diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 10ae3f2..c441807 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -4224,6 +4224,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-Yh9y73JRljxW5QxN08Fner68eFLxM5ynNOAw2LbIB1YAGeQzZT8QFSUvkAz609Zf+IHhhaUxqZK8dG3W/+HEvg==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "mri": {
+      "version": "1.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mri/-/mri-1.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha1-XAo/KcjM/7ux7JQdzsCdcfoy82o="
+    },
     "ms": {
       "version": "2.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ms/-/ms-2.0.0.tgz",
@@ -5768,6 +5773,33 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-ErW5cFw5KY/qiyUlPDJ7iBhw51Iro/oyvxETupO85bMg5T7MLlFj3lEDzwjLTOxJAyzWQanUYj/LZHm6aLLm5w==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "rollup-plugin-json": {
+      "version": "2.3.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/rollup-plugin-json/-/rollup-plugin-json-2.3.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-W45nZH7lmXgkSR/DkeyF4ks0YWFrMysdjUT049gTuAg+lwUEDBKI2+PztqW8UDSMlXCAeEONsLzpDDyBy9m+9A==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "requires": {
+        "rollup-pluginutils": "2.0.1"
+      },
+      "dependencies": {
+        "estree-walker": {
+          "version": "0.3.1",
+          "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/estree-walker/-/estree-walker-0.3.1.tgz",
+          "integrity": "sha1-5rGlHPcpJSTnI3wxLl/mZgwc4ao=",
+          "dev": true
+        },
+        "rollup-pluginutils": {
+          "version": "2.0.1",
+          "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/rollup-pluginutils/-/rollup-pluginutils-2.0.1.tgz",
+          "integrity": "sha1-fslbNXP2VDpGpkYb2afFRFJdD8A=",
+          "dev": true,
+          "requires": {
+            "estree-walker": "0.3.1",
+            "micromatch": "2.3.11"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
     "rollup-plugin-typescript": {
       "version": "0.8.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/rollup-plugin-typescript/-/rollup-plugin-typescript-0.8.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 22b13a4..52e1ef6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
     "glob": "^7.1.2",
     "locate-character": "^2.0.5",
     "mkdirp": "^0.5.1",
+    "mri": "^1.1.0",
     "node-fetch": "^1.7.3",
     "relative": "^3.0.2",
     "require-relative": "^0.8.7",
@@ -52,6 +53,8 @@
     "nightmare": "^2.10.0",
     "npm-run-all": "^4.1.2",
     "rollup": "^0.53.0",
+    "rollup-plugin-json": "^2.3.0",
+    "rollup-plugin-string": "^2.0.2",
     "rollup-plugin-typescript": "^0.8.1",
     "source-map-support": "^0.5.2",
     "style-loader": "^0.19.1",
diff --git a/rollup.config.js b/rollup.config.js
index 6fe21fa..83e9ad1 100644
--- a/rollup.config.js
+++ b/rollup.config.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import typescript from 'rollup-plugin-typescript';
+import string from 'rollup-plugin-string';
+import json from 'rollup-plugin-json';
 import pkg from './package.json';
 
 const external = [].concat(
@@ -12,6 +14,10 @@ const paths = {
 };
 
 const plugins = [
+	string({
+		include: '**/*.md'
+	}),
+	json(),
 	typescript({
 		typescript: require('typescript')
 	})
diff --git a/src/cli/help.md b/src/cli/help.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc34cce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cli/help.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# sapper v<@version@>
+
+https://sapper.svelte.technology
+
+> sapper build
+
+Creates a production-ready version of your app
+
+> sapper export
+
+If possible, exports your app as static files, suitable for hosting on
+services like Netlify or Surge
+
+> sapper --help
+
+Shows this message
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/cli/index.ts b/src/cli/index.ts
index 2575a94..09ef7b1 100755
--- a/src/cli/index.ts
+++ b/src/cli/index.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,34 @@
+import mri from 'mri';
+import chalk from 'chalk';
+import help from './help.md';
 import build from './build.js';
 import exporter from './export.js';
-import { dest, entry, isDev, src } from '../config';
+import { dest, entry, src } from '../config';
+import * as pkg from '../../package.json';
 
-process.env.NODE_ENV = 'production';
+const opts = mri(process.argv.slice(2), {
+	alias: {
+		h: 'help'
+	}
+});
+
+if (opts.help) {
+	const rendered = help
+		.replace('<@version@>', pkg.version)
+		.replace(/^(.+)/gm, (m: string, $1: string) => /[#>]/.test(m) ? $1 : `  ${$1}`)
+		.replace(/^# (.+)/gm, (m: string, $1: string) => chalk.bold.underline($1))
+		.replace(/^> (.+)/gm, (m: string, $1: string) => chalk.cyan($1));
+
+	console.log(`\n${rendered}\n`);
+	process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const [cmd] = opts._;
 
-const cmd = process.argv[2];
 const start = Date.now();
-const dev = isDev();
 
 if (cmd === 'build') {
-	build({ dest, dev, entry, src })
+	build({ dest, dev: false, entry, src })
 		.then(() => {
 			const elapsed = Date.now() - start;
 			console.error(`built in ${elapsed}ms`); // TODO beautify this, e.g. 'built in 4.7 seconds'