diff --git a/bin/moonc b/bin/moonc
index bb9c0d0..f5b1184 100755
--- a/bin/moonc
+++ b/bin/moonc
@@ -55,62 +55,19 @@ function print_help(err)
 	end
 end
 
-function mkdir(path)
-	local chunks = util.split(path, dirsep)
-	local accum
-
-	for _, dir in ipairs(chunks) do
-		accum = accum and accum.. dirsep ..dir or dir
-		lfs.mkdir(accum)
-	end
-
-	return lfs.attributes(path, "mode")
-end
-
-function normalize(path)
-	return path:match("^(.-)" .. dirsep .. "*$")..dirsep
-end
-
-function parse_dir(fname)
-	return fname:match("^(.-)[^" .. dirsep .. "]*$")
-end
-
-function parse_file(fname)
-	return fname:match("^.-([^" .. dirsep .. "]*)$")
-end
-
-
--- convert .moon to .lua
-function convert_path(path)
-	local new_path = path:gsub("%.moon$", ".lua")
-	if new_path == path then
-		new_path = path .. ".lua"
-	end
-	return new_path
-end
-
 function log_msg(...)
 	if not opts.p then
 		io.stderr:write(table.concat({...}, " ") .. "\n")
 	end
 end
 
-local gettime = nil
-if opts.b then
-	pcall(function()
-		require "socket"
-		gettime = socket.gettime
-	end)
-
-	function format_time(time)
-		return ("%.3fms"):format(time*1000)
-	end
-	if not gettime then
-		print_help"LuaSocket needed for benchmark"
-	end
-else
-	gettime = function() return 0 end
-end
+local moonc = require("moonscript.cmd.moonc")
+local mkdir = moonc.mkdir
+local normalize_dir = moonc.normalize_dir
+local parse_dir = moonc.parse_dir
+local parse_file = moonc.parse_file
+local convert_path = moonc.convert_path
+local compile_file_text = moonc.compile_file_text
 
 function write_file(fname, code)
 	if opts.p then
@@ -125,50 +82,8 @@ function write_file(fname, code)
 		out_f:write(code.."\n")
 		out_f:close()
 	end
-	return true
-end
 
-function compile_file(text, fname)
-	local parse_time = gettime()
-	local tree, err = parse.string(text)
-	parse_time = gettime() - parse_time
-
-	if not tree then
-		return nil, err
-	end
-
-	if opts.T then
-		opts.p = true
-		dump_tree(tree)
-		return ""
-	else
-		local compile_time = gettime()
-		local code, posmap_or_err, err_pos = compile.tree(tree)
-		compile_time = gettime() - compile_time
-
-		if not code then
-			return nil, compile.format_error(posmap_or_err, err_pos, text)
-		end
-
-		if opts.X then
-			opts.p = true
-			print("Pos", "Lua", ">>", "Moon")
-			print(util.debug_posmap(posmap_or_err, text, code))
-			return ""
-		end
-
-		if opts.b then
-			opts.p = true
-			return table.concat({
-				fname,
-				"Parse time  \t" .. format_time(parse_time),
-				"Compile time\t" .. format_time(compile_time),
-				""
-			}, "\n")
-		end
-
-		return code
-	end
+	return "built"
 end
 
 function compile_and_write(from, to)
@@ -178,16 +93,25 @@ function compile_and_write(from, to)
 	end
 	local text = f:read("*a")
 
-	local code, err = compile_file(text, from)
-	if not code then
+	local code, err = compile_file_text(text, from, {
+		benchmark = opts.b,
+		show_posmap = opts.X,
+		show_parse_tree = opts.T,
+	})
+
+	if not code and err then
 		return nil, err
 	end
 
+    if not code then
+        return true
+    end
+
 	return write_file(to, code)
 end
 
 function scan_directory(root, collected)
-	root = normalize(root)
+	root = normalize_dir(root)
 	collected = collected or {}
 
 	for fname in lfs.dir(root) do
@@ -247,7 +171,7 @@ function get_files(fname, files)
 					end
 				end
 
-				target_fname = normalize(opts.t) .. target_fname
+				target_fname = normalize_dir(opts.t) .. target_fname
 			end
 
 			table.insert(files, {sub_fname, target_fname})
@@ -255,7 +179,7 @@ function get_files(fname, files)
 	else
 		local target_fname = convert_path(fname)
 		if opts.t then
-			local prefix = normalize(opts.t)
+			local prefix = normalize_dir(opts.t)
 
 			if is_abs_path(target_fname) then
 				target_fname = parse_file(target_fname)
@@ -426,8 +350,8 @@ if opts.w then
 				err,
 				"\n",
 			}, "\n"))
-		else
-			log_msg("Built:", fname, "->", target)
+		elseif success == "build" then
+			log_msg("Built", fname, "->", target)
 		end
 	end
 
@@ -450,8 +374,8 @@ else
 		if not success then
 			io.stderr:write(fname .. "\t" .. err .. "\n")
 			os.exit(1)
-		else
-			log_msg("Built", fname, "->", target)
+		elseif success == "build" then
+			log_msg("Built", fname)
 		end
 	end
 end
diff --git a/moonscript-dev-1.rockspec b/moonscript-dev-1.rockspec
index 7fd5ef1..f1b4a1c 100644
--- a/moonscript-dev-1.rockspec
+++ b/moonscript-dev-1.rockspec
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ build = {
 		["moonscript.base"] = "moonscript/base.lua",
 		["moonscript.cmd.coverage"] = "moonscript/cmd/coverage.lua",
 		["moonscript.cmd.lint"] = "moonscript/cmd/lint.lua",
+		["moonscript.cmd.moonc"] = "moonscript/cmd/moonc.lua",
 		["moonscript.compile"] = "moonscript/compile.lua",
 		["moonscript.compile.statement"] = "moonscript/compile/statement.lua",
 		["moonscript.compile.value"] = "moonscript/compile/value.lua",
diff --git a/moonscript/cmd/moonc.lua b/moonscript/cmd/moonc.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..642e68c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/moonscript/cmd/moonc.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+local lfs = require("lfs")
+local split
+do
+  local _obj_0 = require("moonscript.util")
+  split = _obj_0.split
+end
+local dirsep = package.config:sub(1, 1)
+local dirsep_chars
+if dirsep == "\\" then
+  dirsep_chars = "\\/"
+else
+  dirsep_chars = dirsep
+end
+local mkdir
+mkdir = function(path)
+  local chunks = split(path, dirsep)
+  local accum
+  for _index_0 = 1, #chunks do
+    local dir = chunks[_index_0]
+    accum = accum and tostring(accum) .. tostring(dirsep) .. tostring(dir) or dir
+    lfs.mkdir(accum)
+  end
+  return lfs.attributes(path, "mode")
+end
+local normalize_dir
+normalize_dir = function(path)
+  return path:match("^(.-)[" .. tostring(dirsep_chars) .. "]*$") .. dirsep
+end
+local parse_dir
+parse_dir = function(path)
+  return (path:match("^(.-)[^" .. tostring(dirsep_chars) .. "]*$"))
+end
+local parse_file
+parse_file = function(path)
+  return (path:match("^.-([^" .. tostring(dirsep_chars) .. "]*)$"))
+end
+local convert_path
+convert_path = function(path)
+  local new_path = path:gsub("%.moon$", ".lua")
+  if new_path == path then
+    new_path = path .. ".lua"
+  end
+  return new_path
+end
+local format_time
+format_time = function(time)
+  return ("%.3fms"):format(time * 1000)
+end
+local gettime
+do
+  local socket
+  gettime = function()
+    if socket == nil then
+      pcall(function()
+        socket = require("socket")
+      end)
+      if not (socket) then
+        socket = false
+      end
+    end
+    if socket then
+      return socket.gettime()
+    else
+      return nil, "LuaSocket needed for benchmark"
+    end
+  end
+end
+local compile_file_text
+compile_file_text = function(text, fname, opts)
+  if opts == nil then
+    opts = { }
+  end
+  local parse = require("moonscript.parse")
+  local compile = require("moonscript.compile")
+  local parse_time
+  if opts.benchmark then
+    parse_time = assert(gettime())
+  end
+  local tree, err = parse.string(text)
+  if not (tree) then
+    return nil, err
+  end
+  if parse_time then
+    parse_time = gettime() - parse_time
+  end
+  if opts.show_parse_tree then
+    local dump = require("moonscript.dump")
+    dump.tree(tree)
+    return nil
+  end
+  local compile_time
+  if opts.benchmark then
+    compile_time = gettime()
+  end
+  local code, posmap_or_err, err_pos = compile.tree(tree)
+  if not (code) then
+    return nil, compile.format_error(posmap_or_err, err_pos, text)
+  end
+  if compile_time then
+    compile_time = gettime() - compile_time
+  end
+  if opts.show_posmap then
+    local debug_posmap
+    do
+      local _obj_0 = require("moonscript.util")
+      debug_posmap = _obj_0.debug_posmap
+    end
+    print("Pos", "Lua", ">>", "Moon")
+    print(debug_posmap(posmap_or_err, text, code))
+    return nil
+  end
+  if opts.benchmark then
+    print(table.concat({
+      fname,
+      "Parse time  \t" .. format_time(parse_time),
+      "Compile time\t" .. format_time(compile_time),
+      ""
+    }, "\n"))
+    return nil
+  end
+  return code
+end
+return {
+  dirsep = dirsep,
+  mkdir = mkdir,
+  normalize_dir = normalize_dir,
+  parse_dir = parse_dir,
+  parse_file = parse_file,
+  new_path = new_path,
+  convert_path = convert_path,
+  gettime = gettime,
+  format_time = format_time,
+  compile_file_text = compile_file_text
+}
diff --git a/moonscript/cmd/moonc.moon b/moonscript/cmd/moonc.moon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79cefe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/moonscript/cmd/moonc.moon
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+-- assorted utilities for moonc command line tool
+
+lfs = require "lfs"
+
+import split from require "moonscript.util"
+
+dirsep = package.config\sub 1,1
+dirsep_chars = if dirsep == "\\"
+  "\\/" -- windows
+else
+  dirsep
+
+
+-- similar to mkdir -p
+mkdir = (path) ->
+  chunks = split path, dirsep
+
+  local accum
+  for dir in *chunks
+    accum = accum and "#{accum}#{dirsep}#{dir}" or dir
+    lfs.mkdir accum
+
+  lfs.attributes path, "mode"
+
+-- strips excess / and ensures path ends with /
+normalize_dir = (path) ->
+  path\match("^(.-)[#{dirsep_chars}]*$") .. dirsep
+
+-- parse the directory out of a path
+parse_dir = (path) ->
+  (path\match "^(.-)[^#{dirsep_chars}]*$")
+
+-- parse the filename out of a path
+parse_file = (path) ->
+  (path\match "^.-([^#{dirsep_chars}]*)$")
+
+-- converts .moon to a .lua path for calcuating compile target
+convert_path = (path) ->
+  new_path = path\gsub "%.moon$", ".lua"
+  if new_path == path
+    new_path = path .. ".lua"
+  new_path
+
+format_time = (time) ->
+  "%.3fms"\format time*1000
+
+gettime = do
+  local socket
+  ->
+    if socket == nil
+      pcall ->
+        socket = require "socket"
+
+      unless socket
+        socket = false
+
+    if socket
+      socket.gettime()
+    else
+      nil, "LuaSocket needed for benchmark"
+
+-- compiles file to lua
+-- returns nil, error on error
+-- returns just nil if some option handled the output instead
+compile_file_text = (text, fname, opts={}) ->
+  parse = require "moonscript.parse"
+  compile = require "moonscript.compile"
+
+  parse_time = if opts.benchmark
+    assert gettime!
+
+  tree, err = parse.string text
+  return nil, err unless tree
+
+  if parse_time
+    parse_time = gettime! - parse_time
+
+  if opts.show_parse_tree
+    dump = require "moonscript.dump"
+    dump.tree tree
+    return nil
+
+  compile_time = if opts.benchmark
+    gettime!
+
+  code, posmap_or_err, err_pos = compile.tree tree
+
+  unless code
+    return nil, compile.format_error posmap_or_err, err_pos, text
+
+  if compile_time
+    compile_time = gettime() - compile_time
+
+  if opts.show_posmap
+    import debug_posmap from require "moonscript.util"
+    print "Pos", "Lua", ">>", "Moon"
+    print debug_posmap posmap_or_err, text, code
+    return nil
+
+  if opts.benchmark
+    print table.concat {
+      fname,
+      "Parse time  \t" .. format_time(parse_time),
+      "Compile time\t" .. format_time(compile_time),
+      ""
+    }, "\n"
+    return nil
+
+  code
+
+{
+  :dirsep
+  :mkdir
+  :normalize_dir
+  :parse_dir
+  :parse_file
+  :new_path
+  :convert_path
+  :gettime
+  :format_time
+  :compile_file_text
+}
diff --git a/spec/cmd_spec.moon b/spec/cmd_spec.moon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cee4bbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/cmd_spec.moon
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+
+moonc = require "moonscript.cmd.moonc"
+
+-- TODO: add specs for windows equivalents
+
+describe "moonc", ->
+  same = (fn, a, b)->
+    assert.same b, fn a
+
+  it "should normalize dir", ->
+    same moonc.normalize_dir, "hello/world/", "hello/world/"
+    same moonc.normalize_dir, "hello/world//", "hello/world/"
+    same moonc.normalize_dir, "", "/" -- wrong
+    same moonc.normalize_dir, "hello", "hello/"
+
+
+  it "should parse dir", ->
+    same moonc.parse_dir, "/hello/world/file", "/hello/world/"
+    same moonc.parse_dir, "/hello/world/", "/hello/world/"
+    same moonc.parse_dir, "world", ""
+    same moonc.parse_dir, "", ""
+
+  it "should parse file", ->
+    same moonc.parse_file, "/hello/world/file", "file"
+    same moonc.parse_file, "/hello/world/", ""
+    same moonc.parse_file, "world", "world"
+    same moonc.parse_file, "", ""
+
+  it "convert path", ->
+    same moonc.convert_path, "test.moon", "test.lua"
+    same moonc.convert_path, "/hello/file.moon", "/hello/file.lua"
+    same moonc.convert_path, "/hello/world/file", "/hello/world/file.lua"
+
+  it "chould compile file text", ->
+    assert.same {
+      [[return print('hello')]]
+    }, {
+      moonc.compile_file_text "print'hello'", "test.moon"
+    }
+
+  describe "stubbed lfs", ->
+    local dirs
+
+    before_each ->
+      dirs = {}
+      package.loaded.lfs = nil
+      package.loaded["moonscript.cmd.moonc"] = nil
+
+      package.loaded.lfs = {
+        mkdir: (dir) -> table.insert dirs, dir
+        attributes: -> "directory"
+      }
+
+      moonc = require "moonscript.cmd.moonc"
+
+    after_each ->
+      package.loaded.lfs = nil
+      package.loaded["moonscript.cmd.moonc"] = nil
+      moonc = require "moonscript.cmd.moonc"
+
+    it "should make directory", ->
+      moonc.mkdir "hello/world/directory"
+      assert.same {
+        "hello"
+        "hello/world"
+        "hello/world/directory"
+      }, dirs
+