diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..755a48a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Ubuntu packages
+UBUNTU_PACKAGES=
+# Windows packages
+WINDOWS_PACKAGES=
+# macOS packages
+MACOS_PACKAGES=
diff --git a/.justfile b/.justfile
index 31d0fb1..323e1a7 100755
--- a/.justfile
+++ b/.justfile
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env -S just --working-directory . --justfile
+# Load project-specific properties from the `.env` file
+
+set dotenv-load := true
+
 # Since this is a first recipe it's being run by default.
 # Faster checks need to be executed first for better UX.  For example
-
 # codespell is very fast. cargo fmt does not need to download crates etc.
+
+# Perform all checks
 check: spelling formatting docs lints dependencies tests
 
 # Checks common spelling mistakes
@@ -31,6 +36,16 @@ tests:
 docs:
     cargo doc --no-deps
 
+# Installs packages required to build
+[linux]
+install-packages:
+    sudo apt-get install --assume-yes --no-install-recommends $UBUNTU_PACKAGES
+
+[macos]
+[windows]
+install-packages:
+    echo no-op
+
 # Checks for commit messages
 check-commits REFS='main..':
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
@@ -57,6 +72,7 @@ check-commits REFS='main..':
 # Fixes common issues. Files need to be git add'ed
 fix:
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
+    set -euo pipefail
     if ! git diff-files --quiet ; then
         echo "Working tree has changes. Please stage them: git add ."
         exit 1
@@ -64,6 +80,9 @@ fix:
 
     codespell --write-changes
     just --unstable --fmt
+    # try to fix rustc issues
+    cargo fix --allow-staged
+    # try to fix clippy issues
     cargo clippy --fix --allow-staged
 
     # fmt must be last as clippy's changes may break formatting