diff --git a/giftwrap/build_spec.py b/giftwrap/build_spec.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b77ac07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/giftwrap/build_spec.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+# Copyright 2014, Craig Tracey <craigtracey@gmail.com>
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+
+import yaml
+
+DEFAULT_PROJECT_PATH = '/opt/openstack'
+
+
+class BuildSpec(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, manifest):
+        self._spec = yaml.load(manifest)
+        self._project_path = None
+        self._projects = None
+
+    @property
+    def project_path(self):
+        if not self._project_path:
+            if 'project_path' in self._spec.keys():
+                self._project_path = self._spec['project_path']
+            else:
+                self._project_path = DEFAULT_PROJECT_PATH
+        return self._project_path
+
+    @property
+    def projects(self):
+        if 'projects' in self._spec.keys() and not self._projects:
+            self._projects = self._spec['projects']
+        return self._projects
diff --git a/giftwrap/builder.py b/giftwrap/builder.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff81a11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/giftwrap/builder.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+# Copyright 2014, Craig Tracey <craigtracey@gmail.com>
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+from giftwrap.shell import LOG
+
+
+class Builder(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, spec):
+        self._spec = spec
+
+    def build(self):
+        """ this is where all the magic happens """
+
+        try:
+            os.makedirs(self._spec.project_path)
+        except Exception as e:
+            LOG.fatal("Oops. Something went wrong. Error was:\n%s", e)
+            sys.exit(-1)
diff --git a/giftwrap/shell.py b/giftwrap/shell.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf966f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/giftwrap/shell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+# Copyright 2014, Craig Tracey <craigtracey@gmail.com>
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+
+import argparse
+import logging
+import sys
+
+from giftwrap.build_spec import BuildSpec
+
+LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+log_handler = logging.StreamHandler()
+LOG.addHandler(log_handler)
+
+from giftwrap.builder import Builder
+
+
+def build(args):
+    """ the entry point for all build subcommand tasks """
+    if not args.manifest:
+        LOG.fatal("build command requires a manifest")
+        sys.exit(-1)
+
+    try:
+        manifest = None
+        with open(args.manifest, 'r') as fh:
+            manifest = fh.read()
+        buildspec = BuildSpec(manifest)
+        builder = Builder(buildspec)
+        builder.build()
+    except Exception as e:
+        LOG.fatal("Unable to parse manifest %s. Error: %s", args.manifest, e)
+        sys.exit(-1)
+
+
+def main():
+    """ the entry point for all things giftwrap """
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+
+    subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(title='subcommands',
+                                       description='valid subcommands',
+                                       help='additional help')
+    build_subcmd = subparsers.add_parser('build',
+                                         description='build giftwrap packages')
+    build_subcmd.add_argument('-m', '--manifest')
+    build_subcmd.set_defaults(func=build)
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    args.func(args)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/sample.yml b/sample.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66a6626
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sample.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+package_path: '/opt/openstack/'
+
+projects:
+  - name: nova
+    url: https://github.com/openstack/nova
+
+  - name: keystone
+    url: https://github.com/openstack/keystone
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 8057092..ca2f25d 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ classifier =
 setup-hooks =
     pbr.hooks.setup_hook
 
-# [entry_points]
-# console_scripts =
-#     giftwrap = giftwrap.shell:main
+[entry_points]
+console_scripts =
+    giftwrap = giftwrap.shell:main
 
 [files]
 packages =