diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bd686d34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[workspace]
+members = [
+    "crates/client",
+    "crates/example",
+]
+resolver = "3"
diff --git a/crates/client/Cargo.toml b/crates/client/Cargo.toml
index f5143f0f..9d9a42e8 100644
--- a/crates/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "process-compose-client"
-version = "1.64.1"
+version = "1.73.0"
 description = "Client for Process Compose via OpenAPI and/or project file"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
 edition = "2021"
@@ -19,16 +19,25 @@ crate-type = ["rlib"]
 serde_json = { version = "^1.0", default-features = false }
 openapiv3 = { version = "^2", default-features = false }
 
-progenitor = { version = "^0.10", default-features = false, optional = true }
+progenitor = { version = "^0.11", default-features = false, optional = true }
 prettyplease = { version = "^0.2.24", optional = true }
 syn = { version = "^2.0.80", optional = true }
-schemars = { version = "^0.8.*" }
+schemars = { version = "^0.8.*" } # update to 1.0 blocked by typify
 
 typify = { version = "^0.4", default-features = false, optional = true }
 
+process-wrap = { version = "9.0", default-features = false, optional = true, features = ["tokio1", "kill-on-drop", ]}
+
+
+clap = {version = "4.5", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "std", "env", "help", "usage", "error-context", "suggestions"], optional = true}
+bon = { version = "3.7", default-features = false, optional = true}
+struct_field_names = { version = "0.2", default-features = false, optional = true}
+
 [features]
-default = ["progenitor", "typify"]
+default = ["progenitor", "typify", "cli"]
 
 typify = ["dep:typify", "dep:prettyplease"]
 
 progenitor = ["dep:progenitor", "dep:prettyplease", "dep:syn"]
+
+cli = ["dep:process-wrap", "dep:bon", "dep:clap", "dep:struct_field_names"]
diff --git a/crates/client/README.md b/crates/client/README.md
index cc532f77..48008e41 100644
--- a/crates/client/README.md
+++ b/crates/client/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 
-Build time utility to get Rust Process Compose interface:
+Compile time and runtime utility to get Rust Process Compose interface.
+
+# Features
 
 - as raw OpenAPI schema or with `progenitor` client.
 - as raw project config JSON schema or with `typify` builder. 
+- as Rust "native" crate behind `cli` providing process-wrap handle produced from command line args builder
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/flags.rs b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/flags.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7ebdde13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/flags.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+//! Keep in sync with `flags.go`.
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+/// Default refresh interval
+pub const DEFAULT_REFRESH_RATE: Duration = Duration::from_secs(1);
+
+/// Default log level
+pub const DEFAULT_LOG_LEVEL: &str = "info";
+
+/// Default port number
+pub const DEFAULT_PORT_NUM: u16 = 8080;
+
+/// Default bind address (host)
+pub const DEFAULT_ADDRESS: &str = "localhost";
+
+/// Default log length (number of lines kept in memory)
+pub const DEFAULT_LOG_LENGTH: usize = 1000;
+
+/// Default sort column name
+pub const DEFAULT_SORT_COLUMN: &str = "NAME";
+
+/// Default theme name
+pub const DEFAULT_THEME_NAME: &str = "Default";
+
+/// Represents absence of a namespace selection
+pub const NO_NAMESPACE: &str = "";
+
+pub mod env {
+    pub const PORT_NUM: &str = "PC_PORT_NUM";
+    pub const DISABLE_TUI: &str = "PC_DISABLE_TUI";
+    pub const CONFIG_FILES: &str = "PC_CONFIG_FILES";
+    pub const SHORTCUTS_FILES: &str = "PC_SHORTCUTS_FILES";
+    pub const NO_SERVER: &str = "PC_NO_SERVER";
+    pub const SOCKET_PATH: &str = "PC_SOCKET_PATH";
+    pub const READ_ONLY: &str = "PC_READ_ONLY";
+    pub const DISABLE_DOTENV: &str = "PC_DISABLE_DOTENV";
+    pub const TUI_FULL_SCREEN: &str = "PC_TUI_FULL_SCREEN";
+    pub const HIDE_DISABLED_PROC: &str = "PC_HIDE_DISABLED_PROC";
+    pub const ORDERED_SHUTDOWN: &str = "PC_ORDERED_SHUTDOWN";
+    pub const RECURSIVE_METRICS: &str = "PC_RECURSIVE_METRICS";
+    pub const LOG_FILE: &str = "PC_LOG_FILE";
+}
diff --git a/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/mod.rs b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ee390ff6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Define macro before submodules so it's in scope for them
+macro_rules! arg {
+    ($ty:ty, $field:ident) => {{
+        <$ty as clap::CommandFactory>::command()
+            .get_arguments()
+            .find(|a| a.get_id() == <$ty>::FIELD_NAMES.$field)
+            .and_then(|a| a.get_long())
+            .expect("long argument name not found")
+    }};
+}
+
+pub mod flags;
+pub mod parent;
+pub mod up;
diff --git a/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/parent.rs b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/parent.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb642fcf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/parent.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+use clap::{Parser, Subcommand};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use crate::cli::cmd::flags::env;
+use crate::cli::cmd::flags::DEFAULT_PORT_NUM;
+use crate::cli::cmd::up::ProcessComposeFlagsUp;
+/// Process Compose startup flags
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Parser, struct_field_names::StructFieldNames, bon::Builder)]
+pub struct ProcessComposeFlags {
+    /// Specify the log file path (env: PC_LOG_FILE)
+    /// Default "/tmp/process-compose-<user>.log"
+    #[arg(long = "log-file", env = "PC_LOG_FILE")]
+    pub log_file: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Disable HTTP server (env: PC_NO_SERVER)
+    #[arg(long = "no-server", env = env::NO_SERVER)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub no_server: bool,
+
+    /// Shut down processes in reverse dependency order (env: PC_ORDERED_SHUTDOWN)
+    #[arg(long = "ordered-shutdown", env = env::ORDERED_SHUTDOWN)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub ordered_shutdown: bool,
+
+    /// Port number (env: PC_PORT_NUM)
+    #[arg(long = "port", env = env::PORT_NUM, default_value_t = DEFAULT_PORT_NUM)]
+    #[builder(default = DEFAULT_PORT_NUM)]
+    pub port: u16,
+
+    /// Enable read-only mode (env: PC_READ_ONLY)
+    #[arg(long = "read-only", env = env::READ_ONLY)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub read_only: bool,
+
+    /// Path to unix socket (env: PC_SOCKET_PATH)
+    /// Default "/tmp/process-compose-<pid>.sock"
+    #[arg(long = "unix-socket", env = env::SOCKET_PATH)]
+    pub unix_socket: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Use unix domain sockets instead of TCP
+    #[arg(long = "use-uds", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub use_uds: bool,
+
+    #[command(subcommand)]
+    pub subcommand: Option<ProcessComposeCommand>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Subcommand, struct_field_names::EnumVariantNames)]
+pub enum ProcessComposeCommand {
+    /// Run process compose project
+    Up(ProcessComposeFlagsUp),
+}
+
+impl ProcessComposeCommand {
+    pub fn up(value: ProcessComposeFlagsUp) -> Self {
+        Self::Up(value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl TryInto<Vec<String>> for ProcessComposeCommand {
+    type Error = String;
+
+    fn try_into(self) -> Result<Vec<String>, Self::Error> {
+        let mut args = Vec::new();
+        match self {
+            ProcessComposeCommand::Up(up) => {
+                args.push("up".to_string());
+                let up_args: Vec<String> = up.try_into()?;
+                args.extend(up_args);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(args)
+    }
+}
+
+impl TryInto<Vec<String>> for ProcessComposeFlags {
+    type Error = String;
+
+    fn try_into(self) -> Result<Vec<String>, Self::Error> {
+        let mut args = Vec::new();
+
+        if let Some(path) = self.log_file {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlags, log_file)));
+            args.push(path.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+        }
+        if self.no_server {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlags, no_server)));
+        }
+        if self.ordered_shutdown {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlags, ordered_shutdown)));
+        }
+
+        // Always include port to be explicit
+        args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlags, port)));
+        args.push(self.port.to_string());
+
+        if self.read_only {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlags, read_only)));
+        }
+        if let Some(sock) = self.unix_socket {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlags, unix_socket)));
+            args.push(sock.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+        }
+        if self.use_uds {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlags, use_uds)));
+        }
+
+        if let Some(sub) = self.subcommand {
+            let mut sub_args: Vec<String> = sub.try_into()?;
+            args.append(&mut sub_args);
+        }
+
+        Ok(args)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/up.rs b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/up.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..57da3681
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/client/src/cli/cmd/up.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+use clap::Parser;
+use std::num::NonZero;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use crate::cli::cmd::flags::env;
+use crate::cli::cmd::flags::{DEFAULT_REFRESH_RATE, DEFAULT_SORT_COLUMN, DEFAULT_THEME_NAME};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Parser, struct_field_names::StructFieldNames, bon::Builder)]
+pub struct ProcessComposeFlagsUp {
+    /// Path to config files to load (env: PC_CONFIG_FILES)
+    #[arg(long = "config", env = env::CONFIG_FILES)]
+    #[builder(default = Vec::new())]
+    pub config: Vec<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Detach the TUI after successful startup (requires --detached-with-tui)
+    #[arg(long = "detach-on-success", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub detach_on_success: bool,
+
+    /// Run in detached mode
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[arg(long = "detached", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub detached: bool,
+
+    /// Run in detached mode with TUI
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[arg(long = "detached-with-tui", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub detached_with_tui: bool,
+
+    /// Disable .env file loading (env: PC_DISABLE_DOTENV=1)
+    #[arg(long = "disable-dotenv", env = env::DISABLE_DOTENV, default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub disable_dotenv: bool,
+
+    /// Validate the config and exit
+    #[arg(long = "dry-run", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub dry_run: bool,
+
+    /// Path to env files to load (default .env)
+    #[arg(long = "env", default_value = ".env")]
+    #[builder(default = vec![PathBuf::from(".env")])]
+    pub env_files: Vec<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Hide disabled processes (env: PC_HIDE_DISABLED_PROC)
+    #[arg(long = "hide-disabled", env = env::HIDE_DISABLED_PROC, default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub hide_disabled: bool,
+
+    /// Keep the project running even after all processes exit
+    #[arg(long = "keep-project", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub keep_project: bool,
+
+    /// Truncate process logs buffer on startup
+    #[arg(long = "logs-truncate", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub logs_truncate: bool,
+
+    /// Run only specified namespaces (default: all)
+    #[arg(long = "namespace")]
+    #[builder(default = Vec::new())]
+    pub namespaces: Vec<String>,
+
+    /// Do not start dependent processes
+    #[arg(long = "no-deps", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub no_deps: bool,
+
+    /// Collect metrics recursively (env: PC_RECURSIVE_METRICS)
+    #[arg(long = "recursive-metrics", env = env::RECURSIVE_METRICS, default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub recursive_metrics: bool,
+
+    /// TUI refresh interval in seconds
+    #[arg(long = "ref-rate", default_value_t = DEFAULT_REFRESH_RATE.as_secs().try_into().unwrap())]
+    #[builder(default = NonZero::new(DEFAULT_REFRESH_RATE.as_secs()).unwrap())]
+    pub refresh_rate: NonZero<u64>,
+
+    /// Sort in reverse order
+    #[arg(long = "reverse", default_value_t = false)]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
+    pub reverse: bool,
+
+    /// Paths to shortcut config files to load (env: PC_SHORTCUTS_FILES)
+    #[arg(long = "shortcuts", env = env::SHORTCUTS_FILES)]
+    #[builder(default = Vec::new())]
+    pub shortcuts: Vec<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Slow(er) refresh interval for resource metrics (must be > --ref-rate)
+    #[arg(long = "slow-ref-rate")]
+    pub slow_refresh_rate: Option<String>,
+
+    /// Sort column name (default NAME)
+    #[arg(long = "sort", default_value = DEFAULT_SORT_COLUMN)]
+    #[builder(default = DEFAULT_SORT_COLUMN.to_string())]
+    pub sort: String,
+
+    /// Select process compose theme (default Default)
+    #[arg(long = "theme", default_value = DEFAULT_THEME_NAME)]
+    #[builder(default = DEFAULT_THEME_NAME.to_string())]
+    pub theme: String,
+
+    /// Enable / disable TUI (use --tui=false to disable) (env: PC_DISABLE_TUI)
+    #[arg(long = "tui", env = env::DISABLE_TUI, default_value_t = true)]
+    #[builder(default = true)]
+    pub tui: bool,
+}
+
+impl TryInto<Vec<String>> for ProcessComposeFlagsUp {
+    type Error = String;
+
+    fn try_into(self) -> Result<Vec<String>, Self::Error> {
+        let mut args = Vec::new();
+
+        for p in self.config {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, config)));
+            args.push(p.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+        }
+
+        if self.detach_on_success {
+            args.push(format!(
+                "--{}",
+                arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, detach_on_success)
+            ));
+        }
+
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        if self.detached {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, detached)));
+        }
+
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        if self.detached_with_tui {
+            args.push(format!(
+                "--{}",
+                arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, detached_with_tui)
+            ));
+        }
+
+        if self.disable_dotenv {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, disable_dotenv)));
+        }
+        if self.dry_run {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, dry_run)));
+        }
+
+        for p in self.env_files {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, env_files)));
+            args.push(p.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+        }
+
+        if self.hide_disabled {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, hide_disabled)));
+        }
+        if self.keep_project {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, keep_project)));
+        }
+        if self.logs_truncate {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, logs_truncate)));
+        }
+        for ns in self.namespaces {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, namespaces)));
+            args.push(ns);
+        }
+        if self.no_deps {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, no_deps)));
+        }
+        if self.recursive_metrics {
+            args.push(format!(
+                "--{}",
+                arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, recursive_metrics)
+            ));
+        }
+
+        // refresh rate
+        args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, refresh_rate)));
+        args.push(self.refresh_rate.get().to_string());
+
+        if self.reverse {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, reverse)));
+        }
+
+        for p in self.shortcuts {
+            args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, shortcuts)));
+            args.push(p.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+        }
+        if let Some(slow) = self.slow_refresh_rate {
+            args.push(format!(
+                "--{}",
+                arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, slow_refresh_rate)
+            ));
+            args.push(slow);
+        }
+
+        args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, sort)));
+        args.push(self.sort);
+
+        args.push(format!("--{}", arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, theme)));
+        args.push(self.theme);
+
+        if !self.tui {
+            args.push(format!(
+                "--{}={}",
+                arg!(ProcessComposeFlagsUp, tui),
+                self.tui
+            ));
+        }
+
+        Ok(args)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/client/src/cli/exec.rs b/crates/client/src/cli/exec.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76017728
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/client/src/cli/exec.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+//! Execute process compose process.
+use process_wrap::tokio::*;
+
+/// Environment variable for the path to the process compose binary,
+/// if defined, used instead of default OS and process search strategy.
+pub const ENV_PC_BIN: &str = "PC_BIN";
+
+/// Comand line fully controlled by
+/// - OS binary path search or `PC_BIN`
+/// - command line arguments generated from `ProcessComposeFlags`
+///
+/// Returns a `CommandWrap` that can be used to interact with the spawned process, including adding wrappers.
+pub fn process_compose(
+    command: super::cmd::parent::ProcessComposeFlags,
+) -> Result<CommandWrap, String> {
+    let args: Vec<String> = command.try_into()?;
+    let mut command = "process-compose".to_string();
+    if let Some(pc_bin) = std::env::var_os(ENV_PC_BIN) {
+        command = pc_bin.to_string_lossy().to_string();
+    }
+
+    let command = CommandWrap::with_new(command, |command| {
+        command.args(&args);
+    });
+
+    Ok(command)
+}
diff --git a/crates/client/src/cli/mod.rs b/crates/client/src/cli/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2f3a0325
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/client/src/cli/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+pub mod cmd;
+pub mod exec;
diff --git a/crates/client/src/lib.rs b/crates/client/src/lib.rs
index d38dbc51..8ed4fca2 100644
--- a/crates/client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/client/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 //! provides generator to use in build.rs, with default `progenitor` provider
+
 use openapiv3::OpenAPI;
 use std::sync::OnceLock;
 
+#[cfg(feature = "cli")]
+pub mod cli;
+
 /// Raw OpenAPI spec string
 pub const OPENAPI_JSON_STRING: &str = include_str!("../../../src/docs/swagger.json");
 
diff --git a/crates/example/Cargo.toml b/crates/example/Cargo.toml
index e6c11110..c176d311 100644
--- a/crates/example/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/example/Cargo.toml
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ serde = { version = "1.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"]}
 tokio = { version = "1.41", features = ["macros", "rt-multi-thread"] }
 serde_json = { version = "1.0", default-features = false }
 
-progenitor-client = { version = "0.10", default-features = false, optional = false}
+progenitor-client = { version = "0.11", default-features = false, optional = false}
+
+# Use the local client crate for CLI flags and exec
+process-compose-client = { path = "../client", default-features = false, features = ["cli"] }
+process-wrap = { version = "9.0", default-features = false, features = ["tokio1", ]}
 
 [build-dependencies]
 process-compose-client = { path = "../client", default-features = false, features = ["progenitor", "typify"] }
diff --git a/crates/example/src/bin/cli.rs b/crates/example/src/bin/cli.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c22f4f28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/example/src/bin/cli.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+use process_compose_client::cli::cmd::parent::{ProcessComposeCommand, ProcessComposeFlags};
+use process_compose_client::cli::cmd::up::ProcessComposeFlagsUp;
+use process_compose_client::cli::exec;
+
+#[tokio::main]
+async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+    // Locate the repository root by walking up until process-compose.yaml is found
+    let project_path = {
+        let mut dir = std::env::current_dir()?;
+        loop {
+            if dir.join("process-compose.yaml").is_file() {
+                break dir;
+            }
+            if !dir.pop() {
+                return Err("process-compose.yaml not found in any parent directory".into());
+            }
+        }
+    };
+    let path = project_path.join("process-compose.yaml");
+    let override_path = project_path.join("process-compose.override.yaml");
+    let up = ProcessComposeFlagsUp::builder()
+        .config(vec![path.clone(), override_path.clone()])        
+        .tui(true)
+        .build();
+    let flags = ProcessComposeFlags::builder()
+        .subcommand(ProcessComposeCommand::up(up))
+        .build();
+
+    let _child = exec::process_compose(flags)
+        .unwrap()
+        .spawn()?
+        .wait()
+        .await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/crates/example/src/main.rs b/crates/example/src/bin/gen.rs
similarity index 93%
rename from crates/example/src/main.rs
rename to crates/example/src/bin/gen.rs
index 4ebbe193..5a851493 100644
--- a/crates/example/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/example/src/bin/gen.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // includes generated code
+#![allow(renamed_and_removed_lints)]
 include!(concat!(env!("OUT_DIR"), "/client.rs"));
 include!(concat!(env!("OUT_DIR"), "/config.rs"));