	$(PYTHON) $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/jw-projects.py projects build $* $(PROJECT)
 
 install-deps-devel:
 	sudo zypper in $(shell echo $(RPM_REQUIRES_DEVEL) | sed "s/ *= */-/g; s/ [^ ]\+-__NEXT_VERSION__//")
diff --git a/scripts/create-mkspec.sh b/scripts/create-mkspec.sh
index 3ec2324a..f876c85f 100644
--- a/scripts/create-mkspec.sh
+++ b/scripts/create-mkspec.sh
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ subpackage_description()
 
 os_cascade()
 {
-	# might want to run python3 path/to/jw-projects.py --os=suse-tumbleweed os-cascade
+	# might want to run python3 path/to/jw-projects.py --os=suse-tumbleweed projects os-cascade
 	# or turn this into a python script and use jw-projects.py as a module.
 
 	if [ "$DISTRIBUTION" ]; then
diff --git a/scripts/pgit.sh b/scripts/pgit.sh
index 72a1e10f..1a643e97 100644
--- a/scripts/pgit.sh
+++ b/scripts/pgit.sh
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ clone()
 	local git_srv_admin="$SSH $login@git.janware.com /opt/jw-pkg/bin/git-srv-admin.sh"
 
 	if [ -z "$projects" ]; then
-		projects=`$jw_projects list-repos --from-user $fromuser $remote_base`
+		projects=`$jw_projects projects list-repos --from-user $fromuser $remote_base`
 		[ "$?" != 0 ] && exit 1
 	fi
 
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
index 46269ac8..38632007 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ import os, sys, argparse, pwd, re
 from .lib.App import App as Base
 from .lib.log import *
 
-from .cmds.build import *
-
 # meaning of pkg.requires.xxx variables
 # build: needs to be built and installed before this can be built
 # devel: needs to be installed before this-devel can be installed, i.e. before _other_ packages can be built against this
@@ -52,7 +50,7 @@ class ResultCache(object):
 class App(Base):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        super().__init__("jw-pkg swiss army knife", modules=["jw.pkg.cmds.build"])
+        super().__init__("jw-pkg swiss army knife", modules=["jw.pkg.cmds"])
 
         self.global_args = []
         self.opt_os = None
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/__init__.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/build/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29b..00000000
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/__init__.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29b..00000000
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/Cmd.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/Cmd.py
similarity index 54%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/Cmd.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/Cmd.py
index 0b8c19b3..cda5668a 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/Cmd.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/Cmd.py
@@ -1,17 +1,24 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from __future__ import annotations
-from typing import Type, Union, TypeVar
-import inspect, abc, argparse
+
 from argparse import ArgumentParser
 
 from ..lib.Cmd import Cmd as Base
+from ..lib.Types import LoadTypes
 
 class Cmd(Base): # export
 
     def __init__(self, name: str, help: str) -> None:
         super().__init__(name, help)
-        from ..App import App
+
+    def _add_subcommands(self) -> None:
+        self.add_subcommands(
+            LoadTypes(
+                [__name__.rsplit('.', 1)[0] + '.' + self.name],
+                type_name_filter=r'Cmd[^.]'
+            )
+        )
 
     async def run(self, args):
         return self._run(args)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/CmdProjects.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/CmdProjects.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8d7c57a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/CmdProjects.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import sys, inspect, re
+from argparse import ArgumentParser
+
+from .Cmd import Cmd as CmdBase
+
+class CmdProjects(CmdBase): # export
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__('projects', help='Project metadata evaluation for building packages')
+        self._add_subcommands()
+
+    def add_arguments(self, p: ArgumentParser) -> None:
+        super().add_arguments(p)
+
+    def _run(self, args):
+        breakpoint()
+        raise Exception("Running with args", args)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/Makefile b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/Makefile
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/Makefile
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/Makefile
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/__init__.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..82cb3002
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .CmdProjects import CmdProjects
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/BaseCmdPkgRelations.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/BaseCmdPkgRelations.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/BaseCmdPkgRelations.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/BaseCmdPkgRelations.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdBuild.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdBuild.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdBuild.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdBuild.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCflags.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCflags.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCflags.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCflags.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCheck.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCheck.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCheck.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCheck.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCommands.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCommands.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCommands.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCommands.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCreatePkgConfig.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCreatePkgConfig.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdCreatePkgConfig.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdCreatePkgConfig.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdExepath.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdExepath.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdExepath.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdExepath.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdGetAuthInfo.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdGetAuthInfo.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdGetAuthInfo.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdGetAuthInfo.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdGetval.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdGetval.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdGetval.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdGetval.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdHtdocsDir.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdHtdocsDir.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdHtdocsDir.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdHtdocsDir.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdLdflags.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdflags.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdLdflags.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdflags.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdLdlibpath.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdlibpath.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdLdlibpath.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLdlibpath.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdLibname.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLibname.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdLibname.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdLibname.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdListRepos.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdListRepos.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdListRepos.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdListRepos.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdModules.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdModules.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdModules.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdModules.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdOsCascade.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdOsCascade.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdOsCascade.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdOsCascade.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPath.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPath.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPath.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPath.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPkgConflicts.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPkgConflicts.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPkgConflicts.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPkgConflicts.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPkgProvides.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPkgProvides.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPkgProvides.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPkgProvides.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPkgRequires.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPkgRequires.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPkgRequires.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPkgRequires.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPrereq.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPrereq.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPrereq.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPrereq.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdProjDir.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdProjDir.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdProjDir.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdProjDir.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPythonpath.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPythonpath.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPythonpath.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPythonpath.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPythonpathOrig.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPythonpathOrig.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdPythonpathOrig.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdPythonpathOrig.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdRequiredOsPkg.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdRequiredOsPkg.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdRequiredOsPkg.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdRequiredOsPkg.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdSummary.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdSummary.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdSummary.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdSummary.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdTest.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdTest.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdTest.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdTest.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdTmplDir.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdTmplDir.py
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/CmdTmplDir.py
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/CmdTmplDir.py
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/Makefile b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/Makefile
similarity index 100%
rename from src/python/jw/pkg/build/cmds/Makefile
rename to src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/Makefile
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/__init__.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7837b8d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/projects/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import importlib, pkgutil
+
+__all__ = []
+
+for finder, module_name, ispkg in pkgutil.iter_modules(__path__):
+    if not module_name.startswith("Cmd"):
+        continue
+    module = importlib.import_module(f".{module_name}", __name__)
+    cls = getattr(module, module_name)
+    globals()[module_name] = cls
+    __all__.append(module_name)