diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9637f63..680b5db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,26 +2,6 @@
 
 Symlinking CLI tool for dotfiles (or any other configuration files organized in a directory).
 
-## Install
-
-| Operating system | Link |
-|---|---|
-| Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish) | [:arrow_upper_right:](https://github.com/kucaahbe/myrc.d/releases/latest) |
-| Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa) |  [:arrow_upper_right:](https://github.com/kucaahbe/myrc.d/releases/latest) |
-| macOS | [:arrow_upper_right:](https://github.com/kucaahbe/myrc.d/releases/latest) |
-
-### Build
-
-Install [D compiler](https://dlang.org/download.html), `cd` into directory and run `dub`:
-
-```console
-dub build --build=release
-```
-
-#### Build issues
-
-[documented here](build_issues.md)
-
 ## Usage
 
 In the directory from where the app is started, the `install.sdl` manifest file is required: there should be specified
@@ -30,6 +10,15 @@ folder installation details:
 ```
 # the "install" section is mandatory
 install {
+  # executes specified commands, unless requirements below met
+  exec "git submodule -q update --init" {
+    # requirements:
+    // file should be created in $PWD
+    creates:file `LS_COLORS/.git`
+    creates:file `zsh-completions/.git`
+    creates:file `zsh-syntax-highlighting/.git`
+  }
+
   ln "bashrc", "~/.bashrc"
   ln "bash_profile", "~/.bash_profile"
 }
@@ -50,3 +39,23 @@ me@host:~/doftiles$ myrc
   /home/me/dotfiles/bashrc -> /home/me/.bashrc
   /home/me/dotfiles/bash_profile -> /home/me/.bash_profile
 ```
+
+## Install
+
+| Operating system | Link |
+|---|---|
+| Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish) | [:arrow_upper_right:](https://github.com/kucaahbe/myrc.d/releases/latest) |
+| Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa) |  [:arrow_upper_right:](https://github.com/kucaahbe/myrc.d/releases/latest) |
+| macOS | [:arrow_upper_right:](https://github.com/kucaahbe/myrc.d/releases/latest) |
+
+### Build
+
+Install [D compiler](https://dlang.org/download.html), `cd` into directory and run `dub`:
+
+```console
+dub build --build=release
+```
+
+#### Build issues
+
+[documented here](build_issues.md)
diff --git a/source/cli.d b/source/cli.d
index f46180d..003472b 100644
--- a/source/cli.d
+++ b/source/cli.d
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import std.file: getcwd;
 import std.format: format;
+import std.array: split, join;
 import std.algorithm.iteration: map, filter;
-import std.algorithm.searching: maxElement;
+import std.algorithm.searching: all, maxElement;
 import std.stdio;
 import core.stdc.stdlib;
 import std.conv: to;
@@ -38,6 +39,16 @@ void cli_install(ref Config app_config)
 {
 	string output = getcwd ~ " install:\n";
 
+	foreach (command ; app_config.commands) {
+		if (command.outcomes.length > 0 && command.outcomes.all!(o => o.ok)) {
+			output ~= "+ `"~command.inspect~"`\n";
+		} else {
+			output ~= "exec `"~command.inspect~"...`\n";
+			command.invoke();
+			output ~= "# `"~command.output.split('\n').join("\n#  ")~"`\n";
+		}
+	}
+
 	foreach (symlink ; app_config.symlinks) {
 		if (!symlink.source.exists) {
 			output ~= "# " ~ symlink.source.absolute ~ ": no such file or directory\n";
@@ -119,6 +130,19 @@ private void printStatus1(ref Config app_config)
 
 	string output = getcwd ~ ":\n";
 
+	foreach (command ; app_config.commands) {
+		if (command.outcomes.all!(o => o.ok)) {
+			output ~= "+ `"~command.inspect~"`\n";
+		} else {
+			output ~= "- `"~command.inspect~"`\n";
+			foreach (outcome ; command.outcomes) {
+				if (!outcome.ok) {
+					output ~= "  # " ~ outcome.path.absolute ~ " does not exist\n";
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	foreach (symlink ; app_config.symlinks) {
 		output ~= symlink.ok ? "+ " : "- ";
 		output ~= symlink.destination.absolute;
diff --git a/source/command.d b/source/command.d
index b8e7d83..1ee2134 100644
--- a/source/command.d
+++ b/source/command.d
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import std.array: join;
 import std.process;
 import path;
 
@@ -22,6 +23,18 @@ class Command {
 		this.args = args;
 	}
 
+	/** returns string representation of the command
+		(command name and arguments) */
+	string inspect() {
+		return name ~ ' ' ~ args.join(' ');
+	}
+
+	/// string representation of [Command]
+	unittest {
+		auto cmd = new Command("echo", ["12", "3"]);
+		assert(cmd.inspect == "echo 12 3");
+	}
+
 	/** invokes the command */
 	void invoke() {
 		scope(exit) run = true;
@@ -119,4 +132,53 @@ class CommandOutcome
 		this.type = type;
 		this.path = path;
 	}
+
+	/** test if outcome criteria is satisfied
+		* Returns: true if the outcome exists */
+	bool ok() {
+		switch (type) {
+			case File:
+				return path.isFile;
+			case Directory:
+				return path.isDir;
+			case Symlink:
+				return path.isSymlink;
+			default:
+				return false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/// returns true if the outcome exists
+	unittest {
+		import std.file;
+		import std.process;
+		import std.conv;
+		import test_file;
+		import test_dir;
+
+		auto testDir = setupTestDir(__FILE__, __LINE__);
+		scope(exit) removeTestDir(testDir);
+
+		auto file = testDir ~ "/file";
+		auto dir = testDir ~ "/dir";
+		auto symlink = testDir ~ "/symlink";
+
+		auto path = Path(file);
+		auto outcome = new CommandOutcome(CommandOutcome.File, path);
+		assert(!outcome.ok);
+		TestFile(file, "content").create();
+		assert(outcome.ok);
+
+		path = Path(dir);
+		outcome = new CommandOutcome(CommandOutcome.Directory, path);
+		assert(!outcome.ok);
+		dir.mkdir;
+		assert(outcome.ok);
+
+		path = Path(symlink);
+		outcome = new CommandOutcome(CommandOutcome.Symlink, path);
+		assert(!outcome.ok);
+		file.symlink(symlink);
+		assert(outcome.ok);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/source/path.d b/source/path.d
index aa506f1..add4565 100644
--- a/source/path.d
+++ b/source/path.d
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import std.array;
 import std.path: expandTilde, absolutePath, asNormalizedPath, dirName;
-import std.file: exists, isDir, isSymlink;
+import std.file: exists, isFile, isDir, isSymlink;
 
 /** represent path in a file system */
 struct Path
@@ -88,6 +88,52 @@ struct Path
 		assert(path.parent.absolute == cwd ~ '/' ~ ".test/app");
 	}
 
+	/** Returns: true if [Path] is a regular file in a file system */
+	bool isFile() inout
+	{
+		return exists && absolute.isFile;
+	}
+
+	/// returns true if [absolute] exists and is a file
+	unittest
+	{
+		import std.file;
+		import std.process;
+		import test_file;
+		import test_dir;
+
+		auto testDir = setupTestDir(__FILE__, __LINE__);
+		scope(exit) removeTestDir(testDir);
+
+		immutable auto file_path = testDir ~ "/file";
+
+		const auto path = Path(file_path);
+		assert(!path.isFile);
+		TestFile(file_path, "content").create;
+		assert(path.isFile);
+	}
+
+	/// returns true if [absolute] exists and is a file
+	unittest
+	{
+		import std.file;
+		import std.process;
+		import test_file;
+		import test_dir;
+
+		auto testDir = setupTestDir(__FILE__, __LINE__);
+		scope(exit) removeTestDir(testDir);
+
+		immutable auto file_path = testDir ~ "/file";
+
+		const auto path = Path(file_path);
+		assert(!path.isFile);
+
+		TestFile(file_path, "content").create;
+
+		assert(path.isFile);
+	}
+
 	/** Returns: true if [Path] is a directory in a file system */
 	bool isDir() inout
 	{