diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/exec/CommandLauncher.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/exec/CommandLauncher.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b5906f09e
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+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/exec/CommandLauncher.java
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) The Apache Software Foundation. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This software is published under the terms of the Apache Software License
+ * version 1.1, a copy of which has been included  with this distribution in
+ * the LICENSE.txt file.
+ */
+package org.apache.myrmidon.framework.exec;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import org.apache.myrmidon.api.TaskException;
+
+/**
+ * This is the interface implemented by objects which are capable of
+ * lauching a native command. Each different implementation is likely
+ * to have a different strategy or be restricted to specific platform.
+ *
+ * <p>It is expected that the user will get a reference to the
+ * <code>CommandLauncher</code> most appropriate for their environment.</p>
+ *
+ * @author <a href="mailto:peter@apache.org">Peter Donald</a>
+ * @version $Revision$ $Date$
+ */
+public interface CommandLauncher
+{
+    /**
+     * Execute the specified native command.
+     *
+     * @param metaData the native command to execute
+     * @return the Process launched by the CommandLauncher
+     * @exception IOException is thrown when the native code can not
+     *            launch the application for some reason. Usually due
+     *            to the command not being fully specified and not in
+     *            the PATH env var.
+     * @exception TaskException if the command launcher detects that
+     *            it can not execute the native command for some reason.
+     */
+    Process exec( ExecMetaData metaData )
+        throws IOException, TaskException;
+}