---
id: SMH-ISSUE-R4SEXWVT
type: issue
title: "xtask command invocation is cumbersome"
specs: [SMH-SPEC-SPEC0001]
---

# xtask Command Invocation Is Cumbersome

## Symptom

Required commands use long form:

- `cargo run -p xtask -- check`
- `cargo run -p xtask -- arch`
- `cargo run -p xtask -- lint`

## Impact

Frequent gates are noisy to type and copy.
Agents and humans may skip them or use inconsistent shortcuts.

## Evidence

Cargo supports project-local aliases in `.cargo/config.toml` under `[alias]`.
Cargo docs say alias values are strings or string arrays and extra CLI args are appended.
Example convention:

- `cargo x check` expands through alias `x = "run -p xtask --"`.
- `cargo x arch` expands through the same alias.

## Related spec

- SMH-SPEC-SPEC0001 §15 defines xtask command names and requires cargo-only automation.

## Expected fix

Add a Cargo alias in `.cargo/config.toml` for xtask dispatch.
Prefer short, boring alias: `x = "run -p xtask --"`.

## Verification

Passed:

- `cargo x arch`
- `cargo x check`