diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4a7adb6..425043f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 # Makefile for Firehose monorepo
 
+MISE_BIN ?= mise
+
 .PHONY: check precommit deps compile test test-elisp format
 
-# Common check target that runs all static analysis
+# Cheap static gate over both apps, cheapest first. No database, no coverage:
+# this is the loop you run freely while working and before every commit.
 check:
-	@echo "Running static analysis..."
-	@make -C app MISE_BIN=mise check
+	@echo "==> check: app (credo --strict, format)"
+	@$(MAKE) -C app MISE_BIN=$(MISE_BIN) check
+	@echo "==> check: blogex (compile, format)"
+	@$(MAKE) -C blogex MISE_BIN=$(MISE_BIN) check
+	@echo "==> check: toolchain pins"
 	@bash scripts/check-pins.sh
 
 # Precommit target for CI/pre-commit hooks
diff --git a/blogex/Makefile b/blogex/Makefile
index 0b25f48..88dc22b 100644
--- a/blogex/Makefile
+++ b/blogex/Makefile
@@ -3,13 +3,33 @@
 MISE_BIN ?= mise
 MISE_EXEC = $(MISE_BIN) exec --
 
-.PHONY: deps test format
+.PHONY: check precommit deps compile test format
 
+# Cheap static gate for this library (no database, no coverage). Runs from the
+# root `make check`, which loops app then blogex.
+#
+# Sensor slot: add `credo` once the "credo strict, tuned config (both apps)"
+# yak lands blogex's credo dep + .credo.exs. Do not list it before then — a
+# gate that claims a check it did not run is worse than no gate.
+check: compile format
+
+# Per-app precommit loop: same target name and alias shape as app/, so both
+# apps share one habit (compile --warning-as-errors, format, test).
+precommit:
+	$(MISE_EXEC) mix precommit
+
+# Sync dependencies
 deps:
 	$(MISE_EXEC) mix deps.get
 
+# Compile the project (warnings are fatal)
+compile:
+	$(MISE_EXEC) mix compile --warnings-as-errors
+
+# Run the test suite
 test: deps
 	$(MISE_EXEC) mix test
 
+# Format code
 format:
-	$(MISE_EXEC) mix format
\ No newline at end of file
+	$(MISE_EXEC) mix format