diff --git a/.dir-locals.el b/.dir-locals.el
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73d430e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dir-locals.el
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+;;; Directory Local Variables            -*- no-byte-compile: t -*-
+;;; For more information see (info "(emacs) Directory Variables")
+
+(("nil-mode" . ((compile-command . "make -f el.make"))))
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 954626e..e7809ba 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -35,4 +35,4 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
     - name: Run tests
-      run: make all
+      run: make -f el.make all
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e0062bb..257c9f7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 *.elc
-/org-journal-autoloads.el
+*-autoloads.el
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
deleted file mode 100644
index 5edb6c0..0000000
--- a/Makefile
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-EMACS = emacs
-BATCH = $(EMACS) -Q -batch -L .
-
-export LC_ALL=C
-
-all: clean compile gen-autoloads test
-
-# Forcefully remove files ignored by Git.
-clean:
-	git clean -Xf
-
-compile:
-	$(BATCH) -f batch-byte-compile org-journal.el
-
-gen-autoloads:
-	$(BATCH) \
-		--eval "(require 'autoload)" \
-		--eval '(setq make-backup-files nil)' \
-		--eval "(setq generated-autoload-file (concat command-line-default-directory \"/\" \"org-journal-autoloads.el\"))" \
-		-f batch-update-autoloads "."
-
-test:
-	$(BATCH) -l tests/org-journal-test -f ert-run-tests-batch-and-exit
diff --git a/el.make b/el.make
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c4f516
--- /dev/null
+++ b/el.make
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+##
+# this file is part of el.make
+#
+# copyright: 2024- christian schwarzgruber (c.schwarzgruber.cs@gmail.com)
+#
+# version: 0.1.0
+#
+# source: https://github.com/casch-at/el.make
+#
+#
+##
+####
+##
+# el.make is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+# under the terms of the gnu general public license as published by the free
+# software foundation, either version 3 of the license, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# el.make is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of
+# merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. see the
+# gnu general public license for more details.
+#
+# you should have received a copy of the gnu general public license along
+# with el.make. if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+##
+####
+##
+#                     hier koennte ihre werbung stehen
+#
+#                                 el.make
+#
+#                       an emacs lisp `make` file
+##
+
+# todo(cschwarzgruber): hmm?
+export LC_ALL = C
+
+emacs = emacs
+flags = -Q --batch --no-site-file
+batch = $(emacs) $(flags)
+
+## test directory
+test-d = tests
+
+## source directory
+src-d = src
+
+## all source files
+el-f = $(wildcard $(src-d)/*.el)
+
+## all test files
+test-f = $(wildcard $(test-d)/*.el)
+
+## all compiled files
+elc-f = $(addprefix $(src-d)/, $(notdir $(el-f:.el=.elc)))
+
+.phony: all compile test clean
+
+all: compile test
+
+compile: $(elc-f)
+
+test: $(elc-f)
+	@echo "running tests... "
+	@$(batch) -L $(src-d) -l $(test-f) -f ert-run-tests-batch-and-exit
+
+$(src-d)/%.elc: $(src-d)/%.el
+	@echo "compiling $<..."
+	@$(batch) -f batch-byte-compile $<
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(elc-f)
diff --git a/org-journal.el b/src/org-journal.el
similarity index 100%
rename from org-journal.el
rename to src/org-journal.el