diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1cb8b3e..3de3756 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ If you use [Rake][rake] and follow a consistent file layout across projects, the
 The tasks install into your `.loom` directory, and can be loaded from there into the Rakefiles of your projects.
 They are no substitute for something like Gem or Bundler for Ruby, but they're a first step in that direction.
 
-loom tasks do not interfere with the [loomcli][loomcli]; the two can be used safely together.
+loom tasks do not replace or interfere with the [loomcli][loomcli]; the two can be used safely together.
 
 
 ## conventions
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ Clone this repo.
 
 0. Run `rake install` to:
     * create a `tasks` folder in your Loom SDK home directory (`~/.loom`)
-    * put the `.rake` files from this project into it.
+    * install the Rake tasks from this project into it.
 0. Run `rake uninstall` to:
     * delete the `tasks` folder.
     * _**Note:** this deletes the whole folder! So be careful if you decide to put your own tasks in there._
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ Now run `rake` to execute the default task, which will print the list of availab
     rake test:build     # builds FooTest.loom with the SDK specified in test/loom.config
     rake test:ci        # runs FooTest.loom for CI
     rake test:run       # runs FooTest.loom
+    (using loomlib.rake v1.0.0)
 
 The Rake tasks are defined with dependencies and modification triggers, so you can just run `rake test:run` every time you edit a source file, and the library and test app will be rebuilt as needed automatically.
 
diff --git a/Rakefile b/Rakefile
index 3942da5..0bc77e5 100644
--- a/Rakefile
+++ b/Rakefile
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-require 'etc'
-require 'fileutils'
-require 'json'
+require File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'lib', 'tasks', 'support')
+include LoomTasks
 
-@loom_config = nil
+
+def available_tasks_dir()
+  File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'lib', 'tasks')
+end
+
+def installed_tasks_dir()
+  File.join(Dir.home, '.loom', 'tasks')
+end
 
 
 task :default => :list_targets
@@ -21,7 +27,7 @@ desc "installs rake tasks for Loom"
 task :install do |t, args|
   Dir.mkdir(installed_tasks_dir) unless Dir.exists?(installed_tasks_dir)
 
-  cmd = "cp lib/tasks/*.rake #{installed_tasks_dir}"
+  cmd = "cp lib/tasks/*.rake lib/tasks/*.rb #{installed_tasks_dir}"
   try(cmd, "failed to install tasks")
 
   puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, tasks installed to #{installed_tasks_dir}"
@@ -63,40 +69,3 @@ task :uninstall do |t, args|
   puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, #{installed_tasks_dir} was removed"
   puts ''
 end
-
-
-def config()
-  @loom_config || (@loom_config = JSON.parse(File.read(loom_config_file)))
-end
-
-def exec_with_echo(cmd)
-  puts(cmd)
-  stdout = %x[#{cmd}]
-  puts(stdout) unless stdout.empty?
-  $?.exitstatus
-end
-
-def fail(message)
-  abort("◈ #{message}")
-end
-
-def loom_config_file()
-  'loom.config'
-end
-
-def available_tasks_dir()
-  File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'lib', 'tasks')
-end
-
-def installed_tasks_dir()
-  File.join(Dir.home, '.loom', 'tasks')
-end
-
-def try(cmd, failure_message)
-  fail(failure_message) if (exec_with_echo(cmd) != 0)
-end
-
-def write_loom_config(config)
-  File.open(loom_config_file, 'w') { |f| f.write(JSON.pretty_generate(config)) }
-end
-
diff --git a/lib/tasks/loomlib.rake b/lib/tasks/loomlib.rake
index 3fca034..143f76c 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/loomlib.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/loomlib.rake
@@ -15,6 +15,55 @@ require 'fileutils'
 require 'json'
 require 'rake/clean'
 
+require File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'support')
+include LoomTasks
+
+
+def const_find(name)
+  Module.const_defined?(name) ? Module.const_get(name) : nil
+end
+
+def const_lib_name
+  const_find('LIB_NAME')
+end
+
+def const_lib_version_file
+  const_find('LIB_VERSION_FILE')
+end
+
+def lib_config_file()
+  File.join('lib', 'loom.config')
+end
+
+def lib_version_file()
+  const_lib_version_file
+end
+
+def readme_file()
+  File.join('README.md')
+end
+
+def test_config_file()
+  File.join('test', 'loom.config')
+end
+
+def lib_config()
+  @lib_loom_config || (@lib_loom_config = parse_loom_config(lib_config_file))
+end
+
+def test_config()
+  @test_loom_config || (@test_loom_config = parse_loom_config(test_config_file))
+end
+
+def write_lib_config(config)
+  write_loom_config(lib_config_file, config)
+end
+
+def write_test_config(config)
+  write_loom_config(test_config_file, config)
+end
+
+
 @lib_loom_config = nil
 @test_loom_config = nil
 
@@ -25,8 +74,8 @@ Rake::Task[:clobber].enhance ['lib:uninstall']
 
 task :default => :list_targets
 
-task :list_targets do |t, args|
-  a = "#{LIB_NAME} v#{lib_version} Rakefile"
+task :list_targets => :check_consts do |t, args|
+  a = "#{const_lib_name} v#{lib_version} Rakefile"
   b = "running on Ruby #{RUBY_VERSION}"
   c = "lib=#{lib_config['sdk_version']}"
   d = "test=#{test_config['sdk_version']}"
@@ -36,8 +85,13 @@ task :list_targets do |t, args|
   puts ''
 end
 
+task :check_consts do |t, args|
+  fail("please define the LIB_NAME constant before loading #{File.basename(__FILE__)}") unless const_lib_name
+  fail("please define the LIB_VERSION_FILE constant before loading #{File.basename(__FILE__)}") unless const_lib_version_file
+end
+
 
-LIBRARY = "lib/build/#{LIB_NAME}.loomlib"
+LIBRARY = "lib/build/#{const_lib_name}.loomlib"
 
 FileList['lib/src/**/*.ls'].each do |src|
   file LIBRARY => src
@@ -50,7 +104,7 @@ file LIBRARY do |t, args|
 
   Dir.chdir('lib') do
     Dir.mkdir('build') unless Dir.exists?('build')
-    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/lsc #{LIB_NAME}.build"
+    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/lsc #{const_lib_name}.build"
     try(cmd, "failed to compile .loomlib")
   end
 
@@ -58,7 +112,7 @@ file LIBRARY do |t, args|
 end
 
 
-APP = "test/bin/#{LIB_NAME}Test.loom"
+APP = "test/bin/#{const_lib_name}Test.loom"
 
 FileList['test/src/**/*.ls'].each do |src|
   file APP => src
@@ -68,13 +122,13 @@ file APP => LIBRARY do |t, args|
   puts "[file] creating #{t.name}..."
 
   sdk_version = test_config['sdk_version']
-  file_installed = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/libs/#{LIB_NAME}.loomlib"
+  file_installed = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/libs/#{const_lib_name}.loomlib"
 
   Rake::Task['lib:install'].invoke unless FileUtils.uptodate?(file_installed, [LIBRARY])
 
   Dir.chdir('test') do
     Dir.mkdir('bin') unless Dir.exists?('bin')
-    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/lsc #{LIB_NAME}Test.build"
+    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/lsc #{const_lib_name}Test.build"
     try(cmd, "failed to compile .loom")
   end
 
@@ -99,15 +153,15 @@ end
 
 namespace :lib do
 
-  desc "builds #{LIB_NAME}.loomlib for the SDK specified in lib/loom.config"
+  desc "builds #{const_lib_name}.loomlib for the SDK specified in lib/loom.config"
   task :build => LIBRARY do |t, args|
     puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, find .loomlib in lib/build/"
     puts ''
   end
 
-  desc "prepares sdk-specific #{LIB_NAME}.loomlib for release"
+  desc "prepares sdk-specific #{const_lib_name}.loomlib for release"
   task :release => LIBRARY do |t, args|
-    lib = "lib/build/#{LIB_NAME}.loomlib"
+    lib = "lib/build/#{const_lib_name}.loomlib"
     sdk = lib_config['sdk_version']
     ext = '.loomlib'
     release_dir = 'releases'
@@ -123,30 +177,30 @@ namespace :lib do
     puts ''
   end
 
-  desc "installs #{LIB_NAME}.loomlib into the SDK specified in lib/loom.config"
+  desc "installs #{const_lib_name}.loomlib into the SDK specified in lib/loom.config"
   task :install => LIBRARY do |t, args|
-    lib = "lib/build/#{LIB_NAME}.loomlib"
+    lib = "lib/build/#{const_lib_name}.loomlib"
     sdk_version = lib_config['sdk_version']
     libs_path = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/libs"
 
     cmd = "cp #{lib} #{libs_path}"
     try(cmd, "failed to install lib")
 
-    puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, #{LIB_NAME}.loomlib installed for #{sdk_version}"
+    puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, #{const_lib_name}.loomlib installed for #{sdk_version}"
     puts ''
   end
 
-  desc "removes #{LIB_NAME}.loomlib from the SDK specified in lib/loom.config"
+  desc "removes #{const_lib_name}.loomlib from the SDK specified in lib/loom.config"
   task :uninstall do |t, args|
     sdk_version = lib_config['sdk_version']
-    lib = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/libs/#{LIB_NAME}.loomlib"
+    lib = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/libs/#{const_lib_name}.loomlib"
 
     if (File.exists?(lib))
       cmd = "rm -f #{lib}"
       try(cmd, "failed to remove lib")
-      puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, #{LIB_NAME}.loomlib removed from #{sdk_version}"
+      puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, #{const_lib_name}.loomlib removed from #{sdk_version}"
     else
-      puts "[#{t.name}] nothing to do;  no #{LIB_NAME}.loomlib found in #{sdk_version} sdk"
+      puts "[#{t.name}] nothing to do;  no #{const_lib_name}.loomlib found in #{sdk_version} sdk"
     end
     puts ''
   end
@@ -165,107 +219,32 @@ end
 
 namespace :test do
 
-  desc "builds #{LIB_NAME}Test.loom with the SDK specified in test/loom.config"
+  desc "builds #{const_lib_name}Test.loom with the SDK specified in test/loom.config"
   task :build => APP do |t, args|
     puts "[#{t.name}] task completed, find .loom in test/bin/"
     puts ''
   end
 
-  desc "runs #{LIB_NAME}Test.loom"
+  desc "runs #{const_lib_name}Test.loom"
   task :run => APP do |t, args|
     puts "[#{t.name}] running #{t.prerequisites[0]}..."
 
     sdk_version = test_config['sdk_version']
-    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/loomexec test/bin/#{LIB_NAME}Test.loom --format ansi"
+    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/loomexec test/bin/#{const_lib_name}Test.loom --format ansi"
     try(cmd, "failed to run .loom")
 
     puts ''
   end
 
-  desc "runs #{LIB_NAME}Test.loom for CI"
+  desc "runs #{const_lib_name}Test.loom for CI"
   task :ci => APP do |t, args|
     puts "[#{t.name}] running #{t.prerequisites[0]}..."
 
     sdk_version = test_config['sdk_version']
-    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/loomexec test/bin/#{LIB_NAME}Test.loom --format junit --format console"
+    cmd = "#{sdk_root}/#{sdk_version}/tools/loomexec test/bin/#{const_lib_name}Test.loom --format junit --format console"
     try(cmd, "failed to run .loom")
 
     puts ''
   end
 
 end
-
-
-def readme_file()
-  File.join('README.md')
-end
-
-def lib_config_file()
-  File.join('lib', 'loom.config')
-end
-
-def lib_version_file()
-  LIB_VERSION_FILE
-end
-
-def test_config_file()
-  File.join('test', 'loom.config')
-end
-
-def lib_config()
-  @lib_loom_config || (@lib_loom_config = JSON.parse(File.read(lib_config_file)))
-end
-
-def test_config()
-  @test_loom_config || (@test_loom_config = JSON.parse(File.read(test_config_file)))
-end
-
-def readme_version_regex()
-  Regexp.new(%q/download\/v(\d\.\d\.\d)/)
-end
-
-def readme_version_literal()
-  "download/v#{lib_version}"
-end
-
-def update_readme_version()
-  IO.write(
-    readme_file,
-    File.open(readme_file, 'r') { |f| f.read.gsub!(readme_version_regex, readme_version_literal) }
-  )
-end
-
-def lib_version_regex()
-  Regexp.new(%q/^\s*public static const version:String = '(\d\.\d\.\d)';/)
-end
-
-def lib_version()
-  File.open(lib_version_file, 'r') { |f| f.read.scan(lib_version_regex).first[0] }
-end
-
-def write_lib_config(config)
-  File.open(lib_config_file, 'w') { |f| f.write(JSON.pretty_generate(config)) }
-end
-
-def write_test_config(config)
-  File.open(test_config_file, 'w') { |f| f.write(JSON.pretty_generate(config)) }
-end
-
-def sdk_root()
-  File.join(Dir.home, '.loom', 'sdks')
-end
-
-def fail(message)
-  abort("◈ #{message}")
-end
-
-def try(cmd, failure_message)
-  fail(failure_message) if (exec_with_echo(cmd) != 0)
-end
-
-def exec_with_echo(cmd)
-  puts(cmd)
-  stdout = %x[#{cmd}]
-  puts(stdout) unless stdout.empty?
-  $?.exitstatus
-end
diff --git a/lib/tasks/support.rb b/lib/tasks/support.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d873a06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/tasks/support.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+
+module LoomTasks
+
+  EXIT_OK = 0
+
+  def exec_with_echo(cmd)
+    puts(cmd)
+    stdout = %x[#{cmd}]
+    puts(stdout) unless stdout.empty?
+    $?.exitstatus
+  end
+
+  def fail(message)
+    abort("✘ #{message}")
+  end
+
+  def sdk_root()
+    File.join(Dir.home, '.loom', 'sdks')
+  end
+
+  def try(cmd, failure_message)
+    fail(failure_message) if (exec_with_echo(cmd) != EXIT_OK)
+  end
+
+  def parse_loom_config(file)
+    JSON.parse(File.read(file))
+  end
+
+  def write_loom_config(file, config)
+    File.open(file, 'w') { |f| f.write(JSON.pretty_generate(config)) }
+  end
+
+  def lib_version_regex()
+    Regexp.new(%q/^\s*public static const version:String = '(\d\.\d\.\d)';/)
+  end
+
+  def lib_version()
+    File.open(lib_version_file, 'r') { |f| f.read.scan(lib_version_regex).first[0] }
+  end
+
+  def readme_version_regex()
+    Regexp.new(%q/download\/v(\d\.\d\.\d)/)
+  end
+
+  def readme_version_literal()
+    "download/v#{lib_version}"
+  end
+
+  def update_readme_version()
+    IO.write(
+      readme_file,
+      File.open(readme_file, 'r') { |f| f.read.gsub!(readme_version_regex, readme_version_literal) }
+    )
+  end
+
+end